Vaginal Acne Is a Real Thingand Yes, You Can Get Rid of It – Parade Magazine

There are a lot of places you expect to find pimples on your body. Your face, for one. Your chest and back, too. But your vagina? Really? Odds are good you havent given that much thoughtunless, of course, you have vaginal acne and then youve probably given it more thought than you care to admit.

If thats you, relax: Vaginal acnea.k.a. pimples of your vaginahappens with greater frequency than most people realize. Vaginal acne is normal and common, assures dermatologist Michele Green, M.D., an acne treatment specialist in New York City. Acne is a skin condition that commonly appears on the face, chest and back because there is a higher distribution of sebaceous [oily] follicles, but it can occur anywhere on the body where there is a build-up of sebum and bacteria.

If youre doing battle with a pimple situation below decks, heres what you need to know to get in the clear, fast.

A pimple can form on the external tissue of your vagina, known as your vulva and labia, anytime the skin pores in the area become clogged. The vulva has sweat glands and hair follicles that are prone to dirt buildup just like any other area of the body with hair and sweat, says womens sexual health expert Sherry Ross, M.D., the Los Angeles-based author of She-ology, the She-quel. Also, feminine hygiene routines such as shaving, waxing and lasering expose the hair follicles that can be prone to getting infected or blocked, causing acne, blackheads and ingrown hairs.

Strenuous exercise, like cycling and running, that leads to friction in the vaginal area may contribute to acne, as can tight clothing, obesity and hormonal changes, says Dr. Ross. Sitting for long periods of time can also increase the likelihood of vulva, groin, inner thigh and buttock acne, she adds.

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While clogged pores or inflamed hair follicles are the trigger for pimples to form on your vagina (also called vulvar acne), how that clogging or inflammation comes about can vary. These are some of the more common causes of vaginal acne or other types of vaginal bumps.

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Vaginal acne looks the same as acne on other areas of the body, says Dr. Green. It can take the form of blackheads, whiteheads and cysts. It is likely to appear on the vulva or areas near the external vulva genitalia, adds Dr. Ross: Youll find it in areas, including the inner thighs, where there is more pressure applied to this delicate and sensitive part of the body.

Vaginal acne looks different than the sexually transmitted disease known as genital herpes (caused by the herpes simplex virus), which initially appears as blisters that then break and turn into painful sores, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Genital herpes may be red, yellow, or white in color, says Dr. Green. It is typically painful and characterized by the grouping of lesions.

Meanwhile, you can tell the blackheads or whiteheads of vaginal acne from the human papillomavirus (a.k.a. genital warts) because those have a skin-colored or white bump-like appearance in the vaginal area, Dr. Green adds. They commonly look like small cauliflower florets that may appear as a singular wart or a grouping, she says.

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Because vaginal acne is directly correlated with irritation or follicular inflammation, the easiest route to treating it is simply avoiding what caused it in the first place. That means making sure that the skin around your pubic area is cleaned before and after any kind of hair removal process, whether you shave, wax or use a laser. In fact, if you frequently experience pimples on your vagina, you might consider giving pubic hair removal a rest for a while. A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 60% of women who remove their pubic hair experience complications, and the number one complication is ingrown hairs and pimples.

Also, the bathroom can be a reservoir for bacteria, so it is absolutely necessary to clean or replace bathroom items (like razors) weekly, says Dr. Ross.

Other tips for getting rid of acne:

If these strategies arent doing the trick, its time to see a dermatologist. Topical or oral antibiotics may be necessary to effectively treat vaginal acne, says Dr. Green, adding that an experienced dermatologist may be able to manually extract the acne lesions. And if there is an ingrown hair, it will need to be extracted by a dermatologist. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, she adds, laser hair removal may be the preferred method to avoid developing folliculitis in the bikini area.

Recurrent or severe vaginal acne may require another step in medication to treat it. A study in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology found that anti-androgen (hormonal) therapy alleviated symptoms in most women.

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Step number one for DIY vaginal pimple pain relief? Keep things clean down there. Between urine, sweat and being so close to the anus, cleaning the vulva regularly is critical to prevent dirty bacterial buildup in clogged skin pores which could lead to acne, says Dr. Ross.

You can also apply a warm compress to the area to ease any pain, followed by a cool compress to reduce inflammation, suggests Dr. Green. Or consider taking a warm sitz bath with extra virgin coconut oil. This may relieve vulva swelling, pain, irritation or itching, says Dr. Ross. (Not familiar with sitz baths? These are shallow bowls that you can sit in to cleanse or soothe your bottom or genital area. You can find them for sale at most medical supply stores, but you dont need to buy one: filling your bathtub with enough water to cover your hips while sitting will do the trick.)

Other home hacks include showering after every workout or anytime you get sweaty and wearing loose clothing made from breathable fabrics like cotton to prevent moisture from collecting in your vaginal area, which can trigger an acne outbreak.

Finally, fight the urge to pop or squeeze pimples, cautions Dr. Green. Popping pimples in this area can spread bacteria and cause an infection, she says. The infection can worsen and affect the body systemically. So dont do it.

Cystic acne refers to a particular type of inflammatory acne that develops after bacteria gets inside the pores and causes inflammation. This leads to painful pimples that form under the skin surface, per the Cleveland Clinic. These are pus-filled lesions that develop deep below the surface of the skin, says Dr. Green. They appear as a red bump on the surface that is often painful and large in size. Although it is more common on the face or back than your vagina, cystic acne can occur in the genital area if there are clogged pores.

Cystic acne shouldnt be confused with vaginal cystslumps or bumps on the vagina that are filled with air, mucus or pus. They are not usually dangerous but can be painful. There are several types of vaginal cysts, according to the Cleveland Clinic:

Whether you have vaginal cysts, cystic acne or basic pimples on your vagina, the advice remains the same: If they dont go away in a week or two, or if they disappear but keep coming back, its time to see your doctor for a vaginal health checkup. Embarrassing? A little, sure. But your health comes first. It is important to stay on top of acne lesions in the vaginal area to prevent serious bacterial infections from occurring, says Dr. Green.

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Vaginal Acne Is a Real Thingand Yes, You Can Get Rid of It - Parade Magazine