Hygiene is next to godliness is an ancient saying found in
many nations. Nowadays, people are taking more than one shower a day and if you
are a woman, you should know that excessive use of aggressive soaps can
seriously disrupt the delicate balance of microflora in the intimate regions
and reduce the possibility of self-defense. Almost every modern woman has
experienced tingling, itching or pain in the vagina accompanied by exaggerated
secretion at least once in her life. These problems rarely stop on their own
and they are usually one of the main reasons to visit a gynecologist.
In the period of puberty, women experience the process of
secretion in this area which occurs due to the peeling of cells located in the
lining of vagina and cervix. The smell,, color and the quantity of secretions
vary depending on the period of the cycle. The secretion contains millions of
bacteria and the vast majority of them are harmless. The most important
microorganisms in the intimate region are the lactobacilli that can turn
glycogen into lactic acid. The glycogen can be found in the cells of the vagina
and the lactic acid is here to maintain the protective pH value. Disorders in
the microflora and changes in the pH levels of the vagina can occur for various
reasons – stress, low immunity, fatigue, hormonal changes and misbalance,
antibiotic therapy, pregnancy, menopause etc. Wearing a thong or too narrow
pads, pants and underwear made of synthetic material contributes to the
development of the imbalance because it prevents the skin to breathe and favor
the transmission and spread of bacteria.
In order to avoid discomfort, it is crucial to take proper
care of your intimate hygiene. There is a huge choice of products and means for
keeping proper maintenance of the hygiene in the intimate area on the market.
Almost all famous cosmetic brands produce baths, gels, shower gels, wet wipes
etc. What is important is to choose a product that has pH value of about 4 and
doesn’t contain perfumes. You should be especially careful with shower gels
because many of them don’t have pH adjusted to the pH value of skin. This value
is about 5.5 and the pH of intimate areas is 3.8 or 6.8 in women in
post-menopause period. Since it is not a wise choice to overdo things, don’t
overuse these products too. It is enough to apply them once a day or even less
frequently. Many gynecologists even advise to wash only with water in order to
give chance to the microflora to regenerate in a natural way. When you are
traveling, use wet wipes which are specially designed for intimate care, but
keep in mind that they are not an appropriate alternative for washing. Intimate
hygiene is especially important during the period of menstruation. By
practicing proper hygiene you will be able to reduce the risk of development of
airborne bacteria and fungi. Try to change the tampons every 2-3 hours and
replace them over night too. They should be made of completely natural
materials.
