Bottoms Up: Lightening Discreet Areas

Writing this article has taken me longer than others. Not because I wasn't compelled enough to blog, or that the subject matter was more difficult. I mean, Treating Melasma and Fading Freckles were harder to write since those pigmentation issues are very complex and there's a lot of factors to take into consideration. I think the reason for me having difficulty writing this is trying to find the right words to make this topic more...presentable.

I'm going to stop beating around the bush (no pun intended, lol). This article is about lightening the vaginal, anal, butt and inner thigh area. I'm not going to focus too much on anal or vaginal bleaching since there really isn't much to say, but I will definitley be putting an emphasis on lightening the other discreet areas.

I was going to blog about this sooner or later, but after getting 2 e-mails addressing the issue I figured I should just research and apply what I know to hopefully help somebody who has pigmentation concerns in these areas.

Firstly I am going to cover lightening up the butt and inner thigh. If you refer back to an article I wrote, Lightening Knees, Knuckles & Elbows you will know that certain areas of our bodies are more prone to hyperpigmentation or irregular melanin distribution. The reason being just the anatomy of where certain body parts are positioned. The elbows, the butt - these are areas of pressure and exertion. Melanin is a defense mechanism to any external damage or inflammation/irritation. Often times, people of color are more prone to discolorations and hyperpigmentation in these areas because of a natural high amount of melanin production.

The butt and inner thigh have very sensitive skin that is thinner than the skin on our face (albeit the eye area which has the thinnest skin). Lightening these areas are similar to regular body lightening, but done in a more gentle approach.

Using a skin lightening soap can really go a long way. The Diane Stadler's Black Licorice Soap is one that I recommend since it is mainly comprised of licorice extract, one of the most gentle tyrosinase inhibiting ingredients out there. The 3-minute rule that I outlined in Soaps & Skin Lightening applies to the butt and inner thigh as well.

You don't necessarily have to use that soap or any skin lightening or skin brightening soap for that matter. Soaps are optional, but I think they are a great, gentle way to get cumulative lightening on your skin (overtime the results do show. Trust me, I'm living proof).

I know there are procedures you can get from spas and dermatologists involving body peels and such. I'm not sure if these body AHA peels cover the butt area or the inner thighs, but I think generally lightening these areas should remain with skin lighteners and not strong acid peels.

With that being said, the best way to get some skin lightening up in those places is to apply your skin lightener, very thinly to those areas. Preferrably right after you shower so it's easier. Like I mentioned earlier, the skin on those areas is slightly thinner than your face so it absorbs active ingredients faster. It also can be irritated more quickly, so using every other day or so is most ideal.

Any skin lightener that works on your face can do the job. Since I don't have discoloration or hyperpigmentation on those areas, I can only say what I would do if I had that issue. I would treat the area like it was my face and lighten it, except not use retinoids or strong alpha hydroxy acid products there. A skin lightener with a mild amount of AHAs would be ideal in my opinion since we all know exfoliation (no matter how minimal it is) helps with the skin lightening process.

Some body lighteners I recommend off the top of my head:

Surely White Body Lightening Lotion, Fair & Flawless Body Lightening Gel, Dr. Michelle Copeland AHA Body Smoothing Lotion with Kojic Acid, Makari Body Beautifying Milk,

Body lighteners generally tend to be more gentle than facial skin lighteners.

There is also an entire line, dedicated to lightening initmate areas like the butt, inner thigh and such by South Beach Cosmetics.

Now onto anal and vaginal bleaching.

From what I've been researching it seems there are procedures that can be done by a dermatologist.However the 'procedure' is usually just a precription to either a hydroquinone based skin bleaching cream or an azealic acid treatment (like Finacea Gel).

Vaginal and anal bleaching is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It's actually a very common issue that affects women and men. Especially during these last few years where there is much more exposure to the issue. I am more than positive that if you were interested in obtaining an azleaic acid product for your vaginal or anal area from your dermatologist he/she will not look at you and be like, "wtf?". It's very common and nothing to feel embarrased about.

From the research I've done, it seems hydroquinone (for some reason I don't know) is often prescribed for this issue. I don't understand that. Regardless, never use a hydroquinone based skin lightener on these areas. Not even on your butt or inner thigh. That is definitley not safe, and any reputable dermatologist would agree. HQ is not supposed to go near genitalia, areas of thin skin (eyes and discreet areas) as well as mucuous membranes.

Instead you can pretty much follow what you do for lightening the butt and inner thigh. Using lightening soaps, and skin lightening creams that do not have AHAs in them are recommended. If you decide to apply a lightner there, some you can look into are: Makari, Neostrata Spot Lightener,  Cosmetic Skin Solutions or Skinceuticals Phyto +, Paul & Joe Whitening Serum, O'tentika etc.

Despite the skin in these areas being thinner, they are also more sensitive and reactive. Skin lightening results will take a bit longer since those areas are naturally more melanin concentrated (again due to natural anatomy) so expect after 8 weeks to see some visible change and 12 weeks for a more profound improvement.

If anyone has ever done a procedure or treatment involving anal or vaginal bleaching...please comment. Let me know, since I can't find anything regarding that. I am interested in what exactly can be used aside from regular lighteners down there since that area is in such a sensitive location.

^_^