ladies with public hair

I don't like being hairy, but I also don't like being bald. so I keep a landing strip but every time I let it get "long" I always get a bump right in the landing strip. it swells up huge and hurts. normally I get white stuff out of it but this time it's just hurting and getting bigger! what is the deal?? I wash well, should I try exfoliating that strip to try to avoid this? I just don't know what could be causing it ! any ideas ?