This Is Why Your Private Area Is Dark, Plus Other Must-Knows

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Sexual Health

Why Is My Private Area Dark?’

Medically reviewed by Kelsey Nank, PA-C — Written by Simone Marie — Updated on June 2, 2025

Is it normal?
How it can vary
Why does it happen?
Other areas
Prevent darkening
Is darkening harmful?
When to see a doctor
How to embrace it
Cosmetic options
Takeaway

Health and science writer, Simone Scully, explains what can cause darkening of skin in your private area, what’s normal, and when you should see your doctor.

Lots of things in our bodies change with age, but one thing you might not have expected to change is the color of the skin around your genitals.

Like anything, this change usually doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s gradual — so gradual, in fact, that you might not notice it right away.

But then one day you do, and you find yourself wondering: Is everything OK?

Is darker genital skin normal?

It’s perfectly normal for the skin of your labia, scrotum, and anus to be darker than the skin elsewhere on your body.

This darkening is called hyperpigmentation.

“In most people post-puberty, the skin in the genital area will be darker than other skin areas,” explains Hadley King, MD, a dermatologist based in Manhattan, New York.

It looks different for everyone

“The color will vary from person to person,” says King. “There is no ‘normal’ color in this area, but it tends to be darker than other areas.”

Your natural skin tone plays a role in how dark your private area appears. Hyperpigmentation might show up as a more subtle color difference on paler skin compared with darker skin tones.

If you have darker skin, it might be more of a “true darkening of the skin, usually more brown in nature,” says Evan Goldstein, DO, anal surgeon and founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical, a New York City practice specializing in sexual wellness.

The darkening usually stems from one of these factors

Hormones

Your skin has certain cells, called melanocytes, which form melanin. In your genital area, those melanocytes are particularly sensitive to hormones.

“The genital area gradually becomes darker in response to hormonal changes over time,” explains Tamika Cross, MD, a board certified OB-GYN based in Houston, Texas, and co-owner of Serenity Women’s Health & MedSpa.

“This can be during puberty, pregnancy, or aging in general. For example, estrogen is one of the hormones that can result in increased pigment in certain areas such as the labia.”

Hormonal changes can also darken the skin on or around your nipples, areolae, and anus.

“During puberty and pregnancy, estrogen levels are elevated, which results in increased pigmentation of those areas,” Cross says. “Most times, if this happens, it doesn’t go away. If anything, it stays the same or darkens more.”

Friction and inflammation

“An increase in friction can lead to an increased potential for melanocyte hyperactivity,” says Goldstein.

In other words, friction can cause those cells to produce more melanin, leading to pigmentation.

Goldstein notes, “sex and all that comes with it brings elevated friction to the area,” leading to a color change. Both vaginal and anal sex can cause this kind of friction.

The labia and upper thigh area, particularly in the skin folds in your groin area, can also darken because of daily rubbing or the trauma of childbirth.

“With constant rubbing or trauma, the skin undergoes a process called keratinization, which matures the cells towards the outermost layer of skin,” explains Cross. “These cells have melanin in them, [so] this process results in thicker and darker skin in those areas.”

Shaving and hair removal products can also lead to darkening of the skin for the same reason. Friction can also lead to inflammation in the skin, which can, in turn, cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

“We see this, for example, after a pimple,” says King, as well as “in the folds of the groin, [where] there can be inflammation caused by moist skin rubbing against moist skin — a condition called intertrigo.”

Yeast infections, ingrown hairs, and folliculitis can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, too.

Aging

“Darkening in your genital area usually comes with age,” says Cross.

This is because your skin has experienced more years of repeated trauma or has gone through more hormonal changes.

It can happen to other areas of the body, too

Skin darkening can occur in lots of places on your body.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can darken your nipples, areolae, and moles. It can also cause a dark line (or linea nigra) down the center of your lower abdomen below your belly button.

Hyperpigmentation can occur on your face, chest, back, and arms due to skin exposure. Usually, this shows up as sun spots or freckles.

You might also experience darkening anywhere where your skin ‘folds’ a lot, like your elbows, knees, underarms, and knuckles.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, such as after a pimple or rash, can also occur anywhere on your body.

There are a few things you can avoid to minimize darkening

Hyperpigmentation due to hormonal changes and aging are difficult to prevent. But, for friction, there are things you can do.

“In theory, whatever can be done to help limit friction can potentially help minimize darkening of the genital area,” says Goldstein.

You can try decreasing chafing and friction by:

avoiding tight-fitting clothing and underwear
keeping your skin moisturized
avoiding hair removal, like waxing or shaving, which can cause folliculitis and inflammation
wearing sweat-wicking clothing

Darkening shouldn’t result in side effects or complications

As much as you might not like the change, it’s usually not dangerous.

If you think the cause is inflammation, keep an eye on the areas to make sure they don’t get infected. Just try to keep the areas clean and dry.

But if the change in color is sudden, see a doctor

“Sudden skin changes should always be addressed right away,” says Goldstein. “There are various systemic pathologies that can be responsible for sudden changes in the way skin looks.”

If the darker area itches, it’s usually a sign of inflammation caused by an infection or an allergic reaction to a product you might have used.

Abrupt skin color changes can also be caused by underlying conditions, like diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

“If the skin becomes darker and starts to become sick or rough, it may signify a condition known as acanthosis nigricans,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

“The same type of velvety appearing, darkly colored skin also occurs along the neck and under arms, [and] it is frequently associated with high blood sugar levels and diabetes,” explains Zeichner.

If the darkening appears suddenly and seems to be more spotted, bumpy, or scabby, it could also be a sexually transmitted infection, like genital warts.

That’s why, Goldstein reaffirms, “if something doesn’t look or feel right, make an appointment to see a specialist.”

Otherwise, give yourself space to get reacquainted

Remember: Darkening is completely normal, especially as you get older. And you’re not alone in going through it. Everyone will experience some degree of it at some point in their lives.

“It’s pretty rare to find someone who doesn’t have some degree of skin variation by a certain age,” says Goldstein. Don’t let Photoshopped images you see online or in magazines fool you into thinking you’re abnormal.

It’s also important to remember that change isn’t bad. So take some time to get to know your new body — it’s still beautiful, and no one should tell you anything different.

Your body is your own, and you decide what to do

If you really don’t like the pigmentation of your private area, there are various cosmetic treatments you might want to try, including chemical peels or laser treatments.

A certified dermatologist can go over your options with you and safely advise you on what you can do. But just make sure you’re considering cosmetic treatments for yourself — not because someone else told you to.

If you do seek cosmetic treatment, “it’s important to see someone who treats your concern regularly, so do your research and don’t be afraid to get a second (or third) opinion,” says Goldstein. “Sometimes you treat one issue while creating another issue, or you end up making the original problem worse.”

A note on safety

Be sure you speak with a certified specialist.

“Improper bleaching techniques and use of illegitimate products can lead to infections, skin damage, permanent discoloration, and anal strictures,” explains King.

The bottom line

If you have questions about your darkening skin, talk with a healthcare professional. Remember, they’re there to help.

And if you have questions about how to lessen darkening or which cosmetic treatments may help, it’s always best to talk with a professional.

A healthcare professional will get to know your medical history so they can best diagnose the root cause and give you personalized advice on next steps.

Simone M. Scully is a writer who loves writing about all things health and science. Find Simone on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

King, H. (2021). Personal interview.
Goldstein, E. (2021). Personal interview.
Cross, T. (2021). Personal interview.
Li, B. al. (2024). The main causes and corresponding solutions of skin pigmentation in the body.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950306X24000189
Natale C.A. al. (2016). Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27115344/
Nwegbo-Banks, P. (2021). Personal interview.
Zeichner, J. (2021). Personal interview.

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Medically reviewed by Kelsey Nank, PA-C — Written by Simone Marie — Updated on June 2, 2025

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