Intimate hygiene helps you prevent infections, keep the area clean and fresh, prevent odors. But intimate hygiene is not always done correctly. There are widespread practices that are believed to help maintain intimate health, but actually have the opposite effect.
Discover further what are the best practices for intimate hygiene, but also the frequent mistakes that you will know to avoid from now on. The article also contains video resources for you to learn everything you need to know for proper intimate hygiene.
What hygiene products and practices are unsafe?
Women’s intimate hygiene is important for health. Thanks to good hygiene, infections can be prevented and health can be protected. But there are some common mistakes practiced inadvertently or, on the contrary, thinking that they are the best practices for intimate hygiene.
For example, it is a common belief that intimate douching several times a day can help keep the vaginal area clean and infection-free. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, showering too often can actually strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to irritation. Among the most unsafe intimate hygiene practices are:
- Use of soaps or aggressive detergents
- Showers excessively
- Wearing tight underwear that does not allow the skin to breathe.
- Using intimate hygiene products that contain perfumes, alcohol or other chemicals
- Using the same tampon or absorbent for a long time during menstruation
- Wiping from back to front after using the toilet
- Using expired intimate hygiene products.
Why are panties made of cotton or other natural materials recommended?
Panties made of cotton and other natural materials are recommended because they allow air to circulate around the intimate area, which helps keep it dry. This is important because moisture can lead to bacteria growth and a breeding ground for infection. It is also important to change out of wet bathing suits or training suits as soon as possible. Again, humidity can support multiple problems of the intimate area.
Intimate hygiene done correctly
Good intimate hygiene practices include washing with soap and water specifically for the intimate area, rinsing thoroughly, patting dry, and wearing clean underwear made from natural materials such as cotton. Women should avoid tight clothing, vaginal douching, and the use of intimate hygiene products that contain skin-aggressive or toxic substances. Tampons or tampons should be changed regularly during menstruation, and women should wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Showering is also an important part of intimate hygiene. Old intimate hygiene products should be replaced with new ones.
Tips, in short, for proper intimate hygiene
- Keep the area clean and dry.
- Wear underwear that lets your skin breathe.
- Avoid vaginal washes.
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
- Change menstrual products regularly.
- Choose soaps that are gentle on the skin, unscented, for washing the intimate area.
- Avoid using scented wipes, sprays, powders or perfumes in intimate areas.
- Avoid tight clothing.
- Practice protected sex.
- Do not insert fingers with long nails or blunt objects into the vagina.
- Go to the annual medical check-up.
- Consult a doctor whenever you notice changes or have pain in the intimate area.
Why is it important to see a doctor if we notice changes in vaginal secretions?
One of the most important intimate hygiene practices is to consult a doctor if changes in vaginal secretions occur. This is because different secretions can be a sign of different conditions, some of which can be serious. For example, a change in the color or smell of vaginal discharge can be a sign of an infection. Therefore, it is important to have any changes checked by a doctor to rule out any serious condition.
