Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentPreventionWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
When to Seek Medical Care
You may find dark spots on yourvagina or vulvafor multiple reasons. Some causes, like aging, friction, and hormones, are less concerning than others. But sometimes dark spots can be problematic.
The color of yourvulvausually coincides with the tone of your skin and can range from pink to brown. Being familiar with your body and what is normal can help you identify changes in pigment.
This article explains the causes, treatment options, and ways to prevent dark spots on the vagina and vulva. It also covers when to seek medical care.
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What Causes Dark Spots on Your Vagina?
The Difference Between the Vagina and the VulvaThe vagina is inside your body. The canal starts at thecervixand ends at the outside of the body.“Vulva” is a blanket term for your exterior genitals. It includes the mons pubis (fatty tissue in front of the pubic bone), labia majora and minora (large and small vulvar lips),clitoris, andurethra. These structures may appear pinkish or brownish, depending on your skin tone.
The Difference Between the Vagina and the Vulva
The vagina is inside your body. The canal starts at thecervixand ends at the outside of the body.“Vulva” is a blanket term for your exterior genitals. It includes the mons pubis (fatty tissue in front of the pubic bone), labia majora and minora (large and small vulvar lips),clitoris, andurethra. These structures may appear pinkish or brownish, depending on your skin tone.
The vagina is inside your body. The canal starts at thecervixand ends at the outside of the body.
“Vulva” is a blanket term for your exterior genitals. It includes the mons pubis (fatty tissue in front of the pubic bone), labia majora and minora (large and small vulvar lips),clitoris, andurethra. These structures may appear pinkish or brownish, depending on your skin tone.
Age
As you age, your body changes, including your vagina and vulva. As estrogen declines duringmenopause, the vagina begins to atrophy (thin). In addition, blood flow to the area reduces, and thevagina becomes drier.All of these changes can make your vagina and vulva appear darker.
Friction
Vaginal or vulvar friction can make the genitals more susceptible todermatological(skin) conditions, includingpruritus(vaginal itching), as well asskin colorand texture changes.Common causes of friction include vaginal intercourse, tight clothing, and riding a bike.
Vaginal Infections
Common infections can also cause dark spots on the vagina. For example,vulvovaginitis, swelling or infection of the vulva and vagina, can result in skin discoloration.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) occurs when cysts grow on the ovaries, often resulting in infertility and other symptoms. People with PCOS typically have acne and other skin issues, including dark patches calledacanthosis nigricans(AN).
AN is an indicator ofhyperinsulinemia(high levels of insulin) anddiabetes, which are risk factors associated with PCOS.
Hormones
The hormonesestrogenandprogesteroneplay a role in skin pigmentation. Specifically, estrogen increases skin pigmentation, while progesterone decreases it.
When hormones are in balance, the skin maintains a usual pigmentation. However, an imbalance in these hormones can result in dark spots on the skin, including the vulva and vagina.
Skin pigmentation changes often occur duringpregnancy, when these hormones experience significant fluctuation.
Vulvar Cancer
Rarely, a dark spot on the vulva can be a sign of cancer. Symptoms ofvulvar cancerinclude:
How to Get Rid of Dark Spots on Your Vagina
Treating a dark spot depends on the cause. The following treatments may work for different conditions:
Since it can be challenging to know how to treat dark spots on the vagina without a proper diagnosis, seek a medical evaluation first.
Skin-Lightening Creams for Vulvar Dark Spots
Preventing Dark Spots on Your Vagina
You can’t always prevent dark spots on the vagina due to aging, hormonal fluctuations, and existing health conditions. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk ofvulvar inflammation and irritation, friction, andyeast infections, which include:
How to Perform a Female Genital Self-Exam
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Dark spots on the vagina or vulva may result from aging, hormonal fluctuations, or friction. In addition, more serious things like PCOS, infections, and cancer may cause them. Treatment depends on the cause, so an accurate diagnosis is essential. Since symptoms often overlap, you should seek a medical evaluation if you notice changes in your genital skin pigmentation.
Performing regular vaginal self-exams familiarizes you with the normal appearance of your genitals and makes spotting any changes easier.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Szymański JK, Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak A, Jakiel G.Vaginal aging-What we know and what we do not know.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4935. doi:10.3390/ijerph18094935Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE.Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage.Womens Health (Lond). 2017;13(3):58-67. doi:10.1177/1745505717731011National Library of Medicine.Vulvovaginitis.Popa ML, Popa AC, Tanase C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA.Acanthosis nigricans: To be or not to be afraid.Oncol Lett. 2019;17(5):4133-4138. doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9736Natale CA, Duperret EK, Zhang J, et al.Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.Elife. 2016;5:e15104. doi:10.7554/eLife.15104Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Szymański JK, Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak A, Jakiel G.Vaginal aging-What we know and what we do not know.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4935. doi:10.3390/ijerph18094935Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE.Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage.Womens Health (Lond). 2017;13(3):58-67. doi:10.1177/1745505717731011National Library of Medicine.Vulvovaginitis.Popa ML, Popa AC, Tanase C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA.Acanthosis nigricans: To be or not to be afraid.Oncol Lett. 2019;17(5):4133-4138. doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9736Natale CA, Duperret EK, Zhang J, et al.Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.Elife. 2016;5:e15104. doi:10.7554/eLife.15104Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Szymański JK, Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak A, Jakiel G.Vaginal aging-What we know and what we do not know.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4935. doi:10.3390/ijerph18094935Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE.Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage.Womens Health (Lond). 2017;13(3):58-67. doi:10.1177/1745505717731011National Library of Medicine.Vulvovaginitis.Popa ML, Popa AC, Tanase C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA.Acanthosis nigricans: To be or not to be afraid.Oncol Lett. 2019;17(5):4133-4138. doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9736Natale CA, Duperret EK, Zhang J, et al.Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.Elife. 2016;5:e15104. doi:10.7554/eLife.15104Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.
Szymański JK, Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak A, Jakiel G.Vaginal aging-What we know and what we do not know.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4935. doi:10.3390/ijerph18094935
Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE.Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage.Womens Health (Lond). 2017;13(3):58-67. doi:10.1177/1745505717731011
National Library of Medicine.Vulvovaginitis.
Popa ML, Popa AC, Tanase C, Gheorghisan-Galateanu AA.Acanthosis nigricans: To be or not to be afraid.Oncol Lett. 2019;17(5):4133-4138. doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9736
Natale CA, Duperret EK, Zhang J, et al.Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.Elife. 2016;5:e15104. doi:10.7554/eLife.15104
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.
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