Experts have long agreed that there are two types of douches to avoid in this world: those who shot Natty Light and those with beautiful flowers on the box. The reason behind the latter is simply because the human vagina has been described as a self -cleaning organ, so you don’t have to flush it Fancy floral scents To keep it healthy.
Why is it then that the beauty market has seen too late such a prominent nail in skin care products that are specifically made for your vagina or, if we are anatomically correct, vulva (because vagina is everything internally)- each with various major claims? It is no longer just about keeping your Dutch regions “fresh” or eliminating smell, which promised by your old faithful douche, but also even out the skin, increase sexual enjoyment and improve elasticity. Most are marketed in the form of “intimate care”, and yet almost all promises are surface level.
Take for example Vaginal moisturizing serumwith a “proprietary peptide complex” intended for the surrounding skin to fight dryness, or Medicine mom vulva balmof which its PR rope sold every two minutes. Then there are many Entire body deodorants considered safe for vulva and tools such as Halle Berry’s own Respin x joylux vfit plus red light intimate wellness deviceA “red light therapy for your V” that was supposed to deliver “a sense of density from your own home”, according to the press release. You may even have seen “Vajacials” trends On Tiktok, where the skin down there gets full facial treatment including steam, extractions, serum and more.
The message is high and clear-vagina skincare is very I-but makes your hoo-ha really Do you need your own 3-step routine, or is it all a great fraud?
Experts displayed in this article
MaryMD, FPMRS, FacOg, MSC, is a board -certified urogenecologist based in Virginia, and one of the first surgeons in the country that was certified in both gynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.
Camelah PhillipsMD, is a board-certified ob-gyn and founder of Calla Women’s Health.
Alyssa DweckMS, MD, Facog, is a board -certified gynecologist, author of “The Complet A to Z for your V” and Chief Medical Officer for Bonafide Health.
Does your vagina really need skincare?
When it comes to summarizing a skincare routine for your Dutch regions, there is a consensus between experts: do not. “I recommend that people actually leave their vulva and vaginal area alone to maintain good health,” OB-Gyn Kameelah Phillips, MD, earlier told ps. Gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, MD, agrees, warns against using for many products. This is especially true for those with scents that can cause irritation to sensitive vaginal or vulvar. “A healthy vagina has a diverse microbiome, with lots of lactobacco to stay pH-balanced,” says Dr. Dweck.
Then there are cleaning cloths and feminine washes, such as sprinkle words like “antiseptic”, “mild” and “low pH” on the bottles to make them safer. But are they really?
In one word: sometimes – but you definitely don’t need one. In fact, you need nothing but a splash of water to keep it clean. “Patients are worried about smell or infection,” says Urogynekologist Maria Canter, MD. “They don’t want to feel embarrassed by how they smell. But you just need to wash the outside of your vagina with water, and you don’t have to wash the inside at all.”
On the contrary, using a feminine body wash can actually be harmful to your health. This is because it throws away your vulva’s good and bad bacteria that live harmoniously to make a healthy environment. “These good bacteria (called flora) protect against infection,” she says. “Wash is not recommended because they can interfere with this balance, throw away your pH levels and even push some of the bacteria further into your vagina. It can then jeopardize the immune system and cause an infection.”
Would you be a chill for punishment, or just really, really, really Want to wash down there, scan the ingredient list on a product for all red flags in advance. “Make sure it does not contain harmful chemicals like alcohol, which will potentially irritate your vagina,” says Dr. Canter. “It should also be pH -balanced so that it does not disturb the flora in your vagina.”
Dr. Phillips echoes this feeling and recommends only using Suders on Hair -bearing. “Less is more when it comes to vulva and vaginal care,” she says.
If you experience vaginal dryness, says Dr. Dweck you could Consider investing in a high quality vaginal moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, as it occurs naturally in the body but decreases with age. Before you do it, or if you have already incorporated one into your routine and something seems to see your gynecologist.
Otherwise, practice good hygiene, use protection and for the love of 1989 douche advertising, save your money on vulva -skin care unless it is considered necessary by a professional.
Kelsey Castañon (She/her) is ASME-nominated writer, editor and content strategist with enough years of experience to justify a retinol recipe. She is currently senior content director at PS, where you can find her storage (and reports on) everything from skincare to wine.