Most of us were never taught much about the vulva. People call the whole area the vagina, use products on it that were made for other skin, and often wait before asking about a change. Questions about this part of the body are common, and most have plain answers. The best place to begin is a simple vulva care routine, because most comfort starts with doing less.
This page gathers everything we've written about the vulva in one place, sorted by the question people usually have. Each section gives the short answer first, then points to the longer article. It ends with the signs that mean you should see a doctor rather than read another article.
In this article
- What the vulva is, and what's normal
- Washing and everyday care
- Reactive or irritated skin
- Dryness, moisturizers and balms
- Rubbing, sport and tight clothes
- Shaving, waxing and the bikini line
- Life stages: after birth, perimenopause, menopause
- Smell, itch, swelling and infections
- When to see a doctor
- Where Lips fits
- Frequently asked questions
What the vulva is, and what's normal
The vulva is the outside part. Cleveland Clinic describes the vulva as your external genitals, the area between your legs that includes the mons (the pubic mound), the outer and inner labia, the clitoris, and the openings of the urethra and the vagina. The vagina is the muscular canal inside the body. Keeping the two words apart helps a lot, because the outside skin and the inside of the vagina need different care.
There's no single normal look. Cleveland Clinic notes that no two vulvas are the same and that labia come in many shapes and sizes, and our article on what people mean by an outie vagina shows how much the labia, the clitoral hood and skin colour vary from one person to the next. What matters more is knowing your own normal, so you notice when something changes.
Smell and pH are part of that normal. The vagina is naturally acidic, and a light, personal smell is expected. Our article on vaginal pH explains what the number means, and our article on why the smell changes covers the usual reasons and the changes that need a doctor.
Washing and everyday care
The short answer is that the vulva needs gentle washing on the outside, and the vagina cleans itself. Cleveland Clinic's vulvar care advice suggests washing regularly with warm water and a mild soap, wearing cotton underwear, changing out of wet swimsuits or sweaty workout clothes quickly, and avoiding perfumed soaps, sprays and douching.
On soap, we lean further toward gentle than many general guides. Ordinary soap is alkaline, and this skin is not. Our article on whether you should wash your vulva covers what to use and how often, and the article on why soap is wrong for vulvar skin explains the chemistry. If you're tempted to rinse inside, our article on douching explains why the vagina is better left alone.
The vulva care routine puts it all into a few steps you can keep up, which is the part that actually makes a difference.
Reactive or irritated skin
If your skin stings, itches or turns red after a product, the cause is often something you use every day. The skin of the vulva lets more through than the skin on your arm, and it stays warm and covered, so products that are fine elsewhere can bother it here. Our article on why intimate skin reacts differently explains the structure behind that.
Fragrance is one of the usual suspects. Our article on what fragrance does to skin covers fragrance allergy and how to test for it, and our guide to body care when skin is reactive looks at the rest of the routine.
If you want to try a new product on reactive skin, our article on patch testing a vulva balm walks through the week-long test dermatologists suggest.
Dryness, moisturizers and balms
Dryness on the vulva can come from washing too much, from hormones, from rubbing, or from simply having drier skin. A moisturizer made for this skin can help it feel comfortable again. Our article on what a vulva balm is explains what it does and who doesn't need one.
Choosing one. Our guide to vulva balm ingredients shows what to look for and what to avoid on the label. If you're thinking of using what's already in the kitchen or the cabinet, we've looked at coconut oil and petroleum jelly in their own articles. Price is a fair question too, and our article on what a vulva balm costs breaks it down per gram.
Using one. Our article on how to apply a vulva balm covers how much, where and when. If you've used a balm for a while and you're not sure it's helping, this checklist goes through the usual reasons, and our Lips reviews article shares what buyers told us.
Dryness during sex is a different question from dryness of the skin. Our article on whether you need lube explains when a lubricant helps even if you don't feel dry.
Rubbing, sport and tight clothes
Cycling, running, long walks and snug leggings all rub the same skin. The redness and sting that follow are friction, and they're usually easier to stop before they start. Our article on vulva chafing from exercise covers how to cut the rubbing and how to care for the skin afterward. Changing out of damp workout clothes quickly, as Cleveland Clinic suggests, helps too.
Shaving, waxing and the bikini line
Hair removal is a personal choice, and nothing about vulva health requires it. If you do remove hair, most of the trouble comes from the method and the aftercare.
| If your question is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Shaving or waxing, which is gentler | Waxing versus shaving |
| How to stop razor bumps | Razor bumps on the bikini line |
| What to put on before shaving | Pre-shave oil for the bikini line |
| What to put on after shaving | What to put on your bikini line after shaving |
| How to get ready for a Brazilian wax | Before a Brazilian wax: a checklist |
| How to care for skin after a wax | Skin care after a Brazilian wax |
A bump that turns into a painful, growing lump, or one that doesn't settle after a couple of weeks, is worth showing to a doctor.
Life stages: after birth, perimenopause, menopause
The vulva changes with hormones, and some of the biggest changes come after giving birth and around menopause.
After birth. Our week-by-week article on postpartum vulvar care covers the first weeks of recovery and comfort. Pain that gets worse or a fever is a reason to call your care team.
Perimenopause. Our article on when perimenopause starts explains the timing. Two common changes get their own articles: vulvar dryness in perimenopause and itching in perimenopause.
After menopause. Lower estrogen thins the tissue of the vulva and vagina. Our article on whether vaginal atrophy can be reversed explains what treatment can do, and vulvar care after menopause covers the daily side. If you're deciding between a moisturizer and a prescription, our article on vulva balm versus estrogen cream lays out the different jobs each one does. A prescription is always your doctor's call.
Smell, itch, swelling and infections
These are the questions where a doctor's visit matters most, and our articles are meant to help you understand what's going on, never to replace a diagnosis.
Smell. A sudden strong or fishy smell can point to an infection. Our article on why the smell changes helps you sort normal shifts from ones to check, and our article on bacterial vaginosis covers the signs of this common imbalance, how it differs from a yeast infection and why it's worth getting diagnosed. If you're looking for something for skin folds and underarms, our article on deodorant for intimate areas and skin folds explains where a spray does and doesn't belong.
Discharge. A change in colour or amount is worth noticing. Our article on yellow discharge explains what different shades can mean and when to see a provider.
Infections that keep coming back. Our article on recurring yeast infections explains why the cycle happens and what to ask your doctor.
Swelling. Our article on the causes of a swollen vulva goes through the common causes and the signs that need a quick visit.
Itch with white or shiny skin. This one needs a doctor. The NHS describes lichen sclerosus as a skin condition that causes itchy white patches, most commonly on the genitals, and says it's far more common in women over 50. Our article on living with vulvar lichen sclerosus covers the day-to-day side once it's diagnosed.
Pain that won't go away. Vulvar pain that lasts three months or more with no clear cause is called vulvodynia. The NHS says the vulva usually looks normal but may feel painful, with burning, stinging or soreness, and it's worth seeing a doctor about pain that doesn't go away or keeps coming back.
When to see a doctor
Reading is a good start, and some changes need someone to look. Cleveland Clinic advises talking to your provider if you notice changes in your vulva. These are the ones not to wait on.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| A lump, a sore or a patch of skin that's new or changing | See a doctor soon, even if it doesn't hurt |
| Itch that lasts, or itch with white, thin or shiny skin | See a doctor; it may need a diagnosis and prescription treatment |
| New discharge, a fishy or musty smell, or burning when you pee | See a doctor or a sexual health clinic |
| Pain during sex, or vulvar pain that lasts or keeps returning | See a doctor; ask about a pelvic floor physiotherapist too |
| Swelling with fever, spreading redness or severe pain | Get seen the same day |
If a doctor's visit feels awkward, it may help to know that you can ask for a female doctor, bring someone with you and write your questions down beforehand. The NHS mentions the first two on its vulvodynia page.
Where Lips fits
We make one product for the vulva, so it's fair to say where it fits in all of this and where it doesn't.
Lips is a vulva balm. It moisturizes and softens dry skin on the vulva and the skin around it, and it's meant for comfort when the skin feels dry or rubbed by clothing. Use a pea-sized amount with clean hands, before bed, after the shower, before or after physical activity, or any time. It's for the outside only, never inside the vagina, and not on broken skin.
The formula is sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, candelilla wax, cocoa butter, calendula macerate, castor oil and vitamin E, with five essential oils that make up about 1% of it. It has no fragrance, no hormones and no petroleum. Lips is made in Montréal and costs $36 CAD ($27 USD) for a 1 oz jar, shipped free on its own in Canada and the US.
It isn't a fix for infections, skin conditions or pain with a medical cause, and nothing in a jar should stand in for the doctor's visits in the table above. Patch test it first, as the page asks. The full ingredient list and the 30-day satisfaction guarantee are on the product page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the vulva and the vagina?
The vulva is the outside: the mons, the outer and inner labia, the clitoris and the openings of the urethra and vagina. The vagina is the muscular canal inside the body. The difference matters for care, because the outside skin can take a gentle wash and a moisturizer, while the inside of the vagina cleans itself and shouldn't be washed out.
How should I wash my vulva?
Wash the outside only, with warm water and a gentle cleanser if you want one, then pat dry. Cleveland Clinic suggests mild soap and warns against overwashing, perfumed products and douching. Our own articles lean toward water alone or a cleanser made for this skin. The inside of the vagina doesn't need washing at all.
What does a healthy vulva look like?
There's no single look. Cleveland Clinic notes that no two vulvas are the same, and labia come in many shapes and sizes. A healthy vulva is one that looks and feels the way it normally does for you. Changes such as a new lump, a patch of white or shiny skin, or a sore are the things to watch for.
Is it normal for the vulva to itch?
A brief itch after sweating, shaving or a new product is common and usually settles once the cause is gone. Itch that lasts, wakes you at night, or comes with white, thin or shiny skin, new discharge or a strong smell isn't something to manage alone. See a doctor, because some causes need a diagnosis and prescription treatment.
Should I use a moisturizer on my vulva?
Only if the skin feels dry or uncomfortable. Many people never need one. If you do, choose one made for this skin with no fragrance and a short ingredient list, patch test it first and use it on the outside only. Dryness that comes with pain, itch or skin changes is a reason to see a doctor first.
When should I see a doctor about my vulva?
See a doctor for a new lump or sore, itch that lasts, white or shiny skin, new discharge or a fishy smell, burning when you pee, or pain during sex. Swelling with fever or severe pain needs a same-day visit. Cleveland Clinic advises talking to your provider whenever you notice changes.
Sources
- What the vulva is, its parts, normal variation and when to see a provider: Cleveland Clinic, Vulva
- Everyday vulvar care: Cleveland Clinic, Vulvar care
- Lichen sclerosus, symptoms and who gets it: NHS, Lichen sclerosus
- Vulvodynia, symptoms and when to see a GP: NHS, Vulvodynia
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Medical facts come from Cleveland Clinic and the NHS, linked above; product facts come from the Lips product page and label. This article is general information, not medical advice. Lips does not treat or prevent any condition.