If you have a burning sensation in the genital or anal area, what do you do?
Find out with Reid Mihalko from ReidAboutSex.com and Cathy Vartuli from TheIntimacyDojo.com
Cathy: Someone wrote in and said, “This is embarrassing, but I need an answer. My anus is burning anytime I use the restroom or shave in that area.”
Reid: Put water on it, quick!
Cathy: Wow.
Reid: Like it’s actually on fire?
Cathy: I don’t think so. I think it’s a burning sensation.
Reid: Oh. False alarm. Don’t. Just wait until we figure out what’s going on.
Cathy: He says he doesn’t have anal sex, but there’s some teasing around that area.
Reid: How do you know it’s a he?
Cathy: Because he left his name, but I didn’t think I would read it out loud because it’s a rather …
Reid: Well, I’m just saying. It’s a he-butt.
Cathy: It’s a he-butt.
Reid: He-anus.
Cathy: He does shave there because he prefers to be less hairy.
Reid: Okay.
Cathy: He does use a loofah sponge, but he’s just really concerned that his ass is burning every time he even thinks about it.
Reid: I have to apologize. My name is Reid Mihalko from ReidAboutSex.com.
Cathy: I’m Cathy Vartuli from TheIntimacyDojo.com.
Reid: My jack ass, no pun intended, is in full swing here, but the way you read that, it made it sound like he shaves with a loofah sponge, which could be the problem.
Cathy: But that’s not what he said.
Reid: That’s not what he said.
Cathy: Just because I misread it.
Reid: No, you didn’t misread it. Okay, first off, we love questions like this.
Cathy: Yeah. Thanks for being vulnerable.
Reid: Thank you for being vulnerable. Second, I apologize for my sense of humor. Third, we’re not medical doctors. Understand that. We are not medical doctors, nor do we play one on television. I am a sex and relationship geek. I enjoy lots of different kinds of sex and Cathy, I would say you’re a great intimacy geek and a bunch of things and you’re a sex geek as well. Our answers …
Cathy: Are not medically …
Reid: Well, they may be medically accurate, but again. I’m just letting you know go see a doctor, just in case. I’m going to say try waxing, rather than shaving.
Cathy: Or, using one of those buzz razors, because they don’t … The ones you can use to shave your head? I’m pretty sure because you’re not actually irritating the skin.
Reid: Trust me on this one.
Cathy: No?
Reid: Go get waxed and try that. As somebody who has shaved in that area, it gets very irritated. I’m just worried that you’re aggravating a lot of really sensitive skin that’s filled with lots of nerve endings, which is why for a lot of people it’s so pleasurable to have your butt played with. Not everybody, some people. But, as somebody who grooms, and I’ve noticed that when I’ve groomed there, everything gets itchy and a little irritated.
Cathy: Well, there’s a lot of rubbing and …
Reid: Yeah and just damp humidity. I would say try waxing, which again, not everybody’s into because somebody else is usually doing it for you and not everybody wants somebody up in their business. Although, apparently, there’s some really highly qualified professionals who don’t mind being that up in your business. See if that helps.
The loofah thing, I would say swap it out for a really soft washcloth. Because loofahing is more for exfoliation and I don’t know that you need to be exfoliating back there a lot, all the time.
Cathy: I’m curious about not using an electric razor. Because I’ve used that on my lady bits and that helps not … Because sometimes when the hair grows back, it’s really irritated, like that area.
Reid: My situation is, you’re reaching behind you.
Cathy: You don’t want to catch anything.
Reid: The hair clippers are still sharp, even though you’re not getting the clipper part. Where as wax, the job of waxing is that it takes the hair away.
Cathy: Right.
Reid: There’s no sharp edges on wax. Some of my friends who seem to be remarkably hairless in those areas swear by waxing. Again, understanding that not everybody … Maybe this is a private thing and you don’t want to go to a waxer, but people do it. I would say try there. But also, see a doctor just for a quick checkup. Also, if you can …
Cathy: I might suggest, when I’ve had really bad razor burn, I’ve used, they have bikini sprays that help with that. I’ve also used diaper rash ointment. One time, I had shaved and it was really hot and humid where I was and I got a really … It was really irritated. I put that on for a couple days and it just soothes the skin and stops … It doesn’t, like, rub.
Reid: But if everyday your loofahing it, you’re probably not allowing the skin to heal around there, because you keep aggravating it, which overtime would just make it worse.
Cathy: The abrasions can also let in some bacteria, so go see a doctor. They can make sure that there’s nothing wrong, just need to heal.
Reid: Try the waxing. I would lay off the loofah. Which that’s kind of [inaudible 00:05:45].
Cathy: We hope this helps and we really do appreciate your vulnerability in sharing this, because the rule of thumb is one person shares something, there’s a thousand people that haven’t shared something. When you share, there’s other people accessing information.
Reid: Thanks for being a great role model.
Cathy: Yeah.
Reid: His subscribe if you want to hear more.