Barely-there underwear, Brazilian bikini waxes and shaved pubic hair have become cultural beauty standards for women. What most women don’t take into account is that the skin of a woman’s genital area is more sensitive than the skin on her face. The very practices women undertake to keep their private areas “pretty and pristine” are actually doing just the opposite. These new grooming routines are landing women in my office with complaints of irritation and discomfort. These symptoms are the result of harsh grooming procedures and tight clothing, and they’re your body’s way of saying, “Stop torturing me!”
What we call a “yeast infection” is an overpopulation of the yeast microorganism Candida albicans, which is found normally in the vagina. The way to prevent irritating yeast and other bacterial infections is to make sure that there is a healthy population of good bacteria in the vagina. These good bacteria are called probiotics and one of them, Acidophilus lactobacillus, has a name that means “acid-loving.” Help keep an acidic and healthy environment “down there” by following all of these tips:
Are you using panty liners? If so, STOP! Panty liners actually trap moisture and allow yeast infections to grow.
Wear cotton underwear ONLY, and I don’t mean just a cotton underwear crotch. The entire pair of underwear should be 100% cotton—it’s the least irritating fabric and it allows moisture to evaporate.
Underwear should not rub against the genital and anal areas, as they do with thongs or tight bikinis. Instead, panties should comfortably cover the sensitive areas, yet be loose enough not to chafe.
Are you waxing or shaving your pubic hair? Don’t! We evolved with pubic hair for a reason—it protects the vagina from dirt and other irritants. Continually removing pubic hair can cause ingrown hairs, decreased sensitivity, irritation and red bumps.
Skip skin-tight exercise pants. I know you want to look cute in your workout clothes, but opting for loose-fitting cotton shorts will help prevent vaginal irritation and infection.
Avoid harsh soaps or douches. The vaginal region should be treated gently and kept on the acidic side, which is the opposite of most soaps. Wash gently with plain water and use a very dilute solution of vinegar, if you feel douching is necessary.
Lisa Dabney, MD is Co-director of Urogynecology and Reconstrucitve Pelvic Surgery at Roosevelt Hospital.
Thank you for your comment Lisa. Many of the over the counter products aim to put lactobacillis back in the vagina. Many of them don’t work too well but some women do have success with them and there is little harm in trying. If you keep having recurrent yeast infections however, you should consult your gynecologist since there could be something else going on.