A JAMA Dermatology study published Wednesday found that a good chunk of people who trim their pubic region had suffered an injury at least once, according to Forbes.
Researchers behind the study surveyed about 7,570 people ages 18 and 65 and discovered that at least 26 percent of respondents have battle scars from shaving, waxing, or laser hair removal; the majority reported being cut, while others have been burnt, developed a rash, or had an infection. Even more hair-raising: More than 66 percent of those participants said they have been injured more than once, Forbes reported.
The findings get worse, actually: According to MarketWatch, some of the pubic-related injuries not only required medical attention, but surgery. Those types of wounds occurred more often when a person was grooming themselves while laying on their back, rather than being helped by someone else.
Not all injuries were created equal, though. Researchers found that, of those people who responded to the web survey, younger participants were more likely to suffer an injury. Same goes for men with a lot of hair. Unsurprisingly, more women reported suffering a wound than men — 85.2 percent compared to 66.5 percent, according to MarketWatch.
The survey findings fall in line with what hospitals across the country have been seeing in their emergency rooms. According to a 2016 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study, injuries related to hair removal have spiked between 1991 and 2013, particularly among 19- to 34-year-olds.
