Many women rely on feminine wash or intimate hygiene products to clean their vulva and external genital areas, with most feminine washes being natural, gentle, moisturizing products marketed to be safe for sensitive skin.
Research indicates that douching and washing the vulva with harsh soaps increases a woman’s risk of vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
pH Balance
Your vulva contains millions of beneficial bacteria called lactobacilli that work to restore balance to its environment. When washing with soaps, body washes or feminine washes with fragrances and additives such as fragranced feminine washes with fragrances or additives can disrupt this natural balance, since such products tend to be more acidic than your skin can handle and may dry and irritate it further. Feminine cleansers are designed to be milder than soap while providing a healthy pH level for your vulva skin while being free of dyes or added fragrances – these should also be the top picks!
Soothing
At any toiletry aisle, the term “feminine hygiene” will likely be plastered all over lotions, potions, wipes and more. While cisgender women may believe their vulvas to be smelly and dirty caverns that need cleansing with feminine products, actuality their vulva maintains a healthy pH balance thanks to millions of lactobacilli (good bacteria) living there that keep it clean on its own.
Gynecologists warn that many so-called feminine washes on the market may do more harm than good, according to their opinion. Many brands of soap and shampoo contain chemicals, perfumes/fragrances and essential oils which may dry out or irritate delicate skin around vulvae and external genital areas like the clitoris. Furthermore, many soaps with high pH levels strip away natural bacteria in these areas that aid in fighting infections such as yeast or bacteria infections as well as leading to irritation or other issues.
Refreshing
Gynecologists warn that many feminine washes marketed as pH balancing, natural, and fragrant can actually do more damage than good. According to Tanouye, as these washes contain chemicals and fragrances which are irritating to vulvas they may interfere with lactobacilli in vagina and lead to odor, irritation, yeast infections and other issues – therefore choose products without essential oils, perfumes or chemicals as this will be in your best interests.
