How to Treat Vaginal Acne, According to Dermatologists (2024)

Acne on any part of the body can be a tremendous challenge to treat. But breakouts in the vaginal area are especially difficult. Not to fret, though—according to experts, pimples down there happen to almost everyone, and they're absolutely treatable.

Sometimes, this happens along the bikini line; other times, pores on your vulva can become clogged, causing blackheads in your private areas. We tapped board-certified dermatologists and a dermatological nurse for the lowdown on below-the-belt breakouts. Read on for what you should know about treating and preventing vaginal acne, including everything from small irritations to large blackheads in your public area.

Meet the Experts

  • Michele Green, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist specializing in acne treatment, laser resurfacing, and other cosmetic treatments.
  • Marina I. Peredo,MD, FAAD, is aboard-certified dermatologist and founder ofSkinfluence NYC.
  • Natalie Aguilaris a celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse. She practices at N4 Skincare Studio in West Hollywood.

What Is Vaginal Acne?

"Vaginal" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as the vagina is the term used to describe the actual canal, an area that isn't prone to acne. Instead, the correct term is vulvar acne. There are a few different types of breakouts that can develop in the vulvar area, including "comedonal lesions (much like a blackhead), a papule, pustule (pus-filled lesion), or cyst (which are generally larger and more painful)," says board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, Michele Green, MD.

According to Dr. Green, although common, breakouts along the bikini line and groin are "very upsetting for my patients. She adds, "Without warning, many people develop sebaceous cysts or acne-type eruptions in the groin and vaginal area. It is very important to stay on top of these things, as serious bacterial infections can occur."

Although vulvar acne is common, aesthetician and dermatologic nurse, Natalie Aguilar, notes that "there are also several other conditions, some infectious, that may be mistaken for vaginal pimples such as yeast or viruses"—another reason to keep an eye on any breakouts in the groin area.

Key Takeaways

  • Vaginal acne—better referred to as vulvar acne—often shows up in a few different types of breakouts: blackheads, papules, pus-filled lesions, and cysts.
  • Vulvar acne occurs when bacteria, dirt, or sweat clogs the hair follicle, resulting in inflammation, discomfort, and pain.
  • There are several causes of vulvar acne, including tight clothing, ingrown hairs from shaving, and irritants in skin products and chemicals.

What Are the Causes and Types of Vaginal Acne?

While it's undoubtedly annoying to deal with vaginal acne, there may be more doubt in getting to the core of the issue. Causes of vaginal acne could be anything from folliculitis to clogged pores. Getting to the root cause will get you closer to managing the acne and limiting its future presence on your body.

Folliculitis

According to board-certified dermatologist, Marina I. Peredo,MD, FAAD, one of the most common types of acne that can develop on the genitals is folliculitis. Folliculitis, she explains, is inflammation around the hair follicles, typically from shaving. It's a form of contact dermatitis. The hair gets trapped under the skin and becomes clogged. "Folliculitis can also occur from wearing tight clothing and ingrown hairs. The hair in the genital area tends to be curly, so it is more common for folliculitis to occur. The key is to make sure that you have good personal hygiene after shaving." Ingrown hairs are easy to identify, as Dr. Green says you can often "visualize a bump underneath" that appears as a "small black dot."

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Another highly common type of vaginal acne is hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), which Dr. Peredo calls "inverse acne." These are large, painful cysts that normally affect the vaginal area, genital area, or under the arms or the breasts. This occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged, which is followed by follicular rupture and a foreign body-type immune system response. They can be painful and don't heal very well, which can result in scars. Dr. Green notes that this type of acne and infection can be so large and painful that oral antibiotics, cortisone injections, and surgical excision are often necessary to treat this. HS can also be treated with isotretinoin in some cases.

Clogged Pores

Aguilar says clogged pores can also contribute to vaginal acne. "Vaginal pimples can form when dirt, sweat, and bacteria build up inside a pore, causing inflammation." These types of pimples are, according to Aguilar, "just like pimples on any other part of our face and body. They can be small, or they can be big."

Irritation

Irritation or excess heat, according to Dr. Green, is another cause of vaginal acne. "Many people, especially during the summer, exercise, swim, and stay out in the heat without showering. The perspiration and clogged pores, especially in the buttock and vaginal area, can cause acne breakouts."

Studies show that breakouts resulting from contact dermatitis are often due to exposure to different allergens and irritants. Dr. Green says, the culprit of the problem can be due to chemicals, creams, laundry detergent, fragrance, sanitary pads, feminine wipes, perfume, fragrant bubble baths, and lotions, or anything else that comes in contact with the vaginal area. "Occlusion from heat, sweating, tight clothes, spandex (and [additional] fabrics other than cotton) can cause this type of acne or cysts in the vaginal area," Dr. Green explains.

Molluscum Contagiosum

Dr. Peredo says that some lesions may look like acne but are, in fact, sexually transmitted diseases or infections. "Herpes on the genital area can appear as a pimple, but it's really a vesicle, a fluid-filled pimple," she says. "Molluscum contagiosum can often be confused with acne because it looks like tiny brown bumps with a dimple in the center. This virus is sexually transmitted." Similar to condyloma, or vaginal warts, "molluscum contagiosum can spread," explains, Dr. Green, "and needs to be treated." This is why a physician's diagnosis is always a good idea with these breakouts.

Treatment

You have a few treatment options depending on the type of vaginal acne you're facing. (When in doubt, always turn to a professional for treatment guidance.)

  • Keep the Area Clean and pH Balanced: "It's best to clean the bikini line with appropriate pH-balanced cleansers made for the vaginal area," suggests Aguilar. "Other cleansers can irritate and throw off the pH of the area, causing a bacterial imbalance and making it an ideal environment for bacteria."
  • Use Hot and Cold Compresses: Compresses are a good solution to "bring down inflammation and calm some of the pain," says Aguilar. "You can hold a warm water compress, followed by an ice-cold water compress" to the area. Dr. Peredo is also a fan of warm compresses, followed by spot treatments. "Benzoyl peroxide is a great product to use to prevent breakouts," she says.
  • Bring the Right Products Onboard: Aguilar suggests you apply Fur's Ingrown Concentrate Oil. "This oil can be applied post-shave or after cleansing. It helps soothe irritation and lightens discoloration." She also likes Completely Bare Bikini Bump Blaster Pads, which are saturated in witch hazel, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. "This blend helps reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs and bikini bumps." Plus, she loves the acidic combo: "It's amazing for blemishes and keeping the pores fresh, clean, and balanced."

Prevention

In the best-case scenario, you stop vaginal acne before it ever starts with one of the following prevention methods. (Although, this is by no means an exhaustive list.)

  • Laser Hair Removal: Dr. Green advises laser hair removal treatments to avoid folliculitis, especially if you're prone to developing ingrown hairs.
  • Avoid Wearing Tight Clothing: Vaginal acne can be caused by wearing tight clothing so it's best to skip out on clothing that may cause friction and lead to skin irritation.
  • Cut Out Fragrances: As previously mentioned, fragrance and perfumes can cause vaginal acne. These fragrances may be in lotions, soaps, or laundry detergent, among other products. Fortunately, this is a fairly simple swap to make.

When to See a Doctor

To prevent further infection, you might have to see a doctor, even to treat an ingrown hair. "If it doesn't resolve within two to five days and becomes more painful, you may need to see a gynecologist or dermatologist," advises Aguilar. She notes a doctor can "recommend [or prescribe] a topical or oral antibiotic to soothe inflammation and prevent further infection. They may also have to extract the hair."

She says these types of breakouts shouldn't be embarrassing. "Anyone who grooms, whether it be shaving, waxing, trimming, plucking, sugaring, or even cleansing,can be prone to [folliculitis]. I also have several clients who are prone to ingrown hairs simply from riding a bike. It is more common than we will ever know."

Finally, any discharge or odor from the vaginal area, according to Dr. Green, should warrant a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist "to assist you before the problem becomes more serious."

How to Treat Vaginal Acne, According to Dermatologists (2024)
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