Why Sex Sometimes Burns (and What to Do About It)

It’s not just you.

Sometimes sex feels amazing — until it doesn’t.
That slow sting after? The tenderness that makes you flinch when you pee?
It’s not a sign you’re broken. It’s usually a sign your skin’s just been through a lot.

The skin around your vulva is delicate. Think eyelid-thin, packed with nerves, made to stretch — but not to chafe.
When friction outpaces moisture, tiny micro-tears form. You can’t see them, but you can definitely feel them.

Why it happens

  • Friction + dryness — not enough natural or external lubrication.

  • Over-washing — stripping away the natural oils that protect you.

  • Tight clothing or long sessions — heat, sweat, and micro-movement all stress the skin.

  • Post-antibiotic or hormonal shifts — less natural moisture, more irritation.

Add a bit of bacteria from skin or touch, and suddenly that sting becomes a full-body focus.

What helps

Forget the ice packs and panic searches. What you need is calm — and a plan.

  1. Rinse, don’t scrub.
    Use warm water only. No soaps, no scented wipes. Let your skin breathe.

  2. Pat dry, gently.
    Avoid rubbing with towels — think blot, not polish.

  3. Restore the barrier.
    A thin layer of a plant-based balm (like Nooks™) helps seal micro-tears and keep out bacteria while your skin rebuilds.

  4. Skip the tight underwear.
    Loose cotton or nothing at all gives airflow, not friction.

  5. Hydrate + rest.
    Skin heals fastest when your body’s hydrated and you’re not re-aggravating the area.

If you’re prone to UTIs, it also helps to apply balm around — not inside — the vulva before sex. It creates a gentle buffer, reducing friction and bacterial transfer near the urethra.

Why petroleum isn’t the fix

Petroleum jelly blocks moisture loss, but it can also trap bacteria and sweat — especially in warm, covered areas.
Plant oils (like jojoba, squalane, and calendula) do the same job without suffocating the skin.
That’s why Nooks Universal Balm™ was designed for the places most people forget about — safe for lips, hands, or anywhere skin needs softness and calm.

The bigger truth

Pain during or after sex shouldn’t be normalised — but neither should shame.
Most of us were never taught how to care for this part of our body beyond “wash it and hope.”
But it’s skin. It deserves the same nourishment as your face, your hands, your everything else.

 

→ Shop Nooks Universal Balm — for soft, calm, cared-for skin everywhere.

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