Things to Keep in Mind When Considering Intimate Lightening

As the intimate areas tend to be darker than other areas of the body, there is usually no medical reason to lighten them. The skin all over the body changes over time, and this includes the private regions like the vulva and vagina. This darkening is called intimate hyperpigmentation. 

What causes intimate hyperpigmentation?

Darkening down there can be due to several factors, such as: 

• Hormones – hormonal fluctuations, which can happen during pregnancy and menopause, can stimulate the overproduction of melanin, resulting in skin pigmentation.
• Aging – having gone through hormonal fluctuations or repeated trauma can contribute to darkening or discoloration of the intimate area. It is also common for private regions to turn darker with age.
• Hair removal – constant shaving, waxing, and the use of hair removal products can cause trauma in the area and lead to darkening.
• Chafing – causes friction and irritation, which then leads to darkening of the intimate area. This occurs when thighs rub against each other or when clothing (like tight undies) rubs against the skin.
• Certain medications and disorders – oral contraception and medications that increase your insulin levels can cause darkening in different areas of the body. There is also a skin pigmentation disorder called Acanthosis Nigricans (AN), characterized by darkened or thickened skin in the folds around the neck, armpits, and groin area.

If you decide to lighten your intimate area

There may be no health benefits to intimate lightening, but it can help increase your confidence. If darkened intimate areas make you self-conscious, having the region lightened can make you feel more attractive and invigorated. There is also the potential benefit of enhanced intimacy or confidence during intercourse. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind to reduce your risk of complications: 

Be wary of lightening products online – Experts warn against the use of intimate bleaching/lightening kits brought online. As the skin in intimate areas can be more sensitive, they can be easily irritated with ingredients that are not intended to be used down there. Many online products are also unregulated and can have strong chemicals that can cause irritation, itchiness, and further darkening. 

Don’t DIY it – Several DIY hacks that claim to whiten your intimate areas often use kitchen pantry products, such as honey, coconut oil, yogurt, potatoes, and others. These, however, are not intended to be used in the genital areas and can cause irritation and other unwanted side effects when used incorrectly.

Work with a professional – This is the ideal approach when deciding to tackle the discoloration down there. It is best to go to a clinic or see a doctor who has experience in performing intimate area lightening and uses the right method/solution intended for the genitals.

Consider Dermamelan Intimate – At Cutis, we have the Dermamelan Intimate, which is a medical depigmenting treatment specifically tailored for the intimate areas. This non-invasive solution contains active compounds that target the conditions responsible for the discoloration in intimate areas. 

For further reading:

Intimate Lightening: 5 Things to Know About Dermamelan Intimate

Dermamelan Intimate features:

• A corrective and regulatory dual action – lightens the treated areas and addresses the root of the issues.
• Short- and long-term correction of hyperpigmentation – prevents reappearance of dark spots and speeds up skin peeling and renewal.
• Two-phase treatment – combines an in-clinic session and an at-home protocol. This helps regulate melanin production (preventing the reappearance of darkening) to achieve your desired results.
• Improvements in one week – you can see changes as early as one week, but significant results appear around four weeks. The discoloration/darkening will continue to fade over time, resulting in an even and luminous intimate area.

Benefits include:

• Unified skin tone
• Short- and long-term correction of pigmentation
• Improves skin elasticity and water retention
• Helps prevent the reappearance of pigmentation/dark spots
• Improves the quality, turgidity, and appearance of the intimate areas

Book a consultation

Are you worried about the darkening or discoloration of your intimate areas? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore to learn more about Dermamelan Intimate and book a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.