Vaginal acne or pimples are unpleasant and, in the worst case, painful. Find quick relief by learning how to treat them. Vaginal health is important to your overall wellbeing and mindset.
Acne can manifest in many unpredictable locations. One prominent example is your face, back, and chest. But, your genitalia? Really? Perhaps you haven’t considered it, but if you suffer from vaginal acne, you’ve probably thought about it more than you’d want to admit.
If so, you can take it easy: Pimples on the vagina, often known as vaginal acne, are more common than most people believe. Vaginal acne is natural and frequent.
A build-up of sebum and bacteria can produce acne everywhere on the body. However, it is most prevalent on the face, chest, and back due to the greater concentration of sebaceous follicles. If you’ve got pimples below deck and want them to go away, here’s more information for you.
Reasons for Vaginal Acne
A pimple forms when oil and dead skin cells build up in the hair follicles of the vulva and labia.
The vulva has sebaceous glands and follicles that are susceptible to filth build-up much like any other place of the body with hair and perspiration. Shaving and waxing are all examples of feminine hygiene habits that uncover the hair follicles that can be susceptible to becoming infected or clogged, generating breakouts, pimples, and ingrown hairs.
Skimpy clothes, obesity, and hormone imbalances may all play a role in the development of acne. Runs and cycling can cause friction in the vaginal area, especially for women who exercise vigorously. The likelihood of developing acne in the vulva, groin, inner thigh, and buttocks can also increase with prolonged sitting.
The Sources of Your Acne and Other Vaginal Problems
Clogged pores or sore hair follicles cause vaginal pimples (also known as vulvar acne). But, the exact cause of clogging or inflammation can vary from person to person. These are just a few of the most typical reasons for vaginal blemishes.
- Contact dermatitis: Contact dermatitis occurs when skin (in this case, vaginal skin) comes into contact with products or materials that trigger an uncomfortable rash. Unfriendly genital scented soaps, bubble baths, colors, sanitary products, clothes, and chemicals can all irritate the skin.
- Folliculitis: Folliculitis, as the Cleveland Clinic describes, develops when an infected and inflammatory hair follicle in the pubic region is scratched or picked at. In medical terms, folliculitis is distinct from acne because folliculitis includes the hair follicle; therefore, there is always a hair involved, but with acne, there is not. Still, Folliculitis can develop into a skin boil so the end effect is the same.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa: It is a skin condition affecting your sweat and hair glands. Painful vaginal cysts are a hallmark of the disease known as hiatal hernia/hidradenitis suppurativa. According to studies, despite being a medical ailment, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) may have the exact cause of vaginal acne. HS is more common in women with vaginal acne, according to a French Society of Dermatology study.
- Hormonal shifts: Clinical & Experimental Dermatology published a recent pilot study. In that study, sixty percent of women with vulvar acne saw their condition worsen during menstruation.
- Molluscum contagiosum: A virus brings on these tumors of the genitalia. Skin-to-skin contact and sharing infected towels or clothing are the two most common ways that Molluscum contagiosum is spread. The virus manifests as innocuous little bumps that can be either white or light pink. In many cases, the peak of each spot will develop a tiny dimple.
- Sex: Experts agree that sex can provoke acne and sores of the vulva if there would be any skin harm. Itching and a rash in the vulva are vaginal dryness symptoms that can occur during sexual activity.
- Skin tags: Those are the little skin flaps that develop from too much rubbing. Typically larger than 3 mm in diameter and painless, and they are characterized by small pieces of hanging skin.
What do Vaginal Pimples Look Like?
The appearance of vaginal acne is identical to that of acne on other parts of the body. Various types of comedones (including blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts) are possible. You’ll discover it in regions, including the upper thighs, where more force is exerted to this fragile and sensitive portion of the body, meaning the vulva or places near the outer vulva genitalia.
Vaginal acne has similar symptoms to genital herpes, but they look different
According to the CDC, herpes manifests as blisters, which, once broken, reveal painful sores. Genital herpes can be any color from red to yellow to white. The clustering of painful lesions is a hallmark of this condition.
Meanwhile, the human papillomavirus is not confused with the blackheads and whiteheads of vaginal acne. Warts typically look like small cauliflower florets which can be found singly or in clusters.
Avoiding and Treating Vaginal Acne
Avoiding the irritant or source of follicular inflammation is the simplest method of treating vaginal acne. This includes washing the skin thoroughly before and after shaving, waxing, or using a laser to remove pubic hair. Women who frequently get vaginal acne should take a break from waxing or shaven pubic hair. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 60% of women who tried to get rid of pubic hair had ingrown hairs and acne.
A lot of germs can be found in public restrooms. It’s critical to either replace the bathroom supplies weekly or clean them thoroughly every day.
Further Advice on How to Clear Up Acne
- Use a loofah to avoid breakouts and ingrown hairs while your skin heals from hair removal.
- To avoid breakouts and irritation in the genital area, use an odorless, antibacterial soap and lotion instead of scented varieties.
