Woman claims to ‘boost her libido’ by sunbaking vagina for two hours a day
Experts are warning against claims you can “boost libido” by performing a bizarre a naked ritual every day, calling it “plain dangerous”.
Experts are warning women against a sunbaking their vaginas after an influencer claimed she exposed hers for two hours a day to “boost her libido”.
Brazilian model Letícia Martins, known as Lunna Leblanc, revealed on Instagram she exposed her private parts to the sun for two hours a day, claiming her daily ritual “can provide you with more energy, increase your libido and help you get a good night’s sleep”.
The 23-year-old accompanied her post with an X-rated photo that showed her legs spread apart as she lay on what appears to be a balcony.
She appeared to be completely naked, her hand protecting her modesty.
“Nothing better than a morning sun,” she wrote. “I love this experience.”
But experts have warned against the X-rated trend with one telling news.com.au the act was “plain dangerous”.
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Dr Deb Cohen Jones, a GP with over 20 years experience and a skincare expert from Perth said the claims were “not only false but unsafe and potentially harmful”.
“The vaginal skin is typically previously sun naive and hence much more likely to burn,” she said.
“It is not uncommon for women to have moles or pigmented lesions on the vagina which, if exposed to excess sun, could subsequently develop pre cancerous or even cancerous changes as a result.”
It’s not clear whether Lunna applies SPF during her ritual, but either way Dr Cohen Jones – who co-founded prescription skincare brand, The Secret Skincare, with friend and fellow medical professional Dr Clara Hurst – said it’s not a good idea.
“There is no mention of sunscreen in her claims and no sun exposure of 2hrs duration should occur without factor 50 protection,” Dr Cohen Jones said.
“To my knowledge there are no vagina safe sunscreens which would provide this protection and therefore make this activity safe on any level, never mind the ridiculous claims its seems to make.”
Instead, Dr Cohen Jones recommends keeping your vagina “adequately covered” by swimmers and leaving vitamin D absorption to the “more appropriate body parts”.
Dr Michele Squire, a PhD-qualified scientist and registered nurse with over 15 years research in skin science, shared the same concerns.
“Sunlight makes us feel happy and mood has a strong association with sexual desire,” she told news.com.au.
“But the concept of deliberately sunning your labia for hours each day to increase libido – well that’s just plain dangerous.”
Dr Squire – who is also the founder of Qr8 and Qr8 MediSkin – said the bizarre claims were particularly worrying for anyone attempting it in Australia as it is the “skin cancer capital of the world”.
“According to our Cancer Council, skin cancer and melanoma account for more than 80 per cengt of all new cases of cancer diagnoses in Australia each year. And the cause is… sun exposure.”
She explained that Australians generally don’t have an issue with vitamin D levels so “only a few minutes (not several hours) in the sun each day are sufficient” for most people.
“You don’t need to expose this particular sun naive body part to generate vitamin D,” she stressed, adding that if you did develop skin cancer in that part of your body it would be “uncomfortable” to treat.
Lunna, who has 13,400 followers, is best known for her racy bikini photos and doesn’t list having any medical qualifications.
While a vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a dwindling sex drive in studies, Dr Cohen Jones said the link was a “querulous one”.
“The best way to achieve adequate vitamin D levels is through exposure to the arms and legs in early morning sun rather then the nether regions in full sun for two hours,” she said.
Another safe way to boost the vital vitamin – which is necessary for skin, bones and general health – was to take a supplement, Healthline states.
Dangers of sun exposure can include developing skin cancer, painful sun burn and heat stroke.
It isn’t the first time a social media user has credited exposing their privates to the sun in order to gain unfounded health benefits.
In November 2019, a self-professed healer claimed her bizarre “bum sunning” ritual was the key to better sleep and an instant energy boost.
Meagan, from California, posted a picture of herself practising what she described as “perineum sunning” – a fancy term for lying naked on your back with your legs up while the sun bores directly into you.
The woman, who goes by Metaphysical Meagan on social media, said it was part of her “daily rising routine” and that she’s even ditched her morning coffee for the practice.
Meagan claimed that just 30 seconds of sun on her perineum – the area between her anus and vulva – was the same as spending a day in the sun fully-clothed.
Despite doctors warning against the unusual practice, Meagan continues to promote it on her social media page, sharing pictures of herself legs akimbo and her bum to the sky.
Continue the conversation @RebekahScanlan | rebekah.scanlan@news.com.au
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