Intimate hygiene

The genital area is especially prone to irritation, both due to the greater fragility of the skin and the mucosa. Intimate hygiene must clean properly without attacking and, at the same time, protect from possible external aggressions such as irritations or infections. Generally, the products used for the rest of the body are suitable for intimate hygiene but, in some cases, they can be excessive.

• For proper daily hygiene, an external product should be used that respects the vaginal pH and does not disrupt the balance of the flora.
• Too obsessive hygiene can cause irritation and unbalance the local flora.
• Menstruation is a delicate time for intimate hygiene: it is important to change pads or tampons frequently and wash twice a day with a specific gel.

How is the vaginal flora?

The mucosa and vaginal flora are different depending on the stage of life:

• The newborn maintains the mother's hormones during the first weeks so its vaginal flora is similar to that of the adult woman, they can even have discharge or small bleeds similar to the
• When the mother's hormones disappear, the flora of the girl before puberty is composed of the same skin bacteria or even intestinal bacteria that colonize the vagina by proximity.
• With puberty, vaginal discharge increases until it becomes the normal discharge of an adult woman, basically composed of the bacteria Bacillus of Döderlein. This produces lactic acid that lowers the vaginal pH, which prevents the growth of other bacteria. If the balance between Döderlein bacilli and the rest of the microorganisms is broken, they are favored.

Vaginal infections appear when the vaginal flora is altered. This occurs when the normal flora of the vagina is destroyed or altered, as in the following cases:

• antibiotic treatments destroy vaginal bacteria but not fungi. This situation favors vaginal yeast infections.
• They are altered by the hormonal status of the vaginal mucosa and, therefore, also favors the appearance of fungal infections.
• Diseases such as immunosuppressive disease (s) change the vaginal pH favoring infections.
• Stress situations also weaken the immune system and, as a consequence, infections can occur.

For proper daily hygiene, an external product should be used that respects the vaginal pH and does not disrupt the balance of the normal flora. Too obsessive hygiene can cause irritation and unbalance the local flora.

A mild product is also recommended, which does not alter the vaginal pH and is not aggressive since women are more sensitive to possible attacks on the skin and mucosa. The thickness of the vaginal mucosa decreases due to the lack of hormones, which can cause vaginal dryness. For this, there are specific moisturizing products that can be of great help.

• Loose-fitting garments: friction is not advisable for the vaginal area. The use of tight clothing creates an environment favorable to the development of infections.
• The underwear, better of cotton to avoid the maceration of non-breathable fabrics such as lycra. The systematic use of panty liners also favors infections due to their low breathability.
• Beware of humidity: wet undergarments are not recommended. Swimsuits or underwear after doing should be changed as soon as possible.

Hygiene during menstruation

There are more delicate moments for intimate hygiene such as the days of menstruation. It is important to change pads or tampons frequently and wash once or twice a day with a specific gel for intimate hygiene. The menstrual flow has an alkaline pH that alters the normal balance of the vaginal discharge and favors the appearance of infections. Women prone to vaginal infections can use prebiotics (in gel form) after menstruation to quickly regenerate normal vaginal flora and try to avoid repeat infections.