Why Is My Private Area Dark During Pregnancy?

Vaginal changes during pregnancy – During pregnancy, you know the role that hormones play in all sorts of wacky changes throughout your body, from nasal congestion to swollen feet. Many of these symptoms are due to increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which boost blood flow throughout your body to support your baby — including to your labia.

Swelling. The labia majora and minora may increase slightly in size and look puffy or swollen for the duration of your pregnancy. Discoloration. The color of your skin on both your inner and outer labia may temporarily darken to a bluish or purplish color due to increased blood flow. Labia shape. Sometimes the outer lips may slightly retract, which can make the inner lips look bigger or expose them for the first time. Varicose veins. Varicose veins are common during pregnancy, including on your vulva (or external genitalia). Increased blood flow throughout the body can cause blood to pool in the pelvic region, dilating blood vessels and leading to bluish, bumpy veins that are aggravated by long periods of standing, exercise or sex. Infections. Hormonal changes can increase the risk of yeast infections during pregnancy — and the corresponding itchiness and discomfort. Increased discharge. Extra discharge during pregnancy helps to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina. Discharge should be thin, milky and mild-smelling. If it’s lumpy, thick or accompanied by other symptoms (like itchiness or a fishy odor), let your doctor know. Spotting. While heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks through a pad is a sign of something potentially more serious, light spotting during pregnancy is relatively common and usually benign.

View complete answer

Is it normal to have dark private areas during pregnancy?

– Skin hyperpigmentation during pregnancy is very common. You may notice your nipples/areolas, armpits, or genitals become darker. You may see a line ( linea nigra ) extending from the pubic area over the belly, or darkening of the skin all over the body.

Changing hormones, particularly the excess of estrogen and progesterone, is the main cause of melasma during pregnancy. Beyond that, the dark patches on the face can be exacerbated by sun exposure, the use of certain skin care products or treatments, and even genetics. Chloasma may also be worsened by hormonal imbalances that may have been present even before pregnancy.

Whatever the case, your melanocyte-stimulating hormones react to these triggers by making an excess of protective pigments (dark patches) on the skin called melanin.
View complete answer

How can I lighten my dark private parts while pregnant?

Turmeric and Lemon Juice – Applying a mix of 1 tbsp lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric powder on the affected areas and washing off after five minutes with cold water helps in reducing the pigmentation significantly.
View complete answer

Does skin darkening go away after pregnancy?

Skin and hair changes – Hormonal changes taking place in pregnancy will make your nipples and the area around them go darker. Your skin colour may also darken a little, either in patches or all over. Birthmarks, moles and freckles may also darken. Some women develop a dark line down the middle of their stomach, called ‘linea nigra’.

• These changes will gradually fade after the baby is born, although your nipples may remain a little darker.
• If you sunbathe while you are pregnant, you may burn more easily.
• Protect your skin with a good high-factor sunscreen and don’t stay in the sun for a long time.
• Hair growth can also increase in pregnancy, and your hair may be greasier.

After the baby is born, it may seem as if you are losing a lot of hair but you are simply losing the extra hair.
View complete answer

Why does my private area turn dark?

3. Friction and Inflammation – Friction and inflammation contribute to the darkening of the intimate area, and those issues come from many sources. Underwear that doesn’t fit well, exercise, walking, and sex all cause friction. Anywhere that skin rubs against something else is likely to experience hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to prevent this kind of friction.
View complete answer

How do I get rid of black in my private area?

03 /7 ​Gram Flour (Besan) – Make a thick paste of gram flour and water. Apply this mixture on the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off with lukewarm water and repeat this process 2-3 times a week for best results. readmore
View complete answer

Why private parts are darker than other parts?

Why genitals are darker than other parts of your body – Punch Newspapers Tunde Ajaja Ever wondered why the skin covering your genitals is darker than the skin in other parts of your body? Here’s why • Consultant gynaecologist, Dr. Olanrewaju Ekujumi, says it’s due to hormones.

He also says friction plays a role in the darkening of those body parts. • For people who are sexually active, friction contributes more. • A dermatologist, Dr. Lindsey Bordone, says at puberty, sex hormones tend to increase in the body, and in the process, the melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair colour, would also be produced.

• Melanin production alongside the sex hormone — oestrogen for women and testosterone for men — makes the penis and labia to darken. • Also, a clinical dermatologist, Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, says hormones could influence the colouring of the skin at puberty, saying the sex hormones — oestrogen and testosterone — regulate the melanocyte that produces melanin cells.

• Hormones regulate the way melanocytes produce their pigment, which can influence the way the skin in those areas pigments. • Rokhsar says external factors such as friction could also influence the colouring of the skin after puberty, saying when the skin experiences friction, it naturally thickens to protect itself, which is partly reflected in the colour. • He says the darker colour of the genitals would be more intense in men who wear tight pants, shave their genitals regularly or have itches that could result in scratching or rubbing. • Athletes and people who are obese are more likely to experience same because of friction. • Again, when the colour of a body part gets darkened excessively, experts say it could be a symptom of excess sugar. • Bordone says your skin can darken in certain areas if your sugar is very high, and you are developing diabetes. • If you notice darkening in some areas, get checked out, especially if it is in your neck or armpits, because it can be a sign of diabetes. • If you gain weight, you can experience acanthosis nigricans — a skin condition that leads to velvety discolorations in the groin and other areas.

: Why genitals are darker than other parts of your body – Punch Newspapers
View complete answer

Is it normal to have dark inner thighs during pregnancy?

Skin Changes in Pregnancy Most of the skin changes seen in pregnancy are due to the effects of hormones on various body structures. The effects on the skin may be considered normal and not disease-related. However, these same effects may be viewed as pathologic to the woman who has new skin changes. Some of these changes are permanent, but others are present only during or for a short time after pregnancy.

Pigment Changes Hair and Nail Changes Melasma or Chloasma What causes it? How do I treat it? Treatment Effect on Baby Appearance Timing Cause Treatment Effect on Baby

The most common pigmentation change in pregnancy is called hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin. It is believed that higher levels of estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone cause this skin darkening. The latter is a hormone that causes the pigment producing cells, or melanocytes, to make more melanin.

Areas that were darker prior to pregnancy such as the areolae, nipples, genital skin, armpits, and inner thighs tend to get even darker. Sometimes a dark line, called linea nigra, forms on the abdomen. Other women experience a darkening of facial skin called melasma. Hair changes in pregnancy can vary from too much to too little.

Many women notice more, darker hair on the face, arms, and legs. The same women may also notice a thinning of the hair on the scalp. This condition is known as telogen effluvium and is caused by a shift of these hairs to the telogen, or resting, phase.

1. It is during the telogen phase that hairs are shed.
2. This shedding may last from 1 to 5 months but may not stop until 15 months after delivery.
3. Nail changes in pregnancy include brittleness, groove formation, or a separation of the nail from the end of the nail bed called onycholysis.
4. Melasma or chloasma is a brownish discoloration of the face that occurs most often in women.

Men can also develop this problem. The brown color often fades in winter and gets worse in the summer. Pregnancy (mask of pregnancy) is the most common cause of melasma. Women who are taking oral contraceptives are at risk of developing melasma. Sunlight is a major factor in the development of melasma.

A strong sunscreen such as Elta Block, Ombrelle, and Shade Lotion SPF 45, etc., should be applied to the face each morning. Hydroquinone 4% cream (available by prescription) applied to the face twice a day (in the morning before applying sun screen and later in the day) is the main treatment for melasma.

Retin-A cream applied to the entire face each night before bed has been shown to be an effective treatment for melasma. Dr. Guccione and Anne Carlisle, FNP, can also prescribe a combination of prescription medications that may be effective in treating your melasma.

Most importantly, however, avoid intense sunlight! This brings out more brown discoloration. It is your body’s natural protection response from the sun. Pemphigoid gestationis is also known as herpes gestationis, although the latter name is misleading since this condition is not associated with any virus.

This is a rare, itchy, autoimmune disease that occurs during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and around the time of delivery. Pemphigoid gestationis occurs in 1 per 7,000 to 50,000 pregnancies. It begins with very itchy, red hives or small bumps around the belly button.

1. Within days to weeks, the rash spreads, and the hives and bumps join to form bizarrely shaped circular patches that cover a wide area of skin.
2. The rash can involve the trunk, back, buttocks, forearms, palms, and soles.
3. It usually does not involve the face, scalp, or inside of the mouth.
4. After 2 to 4 weeks of this rash, large, tense blisters form at the edges of the rash or in apparently normal skin.

This condition usually starts during the second or third trimester, although it has been reported in the first trimester and a short time after delivery. The average appearance is at 21 weeks gestation. Spontaneous clearing of the rash may occur later in the pregnancy, but uncomfortable flares occur immediately prior to delivery in 75% to 80% of women.

• The rash may also recur when menses resumes or with the use of oral contraceptives.
• With subsequent pregnancies, pemphigoid gestationis usually recurs earlier and may be more severe.
• Only 8% of women do not develop pemphigoid gestationis in subsequent pregnancies.
• A few women with very mild cases of pemphigoid gestationis can be treated with steroid creams and antihistamines.

However, the majority of women require oral steroids to control their symptoms. A high dose is usually used to get symptoms under control and then tapered as the rash improves. Because antibodies cross the placenta, the antibodies that cause pemphigoid gestationis can affect the baby.

1. A noticeable rash has been reported in 5% of newborns born to moms with this condition.
2. This newborn rash is transient and resolves on its own without treatment.
3. There is evidence that women with pemphigoid gestationis have an increased risk of premature delivery.
4. Current studies indicate that there is not an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

This condition was first described in 1981. It is believed to be more common than previously thought. One study showed the incidence of this disease to be 1 per 3,000 pregnancies. The rash consists of several small red bumps that may or may not be filled with pus.

These bumps are usually on the shoulders, upper back, arms, chest, and abdomen. The condition looks like acne. However, culture of the bumps does not reveal any bacteria. The rash can be very itchy. Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy typically develops in the second half of pregnancy. It resolves spontaneously within 2 to 3 weeks after delivery.

The cause of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is unknown. Some investigators believe it is caused by hormonal changes. Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is typically treated like mild acne. Benzoyl peroxide has been used with some success, but antibiotics are not needed.

Oral antihistamines are useful to treat the itching. There are differing reports about the affect of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy on the baby. One study showed an increase in lower birth-weight babies. However, other studies did not confirm this. This condition does not increase the risk of prematurity or of stillbirth.

: Skin Changes in Pregnancy
View complete answer

Why is it dark between my legs?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm? Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Overview Dark skin on the inner thighs can be experienced by anyone, regardless of skin tone. It occurs when the skin on the inner thigh produces an abundance of melanin, a pigment that gives skin its color.
View complete answer

How long does stomach stay dark after pregnancy?

Why do I still look pregnant? – It takes time for your body, and especially your tummy, to fully recover from pregnancy. You’ve had your baby, but you may look as if you’re still six months pregnant, with a tummy that’s squishier and rounder than you expected.

1. Imagine your tummy as a balloon, slowly inflating as your baby grows.
2. Giving birth doesn’t pop the balloon, it just starts a slow leak.
3. The decrease in your tummy size may be slow, but it will be steady.
4. From the moment your baby is born, hormonal changes cause your tummy to decrease in size.
5. However, it takes another six to eight weeks for your womb (uterus) to contract to its pre-pregnancy size (Berens 2019),

The extra fluid that built up in your body during pregnancy will gradually decrease, reducing swelling and bloating (Berens 2019), And any extra fat you put on to nourish your baby will start to burn off, especially if you’re breastfeeding and exercising (Berens 2019),

• But it takes at least a few weeks to see noticeable results.
• After giving birth you may still have a dark line down your tummy called a linea nigra, as well as a web of stretch marks,
• The linea nigra is caused by pigmentation in the skin where your tummy muscles have stretched and slightly separated, to accommodate your baby as she grew (APA nd),

This line of pigmentation usually fades within a few months of giving birth (APA nd), Stretch marks are caused by your skin stretching over your fast-growing body during pregnancy (NHS 2019c), You may have them on your tummy, thighs and breasts (NHS 2019c),
View complete answer

Do dark armpits go away after pregnancy?

Why does hyperpigmentation occur? – Melanin is the natural pigment found in our bodies that gives color to our hair, eyes, and skin. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body experiences many endocrinological and hormonal changes. These changes often result in an increase in melanin, causing certain areas of her skin to become darker.

When this darkness occurs on surface areas like your face or arms, it’s called melasma. These elevated melanin levels can also cause places that are naturally more melanin-rich (areolas, underarms, inner thighs) to become even darker. These places also experience a lot of friction, so their melanin-production capabilities are basically supercharged.

This type of is most common in women of color, who generally have more melanin present in their skin from the jump. If you’re really concerned about the darker patches of skin, don’t worry. Much of the hyperpigmentation will fade sometime in the year after you give birth or when you finish breastfeeding.

Wear sunscreen when you go outside, even on cloudy or rainy days Use skin products formulated for sensitive skin like Stop using aluminum or baking soda based deodorants that can cause irritation Research prenatal vitamin options that contain folate, which helps right hyperpigmentation Limit waxing often to avoid inflammation and an increase in melanin production Try clean skincare products that include like uva ursi extract, vitamin C and salicylic acid.

As always, consult with your doctor to make sure the product your using is right for you. Going forward, I will make it a goal of mine to discuss this aspect of pregnancy more frequently. It’s another beautiful sign of everything our bodies go through to create life, so it shouldn’t be kept hushed up out of embarrassment.
View complete answer