Have you been wondering the reason why the skin colour of your private area is progressively darkening in comparison to the skin tone of the rest of your body?
Worry not, you do not have a skin issue and this darkening of private parts is something very natural. Research says, hyperpigmentation of private parts of the body such as the clitoris, vagina, labia minora and majora in females and the scrotum and anus in the males, is seen as an effect of the surge in sex hormones during puberty.
How are Sex Hormones responsible for Darkening of Private Parts?
As a child attains puberty (Age 8 – 13 for girls; Age 9 – 14 for boys), there is a dramatic surge of sex hormones and easily appreciable changes in both the physical and mental aspect of their personality. The increase in the production of the sex hormones, oestrogen in females to be ore specific, causes hyperproduction of melanin in the skin of the intimate parts of the body and the darkening of those areas is an obvious consequence.
However, women are often overly concerned about the skin down there turning black. They approach doctors enquiring about the causes of such hyperpigmenttion and the sure shot ways to treat it.
While the causes may range from mild to severe in intensity, they are often so varied that it is hard to pinpoint the precise cause of darkening of the private area except in cases where the cause is specifically some disease affecting the skin of the part. A certain way to know if the darkening is because of a disease is to look for other symptoms too. Infections are usually characterized by sudden and rapidly progressive development of hyperpigmentation. In such situations, a prompt appointment with a gymaecologist should be looked for.
The other reasons are physiological and involve no disease processes responsible for the development of hyperpigmentation.
What are some causes of Darkening of Private Parts?
Friction
Women are often conscious of their appearances. This is a major reason why they prefer to wear body-hugging clothes. Often wearing very tight clothes and undergarments allows the groin area no ventilation and consequent build up of moisture between the folds of skin down there. Additionally, these folds of skin rub with eachother generating friction which leads to an increased production of Keratin by the keratinocyte cells of the skin. These cells also have melanin, responsible for the hyperpigmentation.
Ageing
Did you know that with ageing, the private parts of a woman also undergo degeneration. Not just the size, shape and color of the skin and mucosa but also the constitution and structure of these parts undergoes a significant change. One of the major changes seen in the vulva and vagina of a female as she progresses in age is the diminition of the fatty tissues down there, which is a significant reason behind the visible hyperpigmentation.
Frequent Shaving
Women who resort to blades and trimmers for pubic hair removal are acutely aware of the rapid darkenning of the vulva that happens as a consequence of ingrown hairs and inflammation that are often seen as after effects of shaving. Avoiding very frequent shaving can therefore save you from such rapidly progressive darkening of the skin down there.
Pathological Conditions
Conditions like Diabetes Mellitus, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and obesity that mess up the insulin and glucagon of the pancreas are a few cnditions which manifest as hyperpigmentation of private areas of the body, called Acanthosis Nigrans. In addition to hyperpigmentation, such patients may also develop thickening of the skin.
Hard Soaps and Douches
A normal healthy vagina has a very low pH ranging between 3 and 5. On the flipside soaps and douches usually fall high up on the pH scale. Therefore an injudicious use of soaps and douches in the private area can change the pH of the vagina making it vulnerable to infections and hyperpigmentation as a consequence.
Is Vaginal Bleaching A Solution?
Usually people harbour unrealistic expectations of the appearance of their private parts. Whether such high expectations are a result of exposure to porn or something else, is a separate topic but whatever the reason, patients often approach doctors with questions about vaginal bleaches.
Vaginal bleaching is the procedure through which beauticians whiten a female’s vaginal region. But the question is-
Does Vaginal Bleaching Actually Whiten the Vulva and the Skin surrounding the Vagina?
While it is a common notion among beauticians and women that vaginal bleaching makes their vagina more youthful, what is really true is the fact that bleaching one’s private area repeatedly causes the skin down there to itch and burn and turn all the more sensitive to other products, even the milder ones. A yet another important fact that one must be clear about is that while the procedure is termed as ‘Vaginal bleaching’ it only bleaches or lightens the vulvar skin and not the vagina.
Application of a number of lightening creams, bleaching chemicals, and laser treatments are an integral part of this procedure and for obvious reasons, come with their own share of complications.
What are the Complications of Vaginal Bleaching?
A wide range of complications are known to occur as an after-effect of vaginal bleaching. Some of them are-
Vulvar Skin Irritation
Irritation in the skin of the private parts may take the form of itching or burning that occurs with or with out the appearance of rashes.
Dyspareunia
This term is medically used for pain felt by the woman during sexual intercourse. Not sure of the precise reason but as per a study, such pains have been reported by a number of women who had gotten their vagina’s bleached
Repeated Vaginal Infections
Vaginal bleaching messes up the normal constituents of the vaginal or vulval skin. This includes the normal bacteria, discharges, cells and other components of the fluids down there. Additionally, these cosmetic treatments also interfere with the normal pH maintenance of the vagina thus rendering it vulnerable to a host of infections.
The Conclusion
The information shared in the aforementioned paragraphs clearly indicates what a dangerous path women, longing for a pinkish vagina are treading. Medical experts advice contrary to this procedure citing it being a mere cosmetic procedure with no long term benefits.
It is therefore suggested that women maintain vaginal health by adopting reasonable measures such as judicious use of washes, regular moisturization, and adequate ventilation. Vaginal bleaching must be done under dior circumstances and on the advice of a physician.