How To Use Vagisil Wash

Marketing may apply the two terms interchangeably, but the vagina and vulva are two separate parts of the torso.

An anatomy refresher The
vagina is the muscular canal inside the torso that the menstrual flow — and
babies, during childbirth — passes through. The vulva refers to the outer
portions around the vagina which includes the inner and outer vaginal lips
(labia), the clitoral hood, the clitoris, pubic mound, and the urethra.

"The vagina does non need to be washed because the vagina is a self-cleaning organ," explains Dr. Renjie Chang, OB-GYN and founder of NeuEve, a women'due south sexual health product startup. "A healthy vagina has an effective ecology of leaner that assistance it maintain the right pH."

That would be a pH value of 3.5 to 4.5, which is slightly acidic. At this pH, our vaginas can prevent "bad" leaner from thriving, Chang explains.

Washing inside or douching the vagina can disrupt this natural balance, which tin result in irritation, bacterial vaginosis, or a yeast infection. Further, Langdon says, "Douching actually increases the risk of pushing STIs upwards toward the fallopian tubes and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that can cause infertility."

So, does the vulva need to be washed? Yes.

"Cleaning the vulva should be a role of your daily hygiene routine," says Sherry Ross, Md, OB-GYN and women'due south health skillful in Santa Monica, California.

Warm h2o is all you need to adequately clean your vulva. However, there are products yous tin can use if y'all really desire to cleanse, moisturize, or freshen up between showers down there.

Anything you use on the vulva tin can easily enter the super-sensitive vagina, so what'due south in the product matters. "It is important to minimize ingredients similar scents which tin can cause dryness and alter the pH of the vagina, leading to irritation or infection," says New York-based obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Kameelah Phillips. Too, you don't demand to cover up the natural smell of your vagina with perfumes.

If you do invest in soap, wipes, or other products for your under $.25, get for something that'south every bit balmy as possible. Ideally, information technology should exist dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free.

Here are five gynecologist-canonical products you tin can try out:

i. Dove Sensitive Skin Bathroom Bars

In general, you want to apply a production that's the least toxic and least probable to contain potentially allergenic ingredients around the vulva and vagina, says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, OB-GYN at Yale-New Haven Infirmary and clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

"I encourage my patients to apply unscented soap similar Pigeon bar soap, and to use the least amount of soap possible," she says. Information technology'south fragrance-free.

Cost: $13.99/half-dozen bars, available on Amazon

Langdon recommends other fragrance-free, gentle soaps, too:

Eucerin
Aveeno
Fragrance-Complimentary Bar Soap
Basis
Sensitive Skin Bar
Dial
Nuts
Neutrogena
Liquid Cleanser

2. Summertime'due south Eve Cleansing Cloths

"I am all for feminine hygiene wipes and some companies do this amend than others," says Ross. "I am a large fan of Summer's Eve as they tend to be formulated specifically not to disrupt the pH residual of the vagina."

The wipes are also complimentary from dyes and parabens, and gynecologist-tested.

When should you use these? According to Ross, when changing pads or tampons.

"Wearing sanitary pads each day can bring unwanted bacteria to this very sensitive and delicate expanse. These wipes can be used to make clean the blood from the vulva whether you are home or out on the go." Y'all might also use them afterward a workout to wipe abroad groin sweat.

Cost: $iii.sixty/bundle, available on Amazon

Note: Summer's Eve also has scented versions of this product, only the fragrance may be irritating to the fragile peel of the vulva. "There is null wrong with the natural aroma of a healthy vagina or vulva," says Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Medico. "If y'all're experiencing a strong or unpleasant odor, you don't want to cover that up. You want to actually address the outcome."

She suggests a visit to the gynecologist or your healthcare provider of choice.

3. Vagisil Sensitive Plus Moisturizing Wash

"Vagisil has a line of intimate washes specifically for the labia that are formulated with no ingredients to disrupt the normal pH balance of the vagina," says Ross. She suggests just using this to clean the labia.

Information technology's pH-counterbalanced, hypoallergenic, as well equally dermatologist- and gynecologist-tested. Keep in mind that this production does include a fragrance, which may be irritating to folks who are particularly sensitive or decumbent to yeast infections.

Toll: $10.00/bottle, available on Amazon

four. Fur Oil

How y'all choose to groom your pubic hair is your choice. If y'all decide to keep some or all of your pubic hair, Fur offers a keen moisturizing oil.

Does your pubic hair need pube oil? No. "Your pubes are not exposed to the elements similar hair on our head. This means that it gets plenty of wet and sebum to continue it salubrious," says Langdon.

Yet, you lot may be interested in keeping the surface area feeling hydrated. "Fur Oil has been both dermatologist and gynecologist tested, which helps a buyer know information technology'south a safe purchase," says Ross. To utilise it, apply one to two drops onto your fingers and so run it through your pubes. It also has vitamin E to nourish dry skin, clary sage seed oil for inflammation, and it's free of parabens and fragrance.

Friendly warning: "The oil includes tea tree oil and peppermint, which both [have] astringent properties. So if there is broken skin or a shaving nick it can lead to called-for and irritation," says Phillips.

Ane way to test how your skin may react is to put a driblet on your inner elbow, cover with a cast, and continue it there overnight to make sure there's no reaction before using it.

Toll: $46.00/ii ounce, bachelor at Ulta

5. Lola Cleansing Wipes

"These wipes look promising," says Phillips. "The ingredients are balmy and don't include mutual vaginal irritants."

What are they made of? 100 percent bamboo soaked in a simple, purified water solution. The production is alcohol-costless and there are no parabens, sulfates, synthetic preservatives, dyes, or fragrances.

Cost: $10.00/box, available on mylola.com

Think, always test the product start and stop use if it causes issues

Questions to ask before purchasing something for your vulva:

Is this fragrance-complimentary?
Is this dermatologist- and
gynecologist-tested?
Does this product or its marketing
use shame to get you to buy it?
Are there any ingredients I tin't
pronounce?

If you're interested in trying a new product, make sure to do a patch test on your arm first to make sure yous don't have an allergy or reaction to whatsoever ingredients.

If you do start to feel irritation, redness, or excessive dryness on the vulva or vagina after using a product, stop employ immediately. Always talk to your gynecologist if y'all have whatsoever concerns.

Gabrielle Kassel is a New York-based wellness writer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She'due south go a morning person, tried the Whole30 challenge, and eaten, drunk, brushed with, scrubbed with, and bathed with charcoal — all in the proper noun of journalism. In her free time, she can be establish reading self-assist books, bench-pressing, or pole dancing. Follow her on Instagram.