Is Labial Dryness A Thing?

Yes, it’s a thing. Labial dryness refers to chafing of the labial skin that surrounds the vagina. There are two labial parts: major and minor.

Dryness can occur due to several reasons including:

Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy and after birth, prior to and during menopause and even prior to menstruation
Hormonal loss after menopause leading to thinning of the labial skin
Medications such as acne (retinol), anti-depressants and even anti-histamines
Medical conditions such as lichen sclerosus and Sjorgen’s syndrome

What happens when a woman has labial dryness?

The skin around the labia feels dry, flaky, itchy and irritated. In extreme cases, the skin can be thin and irritated to the point of bleeding.

Why does labial dryness occur?

There are two primary causes: 1. Hormonal imbalance and loss and 2. Disturbance of the skin microbiome due to medications or medical conditions.

Can labial dryness be stopped?

Yes and no.

While hormone therapy can help support hormonal loss and imbalances, the labial skin – just like the other skin on our body – will thin over time. Another way is to use a moisturizer. Problem is that most products will make it worse (reasons why: ph, chemicals, water).

However, maintaining optimal pH of the skin can help soothe and sustain the skin’s microbiome. Typically, the pH of labial skin is between 5.0 and 5.5, which is about the same level of acidity of adult skin and higher than the reproductive vaginal pH of between 3.5 and 4.3. At Damiva, we formulated Cleo as a labial balm with a pH around the range of 5.0 to assist in maintaining the labial skin microbiome. Cleo’s format is a single-dose sachet that contains hyaluronic acid for moisturizing and vegan plant butters for soothing. The water-free format enables us to create a chemical-free, Always 100% Natural™ product that is gentle on your “other lips.”