HEALTH

Your Bod

Do I have herpes?


I started shaving my public hair and three days later, I got this big blister looking thing down there. See, I get fever blisters, and I was told in health class that fever blisters are herpes. So, I keep thinking that this blister on my genitals is herpes, but my mom said that it's probably just an in-grown hair. I haven't had sex, but it still scares me.

Fret not! Props for reaching out and wanting to understand your body. You want advice? This is it: When in doubt, ask your doctor—or, if that's not an option, your school nurse. It sounds like you prob do have an in-grown hair—and you're totally right: They can be pretty unsightly and scary.

In-grown hairs along a shaved bikini line are not uncommon. They develop when a hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin, and we promise they are nothing more than a nuisance. Because your bikini line area is so sensitive, many women opt to wax instead of shave because it results in a "cleaner" appearance—often with fewer in-grown hairs. And many women opt not to remove their pubic hair at all.

If you've never had sex but have engaged in other sexual activity "down there," it's completely reasonable to be concerned that a spot could be an STD, but def less likely. Have a doctor check it out so you can know for sure and let this be a warning to avoid any STD-causing activity in the future.

We want to hear from you! Send us your weirdest body questions here (seriously, we'll answer anything!) and it just might get featured.

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by Emily Schwartz | 2/1/2016
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