Skin Care Has a Routine for Everything—Except the External Intimate Area
We have skin care routines for every part of the body, except the external intimate area.
Almost every area of skin has its own routine.
We use cleansers, toners, essences, serums, moisturizers, oils, and SPF.
There are exfoliants, retinol, peptides, and masks for hydration, brightening, or repair.
We layer products, adjust routines, check ingredients, compare formulas, and build whole systems tailored to our skin’s needs.
Facial skin receives constant attention, with new ways to refine and improve it. We use lotions, creams, and barrier-repair treatments to keep the skin on our bodies comfortable and healthy.
But when it comes to the external intimate area, the pattern breaks.
The skin that most affects daily comfort is often left out of the conversation. Not because the need is different, but because the area has not consistently been recognized as skin.
That difference carries consequences.
This gap in care was never clearly defined, which is why it often goes unaddressed.
What the External Intimate Area Actually Is
As Dr. Nancy Chun explains, “The intimate skin area is skin.”
The statement is straightforward, but the meaning carries weight.
The external intimate area includes the vulva, perineum, and anal region. These areas function together as a single connected system rather than as separate parts. The vulva, perineum, and anal area share the same skin, environment, and underlying needs.
Estrogen receptors are present throughout this tissue, which means hormonal changes affect the entire region. When estrogen levels shift, the area often responds. These changes may appear as dryness, thinning, or increased sensitivity—sometimes gradually, sometimes more quickly.
With that understanding, the classification becomes clear.
The external intimate area is not internal tissue. The external intimate area is not vaginal.
The external intimate area is skin that:
- follows the same physiological principles
- responds to the same hormonal changes
- deserves the same level of care
Once the external intimate area is recognized as skin, the real question becomes why care for this area has not kept pace with it.
Why the External Intimate Area Has Been Overlooked
The lack of clear guidance reflects how the external intimate area has been under-addressed across medicine, industry, and culture.
The Clinical Gap
Medical training has not consistently emphasized the health of external intimate skin.
Clinical language often uses the same terms for both internal vaginal tissue and external skin, even though each requires a different approach. Recommendations may include “moisturizing,” without clarifying what is appropriate for external use.
The result is a gap that leaves both healthcare providers and patients without clear, specific guidance for caring for this area of skin.
The Industry Gap
The skincare industry has largely focused on what is visible.
Radiance, texture, and before-and-after photos have shaped expectations.
The external intimate area does not fit that model, which has contributed to less attention in formulation and product development.
Most existing products are positioned around hygiene, such as cleansing or freshness, rather than supporting the skin barrier.
At the same time, facial skincare has seen decades of innovation focused on hydration and barrier repair. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and lipids are now widely used. These same principles apply to the external intimate area, but product development in this category has not evolved at the same pace.
The Cultural Gap
The words used to describe the body influence what receives attention.
When language is limited, conversations become more restricted. When conversations narrow, important questions often go unasked.
Euphemisms and coded language can add another layer of distance. When the external intimate area is described indirectly or with slang, clarity is lost, and the ability to speak about real experiences becomes more difficult. That distance is often rooted in discomfort—and at times in shame—associated with this part of the body.
These patterns also affect how people talk about the external intimate area. Many people do not have an easy or comfortable way to describe symptoms, ask questions, or seek guidance.
When conversations do not happen, confusion persists and innovation slows. Many individuals manage discomfort quietly rather than addressing it directly.
The Standard Applied to Other Areas of Skin
Most people already follow a routine for caring for their skin.
Facial care routines are often layered and intentional. For the rest of the body, care focuses on maintaining hydration and supporting the skin’s natural barrier.
The external intimate area has not consistently received the same level of care.
As Dr. Nancy notes, “The most visible skin often receives the most thoughtful attention. The skin most closely tied to daily comfort, sexual health, intimacy, and even self-confidence and dignity has not been held to that same standard.”
The difference is not rooted in biology but rather reflects how care has been prioritized.
What the External Intimate Area Requires
Skin in this area benefits from a more comprehensive approach. Hydration, barrier support, and protection each play distinct roles, and addressing only one need may not fully support the skin.
At the same time, while intimate skin is still skin and benefits from many of the same principles of gentle, barrier-supportive care, it also has unique physiological considerations that require a more specialized approach.
The vulvar and external intimate area exist within a delicate ecosystem influenced by:
- pH balance
- the microbiome
- moisture levels
- friction
- hormones
- increased permeability of the tissue
Products formulated for the face or body may not always be appropriate for this environment. Maintaining an optimal acidic pH and supporting a healthy microbiome are important for comfort, resilience, and the overall health of the vulvar and vaginal areas.
Facial skincare reflects the value of layering and barrier support. The same philosophy can be thoughtfully applied here – but with products specifically designed for the needs of external intimate anatomy.
A thoughtful routine may include products that are:
- created for external intimate use
- non-sensitizing
- hormone-free
- supportive of long-term barrier function
- formulated with pH and microbiome considerations in mind
This shift in approach is not simply an adjustment to an existing routine. The external intimate area benefits from dedicated care designed for its unique environment.
That understanding became the foundation for the Nancy Chun Formula skincare system.
Rethinking External Intimate Skin Care
The external intimate area has long been treated as an afterthought in both skincare and healthcare. But as understanding of this part of the body continues to evolve, so does the recognition that this skin benefits from specialized care.
The Nancy Chun Formula system was inspired by modern skincare principles and developed specifically for the unique physiology of the vulva, perineum, and anal area. Designed to support hydration, barrier function, comfort, and resilience, the three-step system – Hydrating Serum, Moisturizer, and Barrier Repair Balm – applies a layered skincare approach.
For those interested in learning more, Dr. Nancy’s story offers additional insight into the personal experience, medical blind spots, and physiological understanding that shaped both the philosophy behind the brand and the development of the products themselves.
A shift in perspective changes how care is understood.
Explore what a dedicated approach to external intimate skin care can look like.