What Are These Dark Spots?

It’s Not Uncommon for Dark Spots to Form on the Vulva Outside the Vagina as We Age, Says Felice Gersh, Md, Medical Director of the Integrative Medical Group in Irvine, California. Dr. Gersh, Author of the Book Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know (Buy from Amazon, $16.29), Says That Like All Skin, the Vulva, Labia and Vagina Also Age and Are Impacted by Hormonal Changes at Menopause. “This Skin Aging Can Result in So-Called Age Spots, and Vulvar Skin Can Also Show These Pigmentary Effects. ” (Click Through for Details on Another Common Menopausal Symptom: Vagina Getting Smaller After Menopause.)

“Any New Pigmented Spot Should Be Evaluated by a Qualified Healthcare Provider or Physician, ” Says Dr. Gersh, One of the First Dual Board-Certified Integrative Gynecologists in the U. S. It’s Important to Pay Attention to Any Skin Changes and Discuss Them with Your Gynecologist, as Well as Schedule Yearly Check-Ups.

Other Down-There Skin Changes to Look For

These Vulvar Self-Checks May Reveal More Than Black or Dark Spots, as There Are Many Skin Conditions That Can Crop up Around the Vagina. Here Are a Few and What to Know About Them:

“Vulvar Skin Can Develop Seborrheic Keratoses, Thickened, Waxy Brown Spots on the Surface of the Skin, ” She Says. It’s a Fairly Common Benign Growth (Meaning It’s Not Cancerous) and Can Also Appear Black or a Light Tan Color. Most People Don’t Develop Seborrheic Keratoses Until Their 50S and Older; and Your Risk Also Goes up If They Run in Your Family, Say Experts at the Mayo Clinic. What’s More, If You Have One, You’re Much More Likely to Develop Others.

Raised, Rough Growths

Genital Warts Are Most Common Among People in Their 20S, but They Can Occur at Any Age, Notes Dr. Gersh. They Can Be Dark in Color and Appear Raised and Rough. These Growths Growths Often Have a Bumpy, Cauliflower-Type Look and Can Also Cluster Together in Groups. They Are the Result of Certain Types of Human Papilloma Virus (Hpv) That Are Sexually Transmitted, So It’s Important to Have Them Diagnosed and Treated by Your Doctor, She Says.

It’s Also Possible for a Pre-Cancerous Type of Seborrheic Keratosis Called Actinic Keratosis to Form on or Around the Vulva and Vagina, Says Dr. Gersh. These Patches Often Appear Brown or Red and Are Raised and Rough and Are Easier to Feel Than to See. Since Actinic Keratosis Can Develop into Squamous Cell Cancer, Doctors Often Recommend Removing Them.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma—the Second-Most Common Type of Skin Cancer That Is Highly Treatable When Caught Early—Can Be Pigmented and Appear as a Scaly Red Patch of Skin or Thickened, Wart-Like Skin and May Form Scabs. Squamous Cells Are a Type of Skin Cell Near the Skin’s Surface and Are Continuously Shed as New Cells Are Formed. “It’s Possible for Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Occur on Vulvar Skin, Most Commonly Between the Ages of 55 and 75.

What Are Those Black Spots on Your Vag Lips?

By Robert Thorne

• Oct 8, 2026 • 5 min read

What Are Those Black Spots on Your Vag Lips?

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

When Was the Last Time You Took a Look Down There? at Some Point, You May Have Noticed Dark or Black Spots on Your Vagina, Labia or Vulva and Wondered What They Are. but Should You Be Concerned and Scheduling a Doctor’s Appointment Right Away, or Are They Just a Normal Part of Getting Older? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Hit the Panic Button — or Ignore What Could Be a Sign of a Potential Health Problem.

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.

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