The media puts a lot of pressure on women to meet impossible beauty standards: thigh gap , "good" hair, and of course, bubblegum-pink assholes. Genitals naturally vary in color, but somehow we've decided that the vulva and anus should be as pink as Barbie's high heels. According to this ad for Clean and Dry Intimate Wash, your depressingly dark vagina is probably ruining your marriage. Clean and Dry comes from India, a nation that consumed metric tons of skin whiteners in Skin lightening in India has deep roots in the colorism and caste system of Indian society.

Despite it being completely normal for the skin around the anus to be darker than the surrounding area, 83 percent of readers would consider trying out the anal bleaching trend, according to a recent Cosmopolitan poll. She says they receive up to 10 anal bleaching inquiries a week. The trend first gained traction after adult film actress Tabitha Stevens had her anus bleached on the unscripted series Dr. This quickly became the norm throughout the porn industry, which made U. You can guess what happened next: Online queries for at-home anal bleaching products surged. But is it safe?

Say what? Yep, I just said it: anal whitening. Or, anal bleaching if you really prefer.

Whether in a bikini or in the bedroom, more people than ever are turning to anal bleaching as a means of feeling more confident. As such, numerous at-home anal bleaching techniques are popping up online and on shelves. But, as is the case with any medical procedure, the best and safest anal whitening results are accrued by visiting a licensed professional.