External intimate discomforts
It’s safe to say that almost every woman has experienced some kind of external intimate discomforts – whether it is irritation, itching, swelling, redness, soreness, sensitivity, haemorrhoids or minor tissue injuries. These issues occur when skin doesn’t have the capacity to resist external damaging factors, or it doesn’t recuperate in time, so the damage gets more severe.
Causes
Numerous factors can cause irritation or tissue damage in the sensitive intimate area:
- aggressive chemicals and detergents
- excessive washing
- inappropriate hygiene products that remove the protective layer from the surface of the skin which disrupts the natural lubricating and moisturizing properties and exposes your intimate region to bad bacteria and irritants
- friction caused by tight clothing or exercise
- menstrual blood
- sexual intercourse without sufficient lubrication
- certain infections
- menopause and other hormonal changes
- side effects of certain medication
- constipation
- pregnancy (higher pressure in the intimate region increases the chances for anal fissures and haemorrhoids)
- giving birth
How to prevent external intimate discomforts
In order to prevent these issues from developing and to minimise the discomfort if you are already experiencing some of the mentioned symptoms, you should:
- Develop good hygienic habits. Don’t wash your vaginal area too often – using water or a mild intimate wash without soap or detergents once a day is enough. Never use regular soap, strong detergents or products containing strong chemicals. Choose mild products based on natural ingredients with acidic pH value. The same goes for intimate wipes – choose those that are intended for the vaginal area and do not contain any harsh chemicals, colors or perfume.
- Avoid wearing skinny jeans, tight leggings, shorts or synthetic underwear for prolonged periods of time. These types of clothes increase the temperature in the intimate region and cause mechanical friction, both of which can damage the superficial layer of the skin, creating perfect grounds for microbes to thrive.
- Replace your panty liners, sanitary pads and tampons every 3-4 hours, right before you go to bed and as soon as you wake up in the morning.
- Use unscented and uncoloured toilet paper. Always wipe yourself from front to back.
- When removing hair from the intimate region, choose a technique that doesn’t irritate your skin. Hydrate the skin prior to the removal and apply a soothing product afterwards to prevent irritation.
- When drying, always use a soft and clean towel. Pat gently instead of rubbing.
- Allow enough time for foreplay and use a vaginal moisturiser or a lubricant if you’re experiencing vaginal dryness.
- Avoid any products that contain fragrances, colouring, preservatives and other additives that may irritate the gentle skin of the vaginal area.
If you do experience any symptoms in your intimate region, choose natural products that relieve symptoms and encourage recovery of the damaged area.