Anal bleaching is an aesthetic procedure in which the skin around the anus is chemically lightened to match that of the surrounding area. The aim of this process is to make the color of the anus more uniform with the surrounding area, for purely cosmetic purposes.
As the process of anal bleaching has grown in popularity, more options have become available to consumers. These include treatments that are applied in a medspa office or salon by a cosmetic technician as well as topical treatments that are intended to be applied by the user in the comfort of their home.
Anal bleaching is a “solution” to something completely normal that is not actually a problem.
“Most people have darker skin around their anus” says Sofie Roos sexologist and couples therapist working at Swedish sex positive magazine Passionerad. “To have another skin tone around the anus is completely normal.”
However, for folks who are feeling self-conscious about the appearance of their anus, the results can feel very beneficial.
“The major pro is that you can feel more comfortable in your own body” says Roos “making you able to feel sexier, be more relaxed, and to enjoy yourself and your sex life more.”
Anal Bleaching in Popular Culture
The roots of anal bleaching can be traced back to the adult film industry in the early 2000s when performers, in an attempt to lighten the skin of the anus to match that of the surrounding area, began having the procedure done. The interest in anal bleaching in the adult entertainment industry led to references on television shows like Cosmetic Surgery Live and Dr. 90210.
Over the next decade Brazilian waxing became more mainstream, smaller swimsuit and lingerie styles became more popular and anal bleaching landed on the world’s radar with everything from celebrity endorsements to humorous references in films like Bridesmaids and television shows like 30 Rock.
History of Commercially Available Anal Bleaching
The first anal bleaching treatments in the United States were offered in California in 2005. That same year, the process was available to consumers in Australia. By 2007 anal bleaching had reached the East Coast with a New York salon offering the service.
While still something of a niche service, it has reached more of a mainstream audience with internet searches revealing intimate bleaching services available in smaller cities like Massapequa, NY and Salem, OR.
At Home Anal Bleaching
Due to affordability, accessibility, and modesty, at-home anal bleaching is one of the most popular anal bleaching methods. This involves using a gel or lotion design to target the darkened anal skin and gradually, with repeated application, fade it over time. There are several different chemicals that are used in these types of gels and lotions, including hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid, azelaic acid, or mercury.
For those considering giving at-home anal bleaching a try, take some advice from Roos: “If you’re trying anal bleaching at home for the first time, then I recommend starting off with a less potent product even though it might take a bit longer to receive the result you want. It’s always better to start off carefully and get a feel for the product and how your body will react to the bleaching and then take it from there!”
