It’s important to exfoliate the body, including the sensitive vulva area. It helps fight build-up, ensures a close shave or wax, and prevents itching, ingrown hairs and odor.
Indi steamed her vulva before exfoliating to open her pores, then used a scrub to remove dead skin cells and ingrown hairs. She then followed up with a nourishing, whipped, cacao rose moisturizer.
Body exfoliants
In addition to making your skin look and feel amazing, body exfoliants can help prevent ingrown hairs in the bikini area. This is because they remove dead skin cells and encourage follicles to grow in the right direction. This helps to reduce the risk of rash and other issues in the sensitive area.
In general, it is best to exfoliate the vulva, or pubic area, three times per week. The skin in this area is delicate and prone to lumps and bumps. It is recommended to use a gentle product to avoid irritation, especially in the crease where your underwear lies. Some options include Cetaphil’s extra gentle facial scrub, Simple’s smoothing face scrub, and La Roche-Posay’s ultra-fine scrub. It is important to note that scrubbing the actual vagina itself can be painful.
Vaginal exfoliation can also reduce the buildup of odor and other issues that may affect your vulva’s health. It can be done before shaving to prevent razor bumps and nicks. Afterward, you can apply a natural body oil or moisturizer to keep your skin soft and healthy.
Vulva exfoliation can also make it easier to wax the area. This is because it will eliminate any dead skin clinging to the hair follicles, which can cause pain during the waxing process. It is important to remember, however, that the vulva should not be scrubbed directly or with a rough brush. Instead, it is recommended to use a gentle exfoliating product in the area around the bikini line and the outer labia.
Scrubs
Exfoliating your pubic area, also known as the vulva or vaginal region, is essential to keep this sensitive skin healthy and free of clogs. When done correctly, it can eliminate ingrown hairs and razor bumps while leaving your skin looking more youthful and radiant. It can also help to prevent hyperpigmentation in the skin, and prevent inflammation from shaving.
Using scrubs that are made from natural ingredients is a great way to exfoliate the vulva. Some options include salt and sugar, which are both non-irritating and provide gentle scrubbing action. You can use a hand towel or loofah to apply the scrub, and be sure not to irritate the thin vulva skin.
Avoid using chemical exfoliators on the vulva because they can cause irritation and disrupt the body’s natural vaginal ph. Instead, try a natural body scrub that is free of sulfates and phthalates, such as Cetaphil’s extra gentle facial scrub or Simple’s smoothing face scrub.
Although it is important to exfoliate the vulva, it is not necessary to do so daily. A few times per week is usually sufficient. After exfoliating the vulva, be sure to moisturize it with a nourishing product. Some good options include shea butter, rose oil, and cold-pressed coconut oil. This will ensure that the skin stays hydrated and soft, which will in turn help to avoid ingrown hairs, infections, and hyperpigmentation.
Soaps
While soap is generally good for your body, it’s not ideal for your vulva. It can disrupt the natural balance of your vulva (that muscular tube on the inside that starts at your labia minora and ends at the cervix) and strip it of its protective barrier, which can lead to irritation and yeast infections. Instead, opt for intimate washes formulated for your vaginal area that are free of dyes, perfumes and other ingredients that can cause problems.
Washing your vulva with regular soap may even make things worse by over-scrubbing and irritating the delicate skin down there. It’s also a big no-no to use baby wipes, which are rough on the sensitive skin and contain preservatives, chemicals and fragrances, all of which can irritate your vulva.
But don’t fret if you aren’t sure how to clean down there; your vulva is self-cleaning, and all you really need to do is shower daily with water and gently scrub the exterior with your hand or a washcloth, if needed. If you’re worried about odor, a light coating of a vagina-safe moisturizer can help tame it. However, if the smell is significantly stronger than usual it could be a sign of something serious and you should make an appointment with your ob/gyn to get it checked out. (It might be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection like trichomoniasis.)
Oils
The vulva and pubic mound shed their skin naturally, but this process may not be enough to eliminate all of the dead cells. These cells can clog hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs and other problems. Exfoliating the vulva once or twice a week can help to eliminate these problems and leave the skin looking brighter and fresher. It can also help to reduce the risk of infections and odor. However, it is important to avoid over-exfoliating the vulva, as this can lead to irritation.
In addition, the vulva skin is softer and more delicate than other parts of the body, so it needs to be treated gently. If the genital area is exfoliated too harshly, it can damage or disrupt the natural pH balance of this sensitive region.
To avoid this, you should only use an exfoliating scrub or soap on the outside of the vulva. You should also avoid shaving or waxing the vulva. If you do need to shave, it is best to use a razor with a very sharp blade. This will prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn.
If you do decide to exfoliate the vulva, you should use a non-alcoholic scrub or soap with no fragrance. You should also avoid using any products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta hydroxy acids (BHA). These types of acids can strip the vulva of its natural protective oils. In addition, it is important to rinse the vulva with warm water after each exfoliation.
