Vaginal Bleaching/ Lightening: Safety and Alternatives

Vaginal Bleaching – It is a cosmetic procedure to lighten the appearance of a person’s vulva. However, there are lots of non-surgical methods of female genital cosmetic procedures that include genital peeling, lasers, or topical creams for vaginal bleaching.⁽⁴⁾ Demand has continuously increased in recent times.

According to market research, India‘s whitening cream market was worth $432 million in 2010. The obsession with “whiteness” scaled a new level when the brand came up with products designed to brighten the vagina. ⁽²⁾

The popularity of these products is due to the marketing campaigns run on social media showing unrealistic body images, creating anxiety, reducing self-esteem, and body shaming.

What is genital darkening?

The hyperpigmentation i.e. darkening of genital areas is completely normal. The color varies from person to person. The darkening of genital areas is a slow process. As you age, your body goes through multiple changes and the darkening of the genital area is one of the parts of this process. ⁽⁷⁾

Why are genitals darker than other body parts?

The numerous reasons behind the darkening of genital areas are hormonal changes, aging, use of chemical products, and friction.

When an individual enters puberty, hormonal shifts take place. Increased levels of estrogen in females and testosterone in males lead to more production of melanin which is more sensitive to hormones. These hormonal shifts can also take place during pregnancy, menopause, etc. More production of melanin causes the darkening in this area

Friction in the genital area due to routine movement, exercise, or sexual intercourse causes the cells to produce more melanin leading to darkening. As you age, the vulva becomes dark due to constant friction in this area. The use of chemical products, waxing, and shaving can also cause hyperpigmentation.

Is there any need to be worried about the darkening of genitalia?

There is a need to worry about it if the change is sudden. Sudden darkening of your genital area can be a symptom of some underlying conditions like diabetes, PCOS, or obesity. If the darkening is caused by the use of some product, then medical advice is necessary. If the genital skin is bumpy or has some spots then it could be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection called warts.

Vaginal bleaching is safe?

It is used for aesthetic reasons and to get a specific skin tone. Potential health risks include irritation, burning of the vagina, skin rashes, allergic reactions, STIs, chronic pain and painful sexual intercourse.

Gynaecologist Dr. Manjula Anagni who is the recipient of Padma Shri says: bleaching creams available for vaginas may contain steroids which can be very dangerous and makes the user susceptible to infections. The skin might become thin due to the use of steroids. The skin may lose its natural immunity. ⁽⁵⁾

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that any procedure to alter the appearance of the female genitals for nonmedical reasons is not safe and can come with significant risk. ⁽⁴⁾

Your body, your decision

If it’s someone’s choice to use these treatments, they should keep in mind a few of the precautions to reduce the risk:

Take a recommendation from a gynecologist.
Do not use DIY treatments.
Avoid using products from unregulated channels.
Reading the product’s ingredients to check that it does not contain any steroids or mercury.
Take medical help if there are any side effects after using the product. ⁽³⁾

What can you do to minimize darkening?

The hyperpigmentation in the genital area cannot be completely removed. However, it can be reduced in the following ways:

Avoid wearing tight clothes
Avoid using chemical products, waxing, and shaving in genital areas
Wearing sweat-wicking clothes
Good hygiene and care to avoid infections. ⁽⁹⁾

Conclusion

Vaginal darkening is completely common. It is necessary to break the obsession with white skin tone. The use of vaginal bleaching may have negative effects. Vaginal lightening promotes unhealthy body image ideals and reflects cultural preferences rooted in internalized colorism. ⁽⁶⁾

It is important to have an introspection of the need to use such products and the potential health risks to make an informed decision.

Some Additional Doubts

Question: Is it normal to have a dark vulva?
Answer: Yes, it is completely normal to have a darker vulva than the rest of the body.

Question: What is vaginal bleaching?
Answer: It is the use of creams, peels, and lasers to lighten the skin tone of genitals.

Question: Is there any benefit for vaginal bleaching?
Answer: No, there are not any health benefits for vaginal lightening.

Question: Does vaginal bleaching have side effects?
Answer: Yes, there are numerous potential risks such as irritation, infection, yeast infection, burning of the vagina, and chronic pain

Question: What if you really want to try it?
Answer: You should seek the advice of a gynecologist first. It is important to be familiar with the potential risks of these treatments.

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Vaginal Bleaching/ Lightening: Safety and Alternatives

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