Experts say

The appearance of dull skin is a result of poor light reflection off the skin. This is in turn due to uneven skin surface – rough or saggy skin, acne scars, prominent pores, fine lines and wrinkles; and/or uneven skin tone – blemishes, hyperpigmentation, blotchy or sensitive skin.

Healthy, hydrated, firm and clear skin reflects light evenly, giving the appearance of radiant and glowing skin. 

Dr. Felix Li
28 April 2019

Seeking a skincare range that is both effective and gentle can be a frustrating, expensive, or even painful process for individuals with sensitive skin. As a general rule, avoid products that contain ingredients that dry the skin – such as acids, retinols, and astringents; as well as ingredients that can irritate the skin – such as alcohol, fragrances, paraben, sulphates, and other chemical preservatives. If in doubt, seek your Doctor’s advice!

Dr. Felix Li
26 May 2019

Activated charcoal draws dirt and other fine impurities to the surface of the skin, so that they may be cleansed off more effectively. Additionally, activated charcoal also has a mild anti-bacterial effect, which is helpful for acne prone skin.

Dr. Felix Li
28 April 2019

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-36 is a peptide, which is a specific chain of amino acids (protein fragments).

Peptides have wide ranging applications in skincare, as different peptides perform different functions. Peptides can act as cellular messengers to signal our cells to perform specific functions; transport specific molecules (Copper peptides) into skin; or influence neurotransmitters (Argireline, or “topical Botox”) or enzymes in the skin. Peptides work best in combination, and along with other building blocks of skincare. 

Dr. Felix Li
9 April 2019

Dry skin is often a result of aging or damaged skin’s lack of ability to retain moisture. To make matters worse, dry skin is also more susceptible to sun and environmental damage, perpetuating the problem. Moisturisers address dry skin directly by trapping moisture in the skin, while treatments such as Rejuran – that increase new collagen production in the skin and strengthen the skin’s collagen matrix – help improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, keeping it hydrated from within.  

Excessive use of or inappropriate skincare products is another common cause of dry skin, skin irritation, redness, and peeling. Common culprits include products containing acids, retinols, or hydroquinones. More is not always better – avoid complicated skincare regimes. And do give the products time to work. Multiple daily applications will not give faster results, but may increase the risks of side effects. Seek a Doctor’s advice if you are unsure which products are suitable for your skin, and tailor make a regime that is specific for you.   

Other simple tips - wash your face twice a day, and after sweating heavily. More frequent cleansing will only wash away the natural protective barrier of the skin. Apply spot treatment products such as pimple creams only over pimples, and de-pigmenting creams only over hyper pigmented areas – not the whole face.  

Dr. Felix Li
9 April 2019

An immediate and effective way to correct wrinkles is thorough Botox injections to relax those specific muscles. It is an effective way to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, and may also reduce the rate and severity of recurrence, especially in individuals who habitually have repetitive facial expressions, such as frowning.  

Try to keep the skin hydrated so as to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Skin treatments including lasers, energy based devices, and skinboosters can help stimulate the body’s natural repair mechanisms and increase new collagen production in the skin, keeping our skin healthy and more resilient against extrinsic aging.

Dr. Felix Li
9 April 2019

Static lines, or fine lines that are visible on the surface of the skin at all times even without facial expression, is a result of dry and damaged skin, that has lost its intrinsic elasticity, and ability to retain moisture.

Dynamic wrinkles, or lines that appear with facial expression, such as frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet, are due to over-activity of the small facial muscles responsible for the corresponding facial expressions.

Dr. Felix Li
9 April 2019

While we cannot reverse “intrinsic aging”, or the natural process of aging; we can minimise the effects of “extrinsic aging” by reducing free radical and other external damage to the skin, while enhancing anti-oxidant and other repair mechanisms in the skin.

Sun protection – including oral and physical sunblock, sun avoidance – is key to minimise free radical damage to the skin. Stop smoking if you do, avoid second-hand smoke and polluted areas as much as possible. Regular exercise is a great way to improve blood circulation and enhance the body’s natural ability to repair. Maintain a balanced diet packed with antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables.

A good and complete skincare regime including antioxidants and moisturisers will help clean up free radicals, keep the skin hydrated, and improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Skin treatments including lasers, energy based devices, and skinboosters can help stimulate the body’s natural repair mechanisms and increase new collagen production in the skin, keeping our skin healthy and more resilient against extrinsic aging.

Dr. Felix Li
9 April 2019

As I mentioned, something women can do is to try to make friends with it. We don’t usually take that context with our vulvas. So start by saying hi and having a look. You can do this exercise however way you want to – it doesn’t have to be a big deal. It can be a quick, 5 second peek or you can make it a whole occasion where you light candles, play music and really take your time. There’s no right way to do this exercise, it’s whatever you make it to be. The important part is to observe and pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, without judgment. I often encourage women to do this exercise regularly because it’s a great way to check in with your vulva and figure out its needs and wants.

Aside from this, general knowledge about vulvas and sexuality is always helpful in our sexual wellness journey; so a great book that I always suggest is “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagoski.

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

Caring for your vulva can feel quite confusing – where would you start?? In my experience, many women don’t have a very strong connection with their vulvas. So while we can care for our vulvas physically – don’t forget, there is also another part that goes into vulva care: how we feel about ours.

The starting point to that is to be honest with yourself about your feelings. It’s perfectly normal to feel shame towards your vulva (thanks, patriarchy), embarrassed by how it looks or smells. Perhaps you have an abundance of positive feelings, or maybe none at all. Whatever it may be, it is normal and okay. The starting point is just to notice how you feel about your vulva.

A way to uncover these feelings is to look at it! Take a mirror and take a peek. Observe what you see and the feelings and thoughts that surface.

From there, you can choose how you want to move forward. The more you get to know your vulva, the more you will naturally know what you can do to care for it. What your vulva care journey looks like is completely up to you!

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

Labiaplasty is surgery on the inner and outer lips of the vulva. It is often discussed in the media in a narrative similar to plastic surgery, where we think that women are getting Labiaplasty because they want a nice-looking or a “perfect” vulva that’s similar to what we see in porn. This might be the reason for some women, but according to recent research, many women have Labiaplasty for reasons others than aesthetics. Some do it because over time, their labia have elongated and are causing physical discomfort. For example, they might experience tugging during intercourse, find tight pants uncomfortable, experience twisting of the labia, and are nervous that their labia could become exposed in bathing suits. These physical factors can then impact how a woman feels in her body – she may feel more self-conscious or less attractive and less able to feel intimate with their partner.

While this recent research was done within small groups of women, it does show that the Labiaplasty procedure had a positive impact on their physical comfort, self esteem, sexual confidence and their sexual enjoyment. Many women who are choosing to have the surgery are not striving for the perfect vulva – they’re striving to make their lives easier, more comfortable and to feel better. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual woman’s reasons for wanting this surgery. And as with any elective surgery, informed consent and autonomy are important!

Erin Chen
18 April 2019

There’s definitely a difference between caring for your vulva and striving for the “perfect” vulva. Let’s take a moment and compare this to everyday wellness, where there’s also a difference between striving for the perfect body and caring for it.

The way we can differentiate between the two is to look at the actions, behaviours and feelings associated with each. When we’re striving for the perfect anything, there is usually a lot of comparison between what we have to an ideal state. And the feelings that usually come with striving and comparing tend to be more negative – lots of pressure, feeling inadequate, feeling like we need to do more, and to be different. You know that you’re striving for perfection when you’re starting to experience some of these feelings.

When we are caring for our own body, the actions, behaviours and feelings are different because you’re coming from a place of knowing what is best for you. For some people it feels more flexible, or creative, or lighter. It’s more of an internal exercise rather than looking outwards to achieve that perfect “it”.

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

In my experience, every woman and every case is different. While people might come to me with similar sexual challenges, what we end up working on varies a lot from person to person – that’s because everyone’s sexual history, experiences and circumstances are different.

That said, the most common vulva concerns that people come to me with are usually about:

• Painful sex
• Wanting to increase their sex drive or sexual desire, and
• Wanting to orgasm (more)
  
  

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

I’d prefer not to generalise here because I’ve met and known many women who do amazingly with taking care of themselves and caring for their vulvas. That said, I do think there is a general lack of conversation and awareness in society about what vulva care is and what it could look like. So in that sense, it would be challenging for most women to practice vulva care if we don’t really know what it entails.

It’s also important to note that self-care and vulva care might look very different from women to women because it is something that’s unique to the individual. One interesting way to start exploring what vulva care might look like for you, at this moment, is to apply the five love languages to yourself. If you are not sure what the five love languages are, Google it . Once you know what your love language is, try it out in the context of caring for your vulva! You can get creative with this… what might vulva care be for you if your love language was physical touch? Or affirmation? Or quality time?

Remember that self-care and vulva care shouldn’t feel like pressure or increase your anxiety. So it’s not something you must do. It’s something that, even if it was just for one or five minutes, would give you a sense of joy or relief or whatever emotion it is that you are seeking that feels good for you.

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

For me, vulva care is a holistic matter. It’s not just about physical care, but the emotional connection and relationship we have with our vulvas. And it’s important, as part of vulva care, to have an understanding about them – much like how it’s important to have an understanding about the rest of our body and mind to be able to take care of ourselves.

So in that sense, I do think vulva care is important. It’s an essential and intimate area which carry a lot of meaning, energy and function for many vulva owners. In my experience, it’s also an area where many vulva owners don’t pay much attention to.

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

I don’t think there is a “best” way to open up. For a lot of people, starting this conversation would most likely feel awkward and uncomfortable – which is completely normal when it’s something we’re not used to talking about! Here are a few suggestions that you can try to bring this topic up:

• Share! If you come across an article, video, piece of art or anything that resonates with you – try sharing that with your friends or partner. Follow it up with something like, “What are your thoughts?” Articles are a great way to open conversations.
• Be normal! Easier said than done, I know. This will take some practice – try to treat the conversation like a normal topic… there is no reason why we can’t talk about vulvas or sexual wellness the same way we talk about other parts of life – be it yoga, fashion, sports! A lot of the time, others feel awkward too when we’re awkward about it. So the more normal you are with the topic, the more space you provide for others around you to open up. Again, this takes practice – think of it as building your muscle memory for having authentic conversations.

From my experience, most women feel more comfortable discussing vulvas with other women; however, it’s really whoever you feel comfortable with that matters – the gender and their genitalia don’t really matter.

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

I think that the conversation on sexual wellness in general, let alone vulva care, is not adequately discussed in today’s society – probably because talking about anything sexual still feels taboo. We just haven’t had a lot of practice talking about sex, intimacy, our bodies and the feelings related to this area. Most people still refer to the vagina as “down there”, not knowing that they might actually mean the vulva! So no, there are not enough discussions about vulvas and vulva care at all!

And, I’m not sure if most people really know what it means to care for their vulvas. I’m guessing that for most, it likely brings to mind something sexual health-related, such as your annual Pap smear to make sure everything is okay or hygienic. On the flip side, some might think that it’s a cheeky way to refer to masturbation.

So we haven’t really had much thoughtful conversation around what vulva care could be or how one would go about defining vulva care for oneself!

Erin Chen
5 April 2019

The vulva requires care to stay healthy. Keeping the vulva clean and dry is generally enough. However, do not douche, powder or use feminine sprays. Rinse the vulva, if necessary, with a perineal irrigation bottle, and dry the area by gentle patting rather than hair dryers. If there is mild vulva discomfort, soaking in warm water and using an emollient may be helpful. If the problem persists, or if there is any discharge, lesion or pain, then a review by a family doctor or gynaecologist is warranted.

The pH of different body parts is different, and this applies to the vulva too. However, this pH rises during menopause, reducing the antimicrobial defence of the vulva during menopause.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
10 April 2019

Some skin conditions can be treated using over-the-counter products. However, others may require prescription-only medications. It would be prudent to see a family doctor for an assessment before self-prescribing treatment.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
1 May 2019

Yes, the vulva can be complicated with common benign skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis. Like skin on other parts of the body, malignancy can also occur.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
10 April 2019

At puberty, fatty tissues deposit around the vulva increasing the size of the labia majora and mon pubis. In some girls, the pink labia minora may become darker. Pubic hair also starts to appear around this time. The vulva then remains similar until pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the vulva can become engorged and varicosities are common. Pigmentation of the vulva, as with other areas of the skin, can be significant. During a vaginal delivery, the muscles and ligaments supporting the vagina may be damaged. As the baby is delivered, perineal tears or episiotomies may further affect the appearance of the vulva. The return of the higher oestrogen hormone level after breastfeeding will generally improve the elasticity and lubrication of the area.

After menopause, the labia majora lose its substance and become less full. Like the skin on other parts of the body, it becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. Hair greying, loss and reduced growth are also observed.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
10 April 2019

Like the skin on other parts of the body, care for it is important to having a healthy vulva. Infections, skin conditions, chronic pain and scarring can affect the individual’s quality of life and self-image. Although rare, vulva cancer can be devastating and lethal. Persistent pain, soreness, tenderness, itch, raised thickened patches, lumps or moles should be reviewed by a doctor.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
3 April 2019

The vagina refers to the elastic muscular tube extending from the external genitals to the neck of the womb (cervix). It is a reproductive conduit connecting the external environment to the internal genitalia. During sexual intercourse, it receives the penis and allows the sperm to swim up into the womb. Conversely, it allows blood flow to be expelled from the womb during menstruation, and the baby during vaginal childbirth.

The vulva refers to the external female genital organs which are composed of the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, urethral opening, vestibule and perineum.

The labia majora refers to the large, fleshy folds of tissue that enclose and protect the other external genital organs. The labia minora lie just inside the labia majora and surround the vestibule, which is the area around the openings to the vagina and urethra. A rich supply of blood vessels gives the labia minora a pink colour. The clitoris is a small protrusion at the upper end between the labia minora. The urethral opening allows the passage of urine. The perineum refers to the area between the vagina and anus.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
3 April 2019

 

The clitoris can be aroused and erect when sexually stimulated. This stimulation of the clitoris can cumulate into an orgasm.

The fleshy padded tissue of the labia majora protect the other external genital organs. They also contain sweat and sebaceous glands, which produce lubricating secretions particularly during sexual intercourse.

During sexual stimulation, the labia minora swell as their blood vessels become engorged with blood. This narrows the vaginal opening and makes them more sensitive to stimulation.

Dr. Tan Toh Lick
3 April 2019