Intimate Care / Daily Hygiene

Your vulva needs a skincare routine too

We spend hundreds on facial skincare. Serums, moisturizers, night creams, eye creams. We have 12-step routines. We panic if our hands get dry.

But our vulvas? That delicate, thin-skinned, friction-exposed, hormonally-affected area? We ignore it until there's a crisis.

It's time to end the double standard.

Why vulvar moisturizing isn't "extra" – it's essential

Your vulvar skin is unique:

It's thinner than facial skin. It has fewer sebaceous (oil) glands than most body parts. It experiences constant friction from clothing, movement, and daily activities. It's affected by hormonal fluctuations throughout your cycle, during pregnancy, postpartum, and dramatically during menopause.

It's also constantly exposed to:

• Fabric friction (underwear, pants, exercise wear)
• Sweat and heat
• Hormonal changes that affect moisture levels
• Cleansing products (even gentle ones need to be followed with moisture)
• Environmental factors (dry air, cold weather)
• Hair removal trauma (shaving, waxing)

Yet we expect it to just... stay comfortable on its own?

Your face gets moisturized twice daily. Your vulva deserves the same attention.

The menopause dryness crisis

Let's talk about what nobody prepared you for: menopause doesn't just give you hot flashes. It fundamentally changes your vulvar tissue.

What estrogen does for your vulva:

• Maintains tissue thickness and elasticity
• Stimulates natural lubrication production
• Supports collagen and elastin synthesis
• Promotes blood flow to intimate areas
• Maintains skin barrier function

What happens when estrogen declines:

• Vulvar tissue thins (vulvovaginal atrophy/GSM)
• Natural lubrication decreases dramatically
• Skin loses elasticity and becomes fragile
• Dryness becomes chronic, not occasional
• Micro-tears form easily
• Everything feels irritated, sensitive, uncomfortable

This isn't "aging gracefully." This is a hormonal skin crisis that needs specific care.

And it starts in perimenopause – sometimes as early as your late 30s or early 40s. By the time you're in full menopause, vulvar dryness can be severe enough to affect every aspect of daily life.

Daily moisturizing isn't optional during this transition. It's essential maintenance.

What proper vulvar moisturizing actually does

It's not just about comfort (though that matters). Daily moisturizing:

Prevents micro-tears:
Dry skin cracks. Micro-tears create entry points for bacteria and yeast. Moisturized skin stays intact.

Strengthens skin barrier:
Your vulvar skin has a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and irritants out. Proper moisturizing supports this barrier function.

Reduces friction:
Moisturized tissue glides instead of chafing. Every movement becomes more comfortable.

Supports tissue resilience:
Regular nourishment helps vulvar skin maintain elasticity and bounce back from daily stress.

Prevents chronic inflammation:
Dryness triggers inflammatory responses. Moisture calms this cycle before it becomes chronic.

Makes intimacy possible:
Dry vulvar tissue makes arousal uncomfortable and sex painful. Proper daily care maintains tissue health for all activities.

Improves quality of life:
Constant discomfort affects everything – how you sit, walk, exercise, dress, and feel about your body.

The products you actually need

Daily moisturizers:
Rich balms and creams specifically formulated for vulvar skin. Not regular body lotion (wrong pH, potential irritants), not vaginal moisturizers (those are internal). External vulvar skincare.

Key ingredients to look for:

• Shea butter – Protective, nourishing, barrier-repairing
• Botanical oils (jojoba, olive, avocado) – Deep hydration, easily absorbed
• Aloe vera – Cooling, healing, anti-inflammatory
• Centella asiatica – Collagen synthesis, tissue strengthening
• Chamomile – Gentle soothing for sensitive skin
• Natural waxes – Create protective barrier without occlusion

What to avoid:

❌ Synthetic fragrances (common irritants)
❌ Colorants (unnecessary, potential irritants)
❌ Petroleum-based products (can trap bacteria)
❌ Regular body lotions (wrong pH, not formulated for intimate tissue)
❌ Products with alcohol (drying)
❌ Anything with parabens or endocrine disruptors

Who needs daily vulvar moisturizing

Short answer: Everyone with a vulva.

Urgently needed if you're:

✓ In perimenopause or menopause (estrogen decline causes severe dryness)
✓ On hormonal birth control (can affect natural lubrication)
✓ Taking medications that cause dryness (antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure meds)
✓ Postpartum or breastfeeding (temporary hormonal shifts)
✓ Experiencing chronic vulvar irritation or discomfort
✓ Shaving or waxing intimate areas regularly
✓ Exercising frequently (friction and sweat)
✓ Noticing texture or appearance changes in vulvar skin
✓ Finding intimacy increasingly uncomfortable
✓ Wearing synthetic underwear or tight clothing
✓ Living in dry climates or winter weather

If you're thinking "that doesn't apply to me," you still need this. Prevention is easier than treatment.

Building your vulvar skincare routine

Morning:

1. Cleanse with pH-balanced intimate wash (or just water)
2. Pat completely dry
3. Apply vulva moisturizer/balm
4. Allow 2-3 minutes absorption before dressing
5. Proceed with your day in comfort

Evening:

1. Cleanse gently
2. Pat dry
3. Apply vulva moisturizer/balm (more generously at night)
4. Sleep in breathable underwear or commando
5. Wake up with nourished, comfortable skin

That's it. Two products. Two minutes. Twice daily.

As simple as brushing your teeth. As important as any other hygiene practice.

What's different about intimate moisturizers

They're not just body lotion in fancy packaging.

Vulvar moisturizers are specifically formulated for:

• Intimate pH (4.5-5.5) that won't disrupt your microbiome
• Mucous membrane compatibility (vulvar tissue is more absorptive)
• Sensitive skin tolerance (this is your most sensitive area)
• Hormone-affected tissue (supporting tissue through transitions)
• Friction protection (creating barrier for daily movement)

Using regular body lotion on your vulva can:

• Disrupt pH balance
• Cause irritation from inappropriate ingredients
• Introduce allergens to sensitive tissue
• Fail to provide adequate barrier protection
• Not address hormone-specific tissue changes

Intimate-specific products aren't a marketing ploy. They're necessary.

The connection between cleansing and moisturizing

You can't have one without the other.

Harsh cleansing without moisturizing:
Strips skin, disrupts barrier, causes chronic dryness even with proper products.

Moisturizing without proper cleansing:
Can trap bacteria, doesn't allow products to penetrate, less effective.

The right approach:

1. Cleanse with soap-free, pH-balanced intimate wash (NOT regular soap)
2. Pat completely dry (moisture prevents product absorption)
3. Apply moisturizer to clean, dry skin
4. Consistency in both steps maintains healthy vulvar skin

Think of it like skincare:
You wouldn't moisturize without cleansing first (makeup and dirt block absorption). You wouldn't cleanse without moisturizing after (too drying). Same principle applies to vulvar care.

Breaking the silence around vulvar dryness

The discomfort is real. The stigma is bullshit.

Women suffer in silence with:

• Painful sex they feel obligated to have anyway
• Daily friction discomfort they think is "normal"
• Chronic irritation they're embarrassed to mention
• Menopause symptoms they accept as inevitable

None of this is inevitable. All of it is addressable.

Vulvar dryness isn't:

• A sign you're "old"
• Something to be embarrassed about
• A character flaw or personal failure
• "Just how bodies are"
• Something you have to suffer through

Vulvar dryness is:

• A treatable skin condition
• Often hormone-related (not your fault)
• Responsive to proper daily care
• Common (affects most women at some point)
• Worthy of attention and solutions

Your comfort matters. Your vulva deserves care.

Medical conditions that need more than moisturizer

Daily moisturizing supports vulvar health, but some conditions need medical treatment:

Lichen sclerosus:
Autoimmune condition causing vulvar skin changes. Needs prescription treatment + moisturizing support.

Lichen planus:
Inflammatory condition. Requires medical management.

Severe vulvovaginal atrophy:
May need hormone therapy (systemic or topical) in addition to moisturizers.

Vulvar eczema:
Might need prescription creams alongside gentle moisturizing.

Vulvodynia:
Chronic pain condition requiring specialized treatment.

If you have persistent symptoms despite proper care, see your healthcare provider.

Moisturizers support health. They don't treat disease. Know the difference.

Permission to prioritize this

You don't need a "good reason" to moisturize your vulva. You don't need to wait until it's "bad enough." You don't need anyone's approval to take care of your body.

Vulvar skincare is:

• Buying products specifically formulated for intimate areas ✓
• Using them daily, consistently ✓
• Treating your vulva with the same care as your face ✓
• Preventing problems before they start ✓
• Addressing dryness and discomfort as soon as you notice it ✓

Vulvar skincare is NOT:

• Vain or excessive ✗
• Only for "older women" ✗
• Admitting something's wrong with you ✗
• Optional or "nice to have" ✗

Your vulva is part of your body. Taking care of it is normal, healthy, and smart.

The bottom line

Moisturizing your vulva should be as routine as moisturizing your face. It's the same principle: delicate skin needs daily nourishment and protection.

Stop accepting discomfort as inevitable.
Stop thinking vulvar care is optional.
Stop waiting for problems to get severe before addressing them.

Start treating your vulva with the care and attention it deserves.

Your vulva does a lot for you. Return the favor.