If anything, it stays the same or darkens more.” Friction and inflammationĪn increase in friction can lead to an increased potential for melanocyte hyperactivity, says Goldstein.

“Most times if this happens, it doesn’t go away. “During puberty and pregnancy, estrogen levels are elevated, which results in increased pigmentation of those areas,” Cross says. It can also darken the skin on or around your nipples, areolae, and anus, too. “For example, estrogen is one of the hormones that can result in increased pigment in certain areas such as the labia.” “This can be during puberty, pregnancy, or aging in general,” adds Cross.

“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. In your genital area, those melanocytes are particularly sensitive to hormones. Your skin has certain cells, called melanocytes, which form melanin. The darkening usually stems from one of these factors Hormones

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