updated for 2024
Over time, many individuals experience the skin around the intimate areas darkening more and more, including the labia, anus, and scrotum. Your natural skin coloring and pigmentation can have an effect on the extent to which you experience this type of darkening in your private area. For example, women with fair skin may see the lips of their vagina, or labia, turn purple or brown over time. Additionally, women who naturally have darker private area skin may see the vulva, or external part of the genitals, turn a lighter shade than the rest of their skin.
So, Why Do Intimate Areas Get Darker?
Typically, this condition, which is known commonly as hyperpigmentation, is not a sign of any significant medical problems and is not a cause for concern. It’s simply an accumulation of cells containing melanin. Many people will experience this condition after puberty. However, you may still wonder why your private area is dark and what you can do to keep it from happening. You have options for intimate lightening procedures that you can turn to if you want to curb the darkening of your private areas.
What Is Intimate Lightening?
Intimate lightening is a procedure that uses safe, natural components to lighten or brighten the personal area. Fruit extracts are a commonly used natural compound. Men and women with a dark private area can see a significant difference after just a few treatments.
Common Causes of a Dark Private Area
You may wonder, “Why is my private area dark?” The darkening of your private area usually traces back to a few common causes.
1. Age
Age plays a role in the darkening of the skin around your intimate area. Just like the skin of your face, the private area changes in tone, texture, color, and elasticity over time. Intimate lightening procedures can help reverse this.
2. Hormones
Hormones like estrogen also cause some of these changes. The melanocytes in your skin produce melanin, and they are highly susceptible to hormonal changes, especially during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Some areas, such as the skin around your nipples and anus, get significantly darker.
3. Friction and Inflammation
Friction and inflammation contribute to the darkening of the intimate area, and those issues come from many sources. Underwear that doesn’t fit well, exercise, walking, and sex all cause friction. Anywhere that skin rubs against something else is likely to experience hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to prevent this kind of friction.
4. Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation and the resulting moisture are factors in the darkening of the intimate area. Because these body parts are usually covered by fabric that doesn’t breathe well, a lack of fresh air passing over the area lets wetness accumulate and contributes to color changes in the skin and a dark private area. Choosing cotton underwear over synthetic materials and washing the garments before you wear them can help with this problem. Sleeping without underwear may be beneficial as well.
5. Shaving
Shaving can cause the darkening of the intimate area. Frequent hair removal irritates the skin when new growth comes in, which can cause color changes. Chemicals in shaving cream and lotions can also aggravate the problem. Shaving less often gives your skin a chance to recover, so you may choose to trim the area and keep the hairs cut short without removing them altogether. If you must remove the hair, consider waxing or laser over shaving.
6. Sweat
Sweat can also cause color changes in the intimate area by depositing chemicals and waste products that accumulate over time. Sweat often stays on your skin in the personal area until you shower or bathe again. Therefore, people who sweat profusely may notice a dark private area more than people who don’t sweat as much. Frequent cleaning keeps the by-products of sweat from building up and changing skin color and texture. You might also consider avoiding scented soaps and other products that can irritate this delicate area.
How Can You Lighten Intimate Areas?
While you can’t prevent all the reasons why intimate areas are dark, you can take steps to reverse some of the changes. For example, avoid wearing clothing that is too tight over the private area. Clothes that fit correctly let air flow through the area, keeping it dryer and well-ventilated. Anything that reduces friction can help minimize darkening as well. Arviv Medical Aesthetics offers you additional options for intimate lighting in a dark private area.
Types of Intimate Lightening Services Offered at Arviv Medical Aesthetics
While conversations about the aches and pains of aging are common, rarely does anyone talk about how time changes the private areas. Particularly for post-menopausal women, the changes can leave you feeling unhappy with your body. Arviv Medical Aesthetics offers a variety of services to help you love your intimate self again.
Vaginal Rejuvenation Laser Procedure
Vaginal rejuvenation involves changing the shape, size, or function of your intimate area through laser procedures. Women with excess vaginal tissue may find that the procedures make them more comfortable, more confident, and better able to enjoy sex. At Arviv Medical Aesthetics, we use the Co2RE Intima laser, which is FDA-approved for conditions such as atrophy, incontinence, and darkening of the intimate area. This non-surgical procedure takes place in the comfortable environment of our office.
Intimate Area (Genital & Anal) Lightening
Intimate area lightening is an in-office procedure that involves bleaching hyperpigmented genital and anal areas to match the tone of the surrounding skin. Intimate area lightening at Arviv Medical Aesthetics takes about 20 minutes, and you may need more than one treatment depending on how dark the skin is. This procedure is also sometimes referred to as vaginal bleaching or anal bleaching.
The O-Shot
The O-Shot is an all-natural and painless procedure that re-energizes clitoral and vaginal functioning. This non-surgical procedure helps with urinary incontinence, enhances orgasms and sexual desire, and improves natural lubrication. The O-Shot uses platelet-rich plasma taken from your blood and injected into the clitoris, G-spot, and around the urethra to boost the orgasm system. Clients usually need one or two treatments eight to twelve weeks apart and annually after that to maintain the benefits.
Aesthetic Treatments for Dark Private Areas in South Florida
Understanding why private parts are dark in color can help you determine the best treatment path for you. At Arviv Medical Aesthetics, Dr. Arviv and her team provide patients with an individualized plan to get their desired results. Visit one of our locations, either Tampa, Ocala, or Miami and let us help you get your confidence in your body back.
Source: Master1305 / Shutterstock
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