Is My Butthole Normal? Aunt Vadge Explains

Hi Aunt Vadge,

This website says all things vagina, but does it go to the butt area too? If so, I’m 15 and never had sex, but near my butthole is like extra skin? I don’t know what it is.

Also I have hair by my butthole. I don’t know whether to shave it or leave it.

But I’m a dark-haired girl so it looks gross. And some discoloration too, where I wipe. I’m mixed and it looks like poop is still there 24/7, but I wipe good!

Please help.

Yours,
Perplexed
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Hi Perplexed,

Your butt is very normal! Don’t panic!

1. Extra flaps of skin on your anus are common and normal

Everyone’s butthole is slightly different. You can do absolutely nothing about it but accept it in all of its glory. What is a butthole even supposed to look like?

My advice is, don’t worry about it. As long as your healthy anus does what it should, you are not in any danger of being classified as abnormal or gross.

Sometimes we humans focus on parts of our bodies as if they are the most important thing, but I bet you are smart, funny and gorgeous, and I bet your butthole is top-notch and the best type of anus: one that does its job really well.

Nobody will ever care about or notice your extra butthole flap. (If it makes you feel any better, I have one too.)

What does a normal butthole look like?

Well, yours is my guess. The only abnormal butthole is one that isn’t able to function properly, in which case you would want medical attention. All other buttholes are normal! They’re healthy! They work!

Are there ‘types’ of butthole like there are ‘types’ of other body parts?

No, there is no such thing as a ‘type’ of butthole. There are no major variations in butthole. The anus is what’s known as a sphincter, which is an open-close muscle to let things in and out. The skin that scrunches up around this muscle just looks how it looks for you.

You might see people in pictures with these incredibly tidy anuses, and that’s so nice for them, but honestly, get any regular person bent over, and you’ll see things you wish you didn’t. Everyone’s anus is different.

Why do I have butthole flaps?

The skin that gathers around your anal sphincter is like elastic around the neck of a t-shirt or skirt. It gathers. The formation of this gathering is random, and some extra skin can be gathered in different places. It’s nothing you’ve done, nothing you can do. This is your incredible butthole.

Sometimes, if a person has haemorrhoids from chronic constipation or other causes, the anal skin may bulge a little and create little bobbles and scars around the anus from ongoing damage. But, this isn’t happening to you.

2. The flesh of our butt cracks is almost always ‘discoloured’ (read: normal coloured)

Just the same way that our labia are often a different colour to nearby skin too. It’s actually the way we are built, and nobody will ever think you have not wiped properly if they are ever inspecting your bum in such detail or making some kind of comment. (If this ever happens, call the manners police!)

Most people’s butts are colourful in some way – just wait until you see a lover’s butt for the first time, no matter what shade of skin. Baby’s bums are also like this, meaning we are born this way.

What’s funny is that in the 80s, this big trend of anus bleaching went on. Some people still do it, but it definitely went out of fashion.

What’s genuinely hilarious about it is that it shows you just how common this type of butt colouring is and that people tried to worry about it for a hot minute, then gave up. It’s just not worth it.

You’ll see that everyone’s anus is different, lots of them are browner than surrounding skin, and nobody is in any position to judge anyone else’s. Buttholes all do the same job.

Anuses are often bubbly, colourful (usually brown or pink, not poo related), and have extra bits. I’d recommend you stop looking at it. It isn’t going to improve or get worse.

Just accept with joy that there are some parts of your body you can’t see every day in the mirror, and be grateful that your butthole does its job perfectly.

3. Hair around your butthole is also very normal

You can decide if you want to shave, wax, laser, or leave it. It might pay to do some experiments and see how you feel most comfortable – if getting rid of it makes you feel better, do it.

If you don’t care, leave it. There is plenty of time to obsess over your pubic hair for the rest of your life, so experiment with what you prefer. It’s your butthole, and you can do whatever you like!

Check out our article on pubic hair to see if there are some other hair removal options that you might enjoy rather than shaving your butt (hair removal cream can be a bit more effective, particularly when you can’t see what you’re doing).

YOU ARE NORMAL AND YOUR BODY IS AMAZING!

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge