The carpet after a wild night of wine and takeout. Your hair during a “screw them!” breakup glow-up. Your filthy toilet bowl. These are things you reach for bleach for.
But your intimate areas??? That’s far more nuanced.
The goal behind vaginal bleaching mirrors hair bleaching in one way: to lighten. The key difference is location — and that vaginal bleaching isn’t performed with household bleach — ever.
For more detail on how vaginal bleaching is performed, why people pursue it, and whether it’s safe, read on.
What exactly is it?
Vaginal bleaching refers to treatments that use topical formulas, chemical peels, or laser procedures intended to lighten the skin around the bikini area.
Despite the common name, vaginal bleaching does not involve the internal vaginal canal in any way.
“The treatment targets the external genitalia [the vulva] and sometimes the inner thigh,” says Aleece Fosnight, a board-certified physician assistant and medical adviser at Aeroflow Urology.
How is it done?
From risky DIY concoctions and over-the-counter creams to specialized serums and laser services, there are several methods by which vaginal bleaching can be performed.
However, the fact there are many ways to do it doesn’t mean all of them are advisable.
More on safety below!
Do you actually use bleach?
Nope!
Although the term includes “bleaching,” vaginal bleaching never — and should never — use household bleach.
Products labeled as “bleaching” usually contain active agents found in creams and serums, but these are not the same as straight bleach.
Why do people pursue it?
“Most people do it hoping to achieve a similar tone to the rest of their skin,” says Tamika K. Cross, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB-GYN and founder of Serenity Women’s Health & Med Spa in Houston, Texas.
The issue? Many people don’t realize that:
- Vulvar skin isn’t meant to match the rest of the body’s color.
- Labial pigmentation can shift for many reasons, including aging, pregnancy, and hormone fluctuations.
“People often hold unrealistic ideas about what their vulva should look like, and pursue extreme measures to reach certain aesthetics instead of accepting the normal physiology of their vulva,” she explains.
Is it normal to have darker vulvar skin?
Yes, absolutely!
“Skin across our bodies changes over time, including the sensitive area of the vulva and vagina,” says Sherry A. Ross, MD, women’s health authority and author of “She-ology” and its follow-up.
“Color changes in the vulva are normal, not unhealthy or unattractive,” Ross adds.
There are many reasons color might shift.
Often, it’s a natural outcome of hormonal shifts tied to life stages like pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.
Frequent bikini waxing can also darken the area. “Waxing can cause the vulvar skin to thicken, giving it a darker appearance,” Fosnight notes.
“Genetics, aging, and weight gain are other common contributors to these pigmentation changes,” Ross says.
That said, sudden or dramatic color changes warrant contacting a healthcare professional, since they could signal a medical condition.
“Abrupt changes in vulvar skin could point to eczema, vulvar cancer, lesions, or diabetes,” Fosnight warns.
Are there any other claimed benefits?
There are absolutely no medical benefits to lightening the intimate area.
That said, some people report psychological benefits.
As Fosnight explains: “If someone recognizes that wanting a lighter vulva stems from racist or sexist beauty standards and they’ve done the work to reject those messages, and still feel the procedure will increase their happiness, then that feeling of happiness can be considered a benefit.”
Is there any scientific evidence to back it up?
No.
In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has expressed concern about the growing popularity of genital cosmetic procedures like vaginal bleaching.
“These procedures are not medically indicated, and their safety and effectiveness have not been established,” ACOG states.
What are safer alternatives?
Fosnight says part of why people struggle to accept their vulvas is that they’re rarely shown the full range of shapes and tones vulvas come in.
So, expose yourself to a variety of vulvas. These resources can help:
- The Labia Library, a gallery of unaltered photos of vulvas and vaginas
- The Great Wall of Vagina, featuring 400 plaster casts of adult vulvas from around the world
- “Petals: Fine Art Photography of Vulvas” by Nick Karras, a photo book of 48 fine art vulva images available online
You might also consider therapy to unpack cultural messages you’ve internalized about what’s “beautiful.”
What if your partner pressures you to bleach?
If you have the energy, educate your partner about vulvar health and appearance.
“Tell them it’s natural and normal for the vulva to be darker than surrounding skin,” Foresight suggests.
“You can even show your partner other vulvas to help them understand,” she adds.
If a partner stops scrutinizing you after learning, great.
But if they persist in shaming your body, consider ending the relationship — you deserve a partner who respects you.
If you still want to try it — is it safe?
“You can’t make a blanket claim that all vaginal bleaching treatments are safe or unsafe,” Cross says.
Safety depends on many variables, such as:
- which product or procedure you choose
- where on the vulva it’s applied
- frequency of use
- duration of application
- your individual skin chemistry
- who is supervising or performing the treatment
Generally, clinician-supervised topical treatments or in-office laser procedures are considered safer than at-home methods.
Does the procedure hurt?
It can.
“It depends on what’s being done, your body’s response, the product used, where it’s applied, and how long and often it’s used,” Cross explains.
What risks and side effects should you expect?
Risks vary based on the treatment.
Short-term, “certain over-the-counter products can cause irritation, swelling, burning, inflammation, and infections like yeast or bacterial infections,” Ross says.
Long-term, some procedures, especially lasers and strong topical agents, can lead to loss of sensation — or the opposite, heightened pain.
“Some bleaching treatments can burn the vulva, causing permanent scarring and resulting in either decreased sensation or pain with touch,” Ross warns.
“Sometimes scarring occurs over the clitoral hood, causing it to adhere to the clitoris, which can make arousal intensely painful,” Fosnight adds.
“When that happens, there’s often little clinicians can do to reverse the issue,” she notes.
Who should definitely avoid it?
Anyone who doesn’t fully grasp the potential risks should not pursue vaginal bleaching.
As ACOG points out, prospective patients should be told there’s a lack of evidence supporting these procedures and about the possible complications.
How can you reduce the risk if you choose to proceed?
There are steps to lower complication risk.
See a qualified professional
“If someone is determined to bleach their bikini area, the safest route is to work with a trained medical professional,” Ross advises.
Important note: If a laser clinic offers to treat your inner labia, leave. The inner labia carry a higher risk of complications, and most reputable providers avoid lasering that area.
Skip DIY approaches
“Using bizarre at-home kits or do-it-yourself mixes increases the chance of adverse effects,” Ross warns.
If you must use something at home, take precautions
“Test any product on a small patch of forearm skin first,” Cross recommends. Wait the full recommended time on the package to check for reactions.
If you get pain, itching, or discoloration on your arm, you’ll likely react similarly on genital skin. Even if the arm shows no reaction, your genital skin could still react — but this patch test does reduce risk.
Also, if you’re researching body modifications, you may find related topics like vaginal fisting discussed in other sexual health contexts; approach information critically and consult clinicians for safety guidance.
Bottom line
If your vulvar skin has changed color suddenly or dramatically, see a healthcare provider to rule out medical causes.
If your vulva is simply darker than you expected, it’s likely healthy and normal.
As Ross says, “Vulvas and vaginas are like snowflakes — no two are the same. Different is normal! Darker labia skin is normal!”
If you still choose to pursue lightening treatments, follow the precautions above to lower the chance of lasting harm.
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