Cleaning up around the bikini line is normal when you’re getting ready for beach season. Removing unwanted body hair and a butt facial might be just what you need.
But there’s another concern that many of us have: dark skin patches or hyperpigmentation in our private areas.
While there are many causes for this unfortunate condition, there are just as many solutions! We’re looking closer at why you’ve got dark spots down under and how to fix them.
Join us!
What causes your bikini area to darken?
Hyperpigmentation in the private area is a common concern that many people face. Excess melanin builds up with skin trauma and age in this sensitive spot. Uneven skin tone can affect the pubic area and upper thighs, causing embarrassment and a lack of confidence.
There isn’t just one cause behind this darkened bikini line either. Aging, hormonal changes, friction, and other factors all contribute to the keratinization of the skin. When the skin hardens during this process, excess melanocytes form and produce uneven skin tone.
Understanding the cause is just one step in lightening your bikini area.
Friction and shaving are common factors
Trauma to the skin is a major cause of uneven skin tone in the pubic area. Friction from walking, exercise, tight clothing, and rubbing can lead to darker skin patches. Wearing looser, more breathable bottoms can help reduce friction in the bikini zone.
Hair removal is another form of trauma that can lead to darker skin down below. Shaving is one of the primary sources of skin damage that leaves behind darker skin. It can contribute to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, which lead to redness and irritation.
Ingrowns can develop into dark spots or cysts that require extraction. Avoiding the razor on your private areas is a straightforward way to keep dark patches at bay.
Poor hygiene can cause darkened bikini areas
Surprisingly, poor hygiene can lead to a darker bikini line. When you sweat, waste products and minerals from under your skin leech out to the surface. If you regularly work out or just sweat a lot in your daily life, you’ve got to keep your skin clean.
Wash your private areas with soap and water and exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells. Use unscented, gentle soaps so as not to irritate the delicate skin around your bikini line.
Additionally, products like lemon oil and aloe vera can promote healthier skin naturally. Keep these products on the surface. Your vagina is a self-cleaning organ!
Some medications or hormonal changes
Other causes may relate more to hormonal changes that occur with age or medical conditions. You could also be taking a medication that results in darkening in your intimate areas.
Higher or lower estrogen levels can play a part in having an even skin tone. Melanin production changes based on the amount of this hormone in your body. Pregnancy and age can affect how much is in your body.
Medications that affect hormones can also play a role. Some make your skin more sensitive to the sun and other trauma. Chafing, which wasn’t a problem before, might be a source of hyperpigmentation now.
Birth control is one of the most likely culprits if you notice sudden darkening when taking the medication.
Diabetes sometimes causes darkened bikini areas
In the early stages of diabetes, darkened skin patches can appear on the neck, armpit, or groin. These patches have a velvety texture and appear when you have too much insulin in your blood.
How long does it take to lighten your bikini area?
For most people, hyperpigmentation in the bikini area happens gradually. Addressing this skin concern is also a gradual process that often takes one to three months. To achieve the best results, use gentle products on your skin!
Begin early so you’ve got enough time to achieve your desired results before beach season.
Ways to lighten your bikini area at home & professionally
As with most skin concerns, there are home remedies that people have counted on. Combined with some professional esthetic care, they’re an effective way to maintain even skin tone in the pubic area.
Some products to use at home include lemon juice, aloe vera, coconut oil, and ingrown hair serums and creams. Keep your skin clean and dry with baby powder or other antiperspirants, and wash with gentle soap. Others swear by a mixture of baking soda and cold water to affect the skin's pH.
Follow a dedicated exfoliating routine
Along with regular hygienic practices, an exfoliation routine can help. Use lemon essential oils to help dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells first. Then, use a mitt or exfoliating body scrub to remove them. This process opens up your pores and promotes cell turnover, which reveals healthy cells sooner. Afterward, use a soothing serum or gel to infuse hydration into your skin!
Wear loose-fitting clothing more often
Tight clothing can irritate your skin through chafing and rubbing. Yoga pants might be great for around the house, but give your pubic area space to breathe. Wear breathable fabrics that don’t cause friction or trauma to your skin. Underwear is the most important since it’s right next to your skin.
Instead of shaving, try waxing your bikini line area
Shaving can cause trauma to your skin. Ingrown hair, razor bumps, and irritation are common side effects of this hair removal process. Instead of shaving your bikini line before you head out to the beach, try waxing. It removes hair by the root and leaves you with smoother, healthier skin. Over time, you’ll see less hair growth and discoloration caused by shaving.
Chemical peels
If you need a more aggressive approach to darker skin around your pubic area, chemical peels are an option. Your esthetician will use a gentle serum to help remove the top layer of skin around your groin and upper thighs. Coupled with a hydrating treatment, this is a faster way to achieve a more even skin tone.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion helps remove the top layer of skin and promote collagen production. Around the bikini area, it can also help remove bumpiness and uneven skin tone caused by ingrowns.
Laser treatments for hyperpigmentation
For some, laser treatments are the best option for skin lightening around the groin. Lasers help lighten your skin quickly by targeting the cells that produce the excess color. While it’s more expensive than some other options, it’s an effective way to treat this skin concern.
Consider this approach if you have widespread skin darkening caused by genetic factors.
Enso is here to help you out with any skin-related concern you have!
Skin concerns are common, but good information on how to treat them is hard to find. Enso is dedicated to helping you discover the best info and the best products for your skin. Lightening your bikini area is one of the many areas where we can help!
Check out our website for innovative products and information about your common and uncommon skin concerns!
