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Here's why it's a big no-no to soaps, body washes, and home remedies for your vagina and vulva hygiene
29 April 2021
| Last updated on 9 May 2021
Plus, other honest advice from experts that won't funk with your intimate area's pH levels
Have you realized that every part of your body-right from the tip of your hair to your toe, has a special product that is designed to be used on that specific skin?
You wouldn’t use shampoo on your face or body wash on your hair. Would you? NO!
We also have specialized products that care for our lips, nails and teeth. But when it comes to caring of our vulva, often this delicate skin gets overlooked. We usually grab a bottle of bodywash or a bar of soap, this works, doesn't it? Well, sort of… but not really.
Yes, soap/body wash should not be used on the vulva/intimate area, because they do more harm to the body than any cleansing effect.
First, let’s talk about the difference between your vagina and vulva.
Most women are not aware of their body, because talking about the female body is a taboo.
Well, the first thing to do is to find out more about what you have been born with, whether or not you have any interest in biology. The most basic thing to know about the complicated female body, before we start a conversation about the hygiene of your intimate areas, is that the vagina and the vulva are two different things.
The vagina is a tubular, muscular structure on the inside of the body, while the vulva is on the outside, surrounding the vaginal opening.
Why you don’t need to cleanse your vagina.
Many women, in an attempt to smell nice, try different methods of cleansing the inside of the vagina, starting with fancy, fragrant soaps to bizarre home remedies. It is important to know that there is no need for using external agents to cleanse the vagina, because it is capable of cleaning itself with the help of an internal lubricant secreted by your magical body.
So, when you see any whitish vaginal discharge, don’t be alarmed. In addition, you must remember that the vagina has an acidic environment inside, with a pH level of 3.8-4.5, which helps to maintain a microbiome of good bacteria in the body.
What happens if I use soaps inside?
When you use soaps inside, or even the home remedy products, it can raise the pH level, causing infections to grow.
Yes, your vulva needs cleansing.
Now, the vulva, which is on the outside, is more exposed to dirt. Because of the hair follicles, it also gets sweaty.
SEE ALSO: Let's Talk About Sweat and Odour 'Down There'
So, this part of the body needs some basic cleansing. However, you must not use regular soap or body wash for the same. You must remember that the intimate area is special and hence, requires special care.
The skin is more sensitive and is different from the rest of your body. This means that the regular soaps and cleansers that work for the rest of the body are not going to work for the vulvar region. They can turn out to be too harsh for the region, and eventually, they will cause irritation. If they enter the vaginal tube, they can cause pH imbalance.
Just use warm water and a delicate wash for the vulva, and leave the vagina to cleanse itself on its own!
Our femfresh products ranging from washes, wipes to powder are gentle enough for cleaning without making you dry or itchy, plus it supports your vulva’s natural pH (3.8 to 4.5) so you’ll feel fresh and clean after your shower.
In spite of regularly following these intimate cleansing tips, if you think that the odour of your intimate parts has suddenly changed and become unpleasant or if there is a change in the nature of your vaginal discharge, we recommend visiting a gynaecologist to figure out what the problem might be.
