WHY FEMININE HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT (PART 1)?
In today’s day and age, as women continue to balance their professional lives along with domestic responsibilities, they tend to overlook the importance of their health and well-being. Feminine hygiene is one such necessity often neglected while keeping up with their busy lifestyle.
Not just women, it is necessary for teens to be introduced to the importance and methods of keeping their intimate areas clean and infection-free. They need to be aware of how to maintain personal hygiene to stay healthy by avoiding vaginal problems. While the intimate region of a female’s body has a natural self-cleaning system, it is still important to take good care of it through hygiene practices, given that it’s the most sensitive zone.
WAYS OF MAINTAINING FEMININE HYGIENE
Following are some simple ways through which women can incorporate feminine hygiene into their routine to have a healthier life. Try these feminine hygiene tips for a fresh, clean and (most importantly) healthy vagina.
1. Wash your vulva every day
Keeping yourself clean is perhaps one of the most important feminine hygiene tips there is. Especially as you move through puberty, the changes in your body make good personal hygiene all the more critical. The inside of your vagina has its very own self-cleaning mechanism. It doesn’t need to be washed, scrubbed, or cleaned. Stick to washing just the outside of your vagina, which is called the vulva.
Things like getting your period, daily vaginal discharge and increased sweat from your sweat glands make keeping clean increasingly important for teenage girls. Washing your intimate area daily is just the first step.
2. Try pH-balanced feminine washes
Regular soaps and shower gels aren’t designed to be used on your vaginal area, because they have a pH level designed for the surface of your skin. Your skin has a pH of 5.5, whereas a healthy vaginal pH level ranges from 3.8 to 4.5. Using regular soap can alter the pH of your vagina and upset its delicate bacterial balance, which is what keeps it healthy and free of infection. Instead, try using a special wash intended for use in your intimate area.
3. Avoid using gloves or sponges to wash your intimate area
Female hygiene doesn’t require any special equipment just some feminine wash and water. The skin of your intimate area is very sensitive and can be irritated by abrasive materials like gloves and sponges. Plus, bacteria tend to build up and grow on things like sponges and gloves, and you don’t want to introduce them into your vagina. Your hands are enough to achieve good personal hygiene.
4. Use a soft towel to dry the area
To dry off after a shower or bath, use a towel that is soft and completely dry. An important hygiene tip for girls especially is to change your towel every two to three days and don’t share your towel with anyone else.
5. Keep the undergarments dry
Not wiping the vagina after urinating can cause the panties to get wet, which can not only lead to a bad odor but put you at risk of vagina infections. Hence, it is always advised to wipe the area using toilet paper or soft cloth so your underwear is always dry.
6. Wipe correctly
You may have heard this personal hygiene tip before, but it’s worth a reminder. When you go to the loo, be sure to wipe front to back and never back to front! This ensures that no harmful bacteria from your anus get into your vagina. If they do, these bacteria can create an uncomfortable (and smelly!) infection like a urinary tract infection that would require antibiotics to clear it up.
7. Wear cotton underwear
Wearing cotton underwear is important for good personal hygiene. Cotton is a very breathable fabric so it allows any excess moisture from sweat or discharge to evaporate, instead of becoming a breeding ground for bacteria (and unpleasant odors!). This doesn’t mean that the pair of knickers must be made entirely of cotton, just the crotch insert.
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD YOU START DEVELOPING YOUR ROUTINE?
As young as possible, actually. This is because the earlier you start practicing strong feminine hygiene, the better equipped you will be to manage changes to your body and feminine wellness later in life.
Just as parents explain to their children that they need to clean between their toes and brush their teeth, they need to explain to their children that they should tend to their genitals.
Feminine hygiene is important to maintain overall health and should be part of one’s everyday hygiene rituals. The availability of different hygiene products has facilitated and helped in keeping the intimate areas clean. However, as all bodies are different, consulting your doctors before using any of these is always recommended. These tips can be kept in mind to ensure a healthy feminine routine and lifestyle.
Wishing you a Happy New Year in advance from Pink Elephant Cosmetics.