Your vagina is a ‘stress sensor’ — how not caring for it can actually age your face

As above, so below, folks.

Not taking proper care down there isn’t just bad news for your bits — it also has the potential to wreck havoc on other parts of your body.

“The vulva is a stress sensor, not just a sex organ,” dermatologist Dr. Keira Barr, speaking on behalf of the vaginal care brand Plum, told The Post.

Barr explained how irritation in the nether regions can trigger the body to go into “survival mode,” where it stops prioritizing skin.

“That means less collagen, less moisture, and more inflammation — especially in sensitive areas like the vulva,” she said — and with collagen and moisture major factors in maintaining youthfulness, this can be bad news for your face, too.

Common irritants that trigger this stress response include skincare products designed to cleanse or mask the scent of the vagina.

“The vulva is a highly sensitive, absorptive area of the body with a delicate microbiome and skin barrier,” she said.

“Ingredients like fragrance, essential oils, sulfates, dyes, and harsh preservatives (like parabens or formaldehyde-releasing agents) can cause allergic reactions, disrupt pH, and increase inflammation.”

As The Post reported, the vitality of the vaginal microbiome, AKA the ecosystem of bacteria and fungi that live inside the vagina, is critical to overall health.

Barr explained that scented wipes and foaming washes compromise the skin’s integrity and the body’s safety.

“The biggest myth is that your vulva needs to be ‘managed,’ masked, or made more palatable. We’ve been conditioned to treat this part of the body with shame instead of reverence, and it shows up in the products we’re sold, many of which do more harm than good,” she said.

“We treat the face with serums and reverence — but the vulva with shame and surfactants. It’s time we changed the conversation.”

And part of changing the conversation is changing our habits. She explains that over-washing, scented products and tight fitting synthetic underwear disrupt the skin barrier and vaginal microbiome, leading to chronic irritation.

“When the skin is inflamed, it sends distress signals back to the brain, and the brain interprets that as danger. The result? A vicious loop where physical discomfort feeds emotional stress and vice versa. We can’t talk about skincare without talking about nervous system care.”

Physiologically speaking, that stress increases transepidermal water loss, weakens skin barrier function, and activates inflammatory pathways.

“Chronic stress redirects your body’s resources toward survival, not repair or hormone production. That means skin becomes thinner, drier, and more reactive.”

The hormonal changes that accompany perimenopause and menopause also have a direct bearing on skin health. Estrogen, in particular, supports hydration and collagen production; when these levels drop, so too does the skin’s resilience.

“Hormonal decline can thin the tissue and reduce lubrication, but chronic stress also hijacks your body’s ability to make sex hormones, since cortisol and estrogen share the same building blocks. As hormones decline, stress takes the wheel — and your skin pays the price.”

Barr notes that vaginal dryness and discomfort are not symptoms of age that women must suffer through, but rather a signal to change their care routine to optimize skin health from head to (camel) toe.

“The ideal vulvar care routine becomes more intentional with age: fragrance-free, pH-balanced, barrier-supportive products like Plum, paired with lifestyle practices that support your nervous system because no amount of moisturizer will help if your body is still stuck in a survival state,” she said.

Experts like Barr advocate going commando to maximize vaginal health. If you don’t dare to go bare, choose your unmentionables carefully. As a guideline, air circulates better through natural fabrics like cotton, hemp, bamboo, and linen than through synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and satin.

Regarding moisturizers, one dermatologist maintains that what is good for the muff is good for the mug.

Dr. Shereene Idriss, a board-certified dermatologist, believes that when applied to the face, vaginal estrogen creams like Estrace and Premarintopical can improve skin by restoring moisture, increasing collagen production, improving firmness and elasticity and decreasing pore size and wrinkle depth.