If you've been using a vulva balm and the skin still doesn't feel right, there's usually a reason, and it often has little to do with the jar.
A balm is a moisturizer. It softens dry skin and helps hold moisture in, and that's the whole of its job. It doesn't treat infections or skin conditions, and it can't make up for something that keeps irritating the skin every day. Our guide to what a vulva balm is covers what it's for in more detail.
This article goes through the usual reasons a balm seems to stop working, in the order we'd check them, and it says when the next step is a doctor rather than another product.
In this article
- Something on the skin is still irritating it
- The problem may not be dry skin
- Too little time, too little product, or the wrong spot
- The balm itself doesn't suit you
- A quick checklist
- When to see a doctor
- If Lips isn't working for you
- Frequently asked questions
Something on the skin is still irritating it
This is often the reason, and it's the cheapest one to fix. A balm can't keep up with skin that's being stripped or rubbed again every day.
Vulval clinics give a short list of things to stop. The dermatology team at St George's Hospital in London lists these among the irritants to avoid on the vulva:
- fragranced or perfumed panty liners, feminine hygiene products, soaps or cleansers
- wet wipes or deodorants applied to the vulva
- washes with Dettol or bleach
- spermicide-coated condoms and contraceptive creams
- regular use of haemorrhoid creams
The same leaflet suggests washing no more than once a day, with water and a fragrance-free soap substitute, using your hands rather than a cloth. It also suggests cotton underwear and avoiding synthetic fabrics and tight clothes.
Laundry is worth a look too. If you've recently changed detergent or started using fabric softener, try going back, or try a fragrance-free one.
We'd start here before anything else, because nothing you add will work well while something else keeps taking the skin apart. Our article on why soap is wrong for vulvar skin explains what plain soap does to it.
The problem may not be dry skin
A balm only helps with what a moisturizer can help with. Several things feel like dryness or irritation and aren't, and those need a diagnosis.
An infection
New or different discharge, a strong change in smell, or itching and burning that keeps getting worse are signs to see a doctor or a sexual health clinic. A balm won't reach the cause.
A skin condition
Some skin conditions of the vulva start with itch and look like dryness at first. Lichen sclerosus is one.
The NHS describes it as itchy white patches, most commonly on the genitals, and says the patches are easily damaged and may bleed or hurt if rubbed. It's usually managed with a prescription steroid ointment, and a moisturizer can come in alongside that once a doctor has seen it. If your skin is turning white, shiny or crinkled, or it splits easily, see a doctor. Our article on vulvar lichen sclerosus explains more.
Dermatitis, psoriasis and lichen planus can also affect the vulva. They have treatments, and a balm isn't one of them.
A change in hormones
Menopause, perimenopause, breastfeeding and some medicines change hormone levels, and the NHS lists these among the causes of vaginal dryness. When the dryness is inside the vagina, an outer-skin balm can't reach it. Lips is for the vulva and the skin around it, never for inside.
The St George's leaflet makes the same point from the other side: when creams aren't helping enough, some people turn out to have symptoms caused by menopause rather than a skin condition, and topical oestrogen may help them. That's a prescription and a doctor's call. Our article on vulvar dryness in perimenopause covers it.
Too little time, too little product, or the wrong spot
Sometimes the balm is fine and the way it's used is the issue.
Not enough time
A moisturizer works through steady use. One evening won't change much on skin that's been dry for months. Use it regularly for a while before you decide, and keep the other changes in place at the same time. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if dryness has lasted for a few weeks and self-care isn't working, which is a sensible point to stop and get checked.
Not enough, or not often enough
The Lips page says to use a pea-sized amount with clean hands and massage it in until it melts. If you only use it once in a while, the skin may not get enough. The page also says it can be used as often as needed: before bed, after the shower, before or after physical activity, or any time. Try it at the moments the skin gets stressed, such as after a shower or before a long walk, rather than piling on more at once.
The wrong spot
Lips goes on the vulva and the skin around it, on the outside only. If the discomfort is inside the vagina, a balm isn't the right product. If it's on broken skin, the page says to avoid it there, and the skin should be looked at if it doesn't settle.
The balm itself doesn't suit you
Any product can bother someone, natural ones included. If the skin feels worse since you started, with stinging that lasts, redness or small bumps, stop using it.
The NHS says skin reactions to products usually occur within a few hours or days of exposure, and the best fix is to avoid the thing causing them. A slow allergy can take longer to show, and we've seen that with Lips: one buyer's skin only started reacting once she'd been using it nightly for about a week.
A brief cool or tingly feeling that fades in a few minutes is different. Lips contains a little peppermint, and that's how it feels on some people. If it turns into burning or redness, wash it off with plain water.
If you haven't tested the balm on your arm, our article on vulva balm for sensitive skin walks through a proper patch test and what a reaction looks like.
A quick checklist
| What you notice | A likely reason | What to try | When to see a doctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Still dry or rubbed after a few days | An irritant still in use, or too little time | Stop scented products and soap, keep using the balm | If nothing changes after a few weeks |
| Itch that wakes you, or skin turning white or shiny | A skin condition | Stop guessing and get it looked at | Now |
| New discharge or a strong change in smell | An infection | Don't cover it with a balm | Now |
| Dryness inside the vagina, or pain during sex | Hormonal change, or something a balm can't reach | A water-based lubricant for sex | Soon, especially around menopause or after a baby |
| Stinging, redness or bumps since you started | A reaction to the balm | Stop it, rinse with plain water | If it spreads, swells or doesn't settle in a few days |
| Comfortable most of the time, dry now and then | Normal ups and downs | Use the balm at those moments | Not needed |
When to see a doctor
See a doctor, nurse or sexual health clinic if any of these apply:
- itch that is intense or keeps you up at night
- skin that looks white, shiny, thin or thickened, or splits easily
- sores, lumps or open patches, especially ones that last more than two weeks
- new discharge, a strong change in smell, or pain when you pee
- pain during sex that doesn't settle with a lubricant
- dryness that has lasted a few weeks and isn't helped by self-care
- a reaction that spreads, swells or blisters
The St George's leaflet asks people to see a doctor about sores or ulcers that last longer than two weeks or skin changes that don't respond to usual care. These are reasons to get a proper look, because a balm isn't the tool for any of them.
If Lips isn't working for you
A few buyers have told us Lips didn't ease what they were dealing with. That happens with any skin product, and it's why we offer a guarantee. The page says it in these words: "30-day satisfaction guarantee. if lips doesn't work for you, reach out within 30 days of your first order and we'll make it right."
In practice, that means writing to us within 30 days of your first order. Tell us what you've tried, and we'll answer within 24 to 48 hours and sort it out.
If you're still deciding whether to try it, the full ingredient list and directions are on the Lips product page. It's $36 CAD ($27 USD) and ships free on its own in Canada and the US.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my vulva balm not working?
Usually something else is still irritating the skin, such as soap, wipes, scented liners or detergent, or the problem isn't dry outer skin at all. It can also be too little time, the wrong spot, or a reaction to the balm. A balm is a moisturizer, so see a doctor if the skin is changing or itch is intense.
How long should I use a vulva balm before deciding it doesn't work?
Give it regular use for a while, with irritants removed at the same time, rather than judging after one night. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if dryness lasts a few weeks and self-care isn't helping. With Lips, reach out within 30 days of your first order if it isn't working for you.
Can a vulva balm make things worse?
It can, if your skin reacts to an ingredient or if it covers a problem that needs treatment. Stop using it if you notice stinging that lasts, redness or bumps, and rinse with plain water. Test any new balm on your forearm first, twice a day for five to ten days.
Should I use more balm if it isn't helping?
Not necessarily. A pea-sized amount massaged in is what the Lips page suggests, and it can be used as often as needed. Try using it at the moments your skin gets stressed, like after a shower or before a long walk, rather than using a lot at once. If it still isn't helping, look for the cause.
Can I use a vulva balm inside the vagina?
No. A vulva balm is for the vulva and the skin around it only. Dryness inside the vagina often has a hormonal cause and needs a different product, sometimes a prescription. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about it, and use a water-based lubricant for sex.
What if I've already bought Lips and it doesn't work for me?
Write to us within 30 days of your first order. The guarantee on the page says that if Lips doesn't work for you, we'll make it right. Tell us how you used it and what you noticed, and we'll answer within 24 to 48 hours to sort it out.
Sources
- Irritants to avoid, washing advice, topical oestrogen and when to see a doctor: St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Vulval skin care leaflet
- Lichen sclerosus symptoms and treatment: NHS, Lichen sclerosus
- Causes of vaginal dryness and when to see a GP: NHS, Vaginal dryness
- Timing of skin reactions to products: NHS, Contact dermatitis
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Lips directions and the guarantee wording come from the Lips product page; health information comes from the sources listed above. This article is general information, not medical advice. Lips does not treat or prevent any condition.