How to (Gently) Treat Vaginal Pimples
August 01, 2022
By: Truly Beauty
Discover how to treat vaginal pimples and what causes them in the first place.
Are pimples popping up on your vaginal area? No matter how diligent you are about hygiene, vaginal acne can still show up — and it usually does in the worst possible times, like before you go the beach.
Here, we explain what causes vaginal pimples and the best treatment options.
What are Vaginal Pimples?
Bumps in the genital area are incredibly common and often resemble facial acne. They are typically triggered by the same culprits: excess sebum (oil) production, trapped bacteria, and dead skin cells within the hair follicles. Hormonal fluctuations, stress, and friction can also cause or worsen these breakouts.
Note: While often referred to as "vaginal pimples," these bumps actually occur on the external genitals (the vulva). The internal vaginal canal does not have hair follicles or oil glands and cannot develop pimples.
Common Causes and Types
- Folliculitis: This is an inflammation or infection of the hair follicles, most frequently caused by shaving, waxing, or friction from tight clothing. It typically presents as small, red bumps or whiteheads centered around a hair shaft, often accompanied by ingrown hairs.
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS): Unlike a standard pimple, HS is a chronic, systemic inflammatory skin condition. It causes painful, deep, boil-like lumps in areas where skin rubs together, such as the groin or inner thighs. It occurs when hair follicles block and rupture deep beneath the skin.
- Contact Dermatitis: An allergic reaction or irritation caused by soaps, laundry detergents, lubricants, or menstrual products. This can result in red, itchy, pimple-like bumps.
How to Get Rid of Vaginal Pimples
#1: Try a Warm Compress
According to celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar, compresses are a great solution to ease inflammation and eliminate some of the pain. “You can, however, hold a warm water compress, followed by an ice-cold water compress,” says Aguilar.
#2: Exfoliate
Exfoliating helps to shed dead skin cells and unclog hair follicles, treating and preventing genital breakouts.
Apply our Smooth Legend Pre-Shave Scrub to keep your pubic area pimple-free. It’s made with coconut, passion fruit, and vitamin E to soften, soothe, and hydrate your skin while gently exfoliating so you end up silky smooth and never sore.
#3: Apply a Pubic Oil
The pubic area is highly sensitive and prone to friction, meaning it needs a balance of antimicrobial power and deep hydration to heal without clogging pores.
Apply our pimple-clearing Cooka Oil to those affected or sensitive areas for quick relief. It works by combining the natural antimicrobial power of tea tree oil to clear bacteria with lightweight jojoba and lavender oils to deeply soothe inflammation and soften hair without clogging pores.
The Best Routine to Prevent Vaginal Pimples
Since bad shaving products and techniques can actually cause pimples on your pubic area, you can prevent them from returning by upgrading to our Smooth Legend Shave Routine.
Featuring a pre-shave scrub, whipped shave cream, razor, and after shave treatment for the silkiest shave of your life.
What Else Could Your Vaginal Pimples Be?
Your vaginal acne might not actually be acne. Here’s what else it might be.
Bartholin’s cysts. They typically occur near one side of the vaginal opening. If they don’t clear up within a few days, see your doctor.
Genital herpes. Genital herpes are lesions that can look a lot like pimples. They appear around the vagina, vulva, and anus.
Genital warts. Commonly mistaken for pimples, genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can easily be treated.
Skin tags. They’re small flaps of tissue that appear in genital area, but can be easily removed.
If you’re still uncertain what the bumps on your vagina may be, visit a women’s health professional or dermatologist for help. You may be dealing with a viral infection, STD, or even a skin condition like contact dermatitis that needs to be appropriately treated.
How to Prevent Vaginal Pimples
Here are some ways to stop vaginal breakouts and bumps before they form.
- Wear loose, breathable clothing.
- Choose cotton underwear.
- Avoid touching your pimples too much.
- Use a gentler laundry detergent.
- Skip the scented lubrications and sanitary pads.
- Avoid waxing and other forms of hair removal until your bumps clear.
Vaginal pimples aren’t as common as the acne on your face, chest, and back, but it's more common than you’d think. Try the tips above to keep your bikini area bump-free. If none of these work, we recommend visiting your gynecologist for a check-up to ensure everything’s okay down there.
By prioritizing vaginal wellness, you can prevent a lot of nasty infections and diseases. Whenever you’re unsure about something, speak to a professional for guidance.
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