A vajacial is a treatment performed on the vulva of the vagina while focusing on the bikini line and outer labia and the treatment is becoming increasingly popular. Picture: iStock
Skincare doesn’t just apply to the skin that everyone can see and it is this mantra that has paved the way for aestheticians to offer “vagacials” or “vajacials” to their clients and guide them how to care for that skin at home.
According to the Simple You Med Spa website, a vajacial is a treatment performed on the vulva of the vagina while focusing on the bikini line and outer labia.
“It does not actually deal with the interior portion of the vagina.”
Essentially, it is similar to a facial performed on the face in order to approve the appearance and texture of the skin in that area of the body.
People with vaginas often get vajacials to treat ingrown hairs, remove dead skin cells, smooth bumps around bikini line, prevent acne and help improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
The treatment typically last around 50 minutes and involves a cleanse, a mild exfoliant, the extraction of ingrown hairs, the application of a soothing mask and a skin brightening serum or spot treatment.
Getting a vajacial is recommended seven days after shaving and/or receiving a wax.
Alternatively, brands have also designed products for people who wish to treat the skin around their vulvas at home and they are similar to masks applied to the face.
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Medical website Healthline shared concerns about allergic reactions from such masks, however.
“First of all, the vagina shouldn’t need any additional quote-unquote pampering or care,” Dr Ryan Sobel, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University in Philadelphia told the publication.
“If there is an issue — you’re having discomfort, you’re having pain, you’re having a discharge, you’re having an odor — that usually indicates that there may be something abnormal going on. There may be an infection, or there may be a reaction to something you’re exposed to. You should seek care.”
Sobel recommends consulting with a healthcare provider who can professionally assess what’s going on and recommended a treatment.
With regards to masks for vulvas and vajacials, he said the more ingredients there is in any given product, the higher the risk of a reaction. Symptoms include itching, burning or redness.
He also warned that products that boast about being “all natural” also present this risk.
If you feel that you absolutely must use such products, Sobel recommends that anytime you try a new product in the vagina area, test sensitivity elsewhere first, like the inner part of your upper arm.
Healthline also advises testing a small spot on the labia majora for a few days to see how the area reacts to the ingredients of the product before applying it to the whole area.
There have also been concerns shared about how psychologically damaging the messaging behind such products is due to the existing insecurities about the appearance of vaginas and vulvas. Insecurities fuelled by porn which prioritises a specific type of appearance.
Please note: the following video is of a sensitive nature and not intended for underage viewers.
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