Lighten and brighten

Chemical peels

Cost: £500 for a single treatment

If genital skin colour is much darker than elsewhere on the body, some people associate this with not feeling “clean”, making them self-conscious.

But as Dr Lakhani says, “The vulva can darken and grow during a pregnancy, due to the rise in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, causing an increased blood flow.”

Intimate peels can improve pigmentation, as well as rejuvenate and brighten delicate skin. Suitable for both men and women, this helps improve hyper-pigmentation around your vagina or groin area, as well as around the anus. Each treatment takes approximately 30 minutes and products applied are packed with proven active ingredients to lighten skin.

Usually, a course of between two to four treatments would be recommended, spaced one to two weeks apart, along with home-care products to be used as your doctor advises. It’s not painful and no downtime is required.

The results will vary depending on the patient but could last for years.