While we learn lots of ways to take care of our personal hygiene, we don’t often talk about hygiene in our “personal area.” Discussing our female parts can be awkward. Add in that they come with different secretions and smells, and we feel like maybe we need to do some cleaning. The trick can be figuring out how to best clean without irritating our pelvic floor or bladders.

Washing your personal area isn’t the same as washing your body. Hygiene is different in that region for all women. And IC patients often worry about making their symptoms worse when cleaning or making their symptoms worse by not cleaning properly. The majority of IC patients report having sensitive skin throughout their bodies and especially in their vaginal area. If the body soaps and laundry detergents we use can impact our symptoms, then the products we’re using in our personal area are incredibly important. Not all IC patients have other conditions such as vulvodynia, which causes chronic irritation of the skin. But anything that irritates the pelvic region is pretty much guaranteed to set off an intense flare or at the very least momentarily increase our IC symptoms — neither of which we want!

Where do you need to clean?

Before we get too far into how to clean “down there,” we need to first talk clarify the anatomy we’re talking about. The two main areas to talk about are the vulva and vagina. Simply put, the vulva is your external genitalia including your pubic mound, clitoris, labia, opening to the vagina and your urethra. Your vagina is what connects the vulva to the cervix and uterus beyond that.(1) Other areas to be aware of are the anus (butthole) and the perinium. The perinium is the strip of skin between your vagina and your anus.(2)

Your vulva is the area you can and should clean carefully. Your vagina is self-cleaning and doesn’t need to be cleaned. And your vaginal opening and the tissue right around it never need to be cleaned with anything other than water. The other areas of your vulva can be cleaned with gentle products.(3)

Gynecologists have warned against using douche or other internal cleaning products for vaginas for years. Not only is douching unnecessary, it also increases your risk for infection and even HIV transmission. Steaming the vagina, which is a relatively newer option heralded by certain celebrities, isn’t a better option. Steaming can introduce irritants to your vagina and vulva as well as potentially burn your skin.(3) Yikes! Steering clear of internal vaginal cleaning products or solutions is the best choice.

How often do you need to clean?

Once we know exactly what we need to clean, the next question becomes how often we need to clean. The answer to that lies a bit in personal preference as well as activity. For the most part, you can just use plain warm water during your regular bathing routine to keep the area clean. No scrubbing needed!(2) If you are doing activities that cause you to sweat a lot, then you are going to need to clean yourself more often than if you are having a more sedentary day. That’s pretty much the same rule of thumb as for the rest of your body.

What should you use to clean yourself?

So what products to use is the big question, especially for those of us in the IC community who don’t want to take unnecessary risk for either an infection or a flare. We have two main options for cleaning ourselves: soaps and cleansers. Soap are made to strip away part of the acid mantle on your skin. The acid mantle is a fine, acidic film on the surface of our skin that keeps bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants from going through the skin.(4) Because of this, soap can leave skin feeling dry.(3) And, honestly, the last thing we want in this area is anything that can leave us more prone to bacteria. Vaginas have their own healthy bacteria blend, but we don’t want to risk being susceptible to less healthy bacteria that can infiltrate or vagina or urethra.

The second option is cleansers. Cleansers strip away dirt while leaving the acid mantle in tact.(3) Generally speaking, cleansers are better for all your skin, especially your most sensitive areas.

If you want to clean your vulva region with more than just warm water, look for cleansers rather than soaps. But, don’t pick just any cleanser. Avoid products that have fragrances, which are known to irritate sensitive skin.(3) And instead of using a washcloth, which can have a rough texture, use your fingers to gently clean the area instead.(1)

Some suggestions for cleansers that work well for sensitive skin, including the nether-regions, are Dove-Hypoallergenic, Neutrogena, Basis and Pears.(1)

Are other products OK to use?

In short, no. Sprays and odor-control suppositories can kill good bacteria and irritate the vaginal lining the same as douches can. Wipes can cause the same problems. Even baby wipes can be irritating, which may seem surprising since they are used on babies! However, baby wipes need to be formulated to remove feces stuck on the skin, which is not something most women are dealing with. If you are having problems with fecal or urinary incontinence, then fragrance-free baby wipes that are as natural as possible can be a good option for on-the-go cleaning. But without those issues, wipes are generally not a great idea. In fact, the vulva is 15 times more likely to be irritated by wipes than other areas of the body.(3)

If you do use wipes — either baby wipes or vaginal wipes — they should never be inserted into the vagina and only used on exterior skin.(3)

What about bath products?

Relaxing in a warm bath is a pleasure many women enjoy. The warm bath itself is fine, but adding products to bath water can cause irritation. Bath bombs or bubble baths usually contain scents and/or dyes, both of which can irritate sensitive skin. Avoiding these products is best for IC patients. However, you aren’t doomed to always taking plain baths. There are safe alternatives.

  • Epsom salt bath: Add some Epsom salts into your bath water along with either olive or avocado oil to enjoy the soft skin sensation that bath bombs or bubble baths give.(3)
  • Citrus-ginger bath: Into a square of muslin, cheesecloth or gauze add a 4-inch piece of ginger root (peeled and cut into pea-sized pieces), grated peel of 4 lemons, grated peel of 1 orange and 3 tablespoons of dry rolled oats. Tie it all up and let the warm water run over the “package” as the tub fills. If you have vulvodynia, skip the citrus and ginger; just use the oatmeal instead.(5)
  • Sitz bath: Adding 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda to a warm bath works well for many IC patients who find it comforting without being irritating.(6)

What should I use for dry, itchy skin?

If you are using soap, are shaving the region or dealing with menopause, your skin might get dry down there and cause discomfort. Trying a moisturizer to help is OK as long as it’s as natural as possible. Just like with soap and other products, you want to avoid fragrances and dyes. Instead, try things like coconut oil, olive oil, baby oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly or diaper rash cream or ointment.(3) Medicine Mama’s V Magic is also a great organic, natural product most IC patients find tolerable.

You need to be aware of a few things, though. When applying a moisturizing product, avoid getting it into your vagina or anus. However, both coconut and olive oils aren’t as worrisome if they make their way in. And also know oil-based products are not compatible with latex condoms. Be sure to not to use such products within a few hours before having intercourse using a latex condom.(3)

References:

  1. Moreland OB-GYN. Vaginal Health: 5 “Down There” Care and Upkeep Tips.
  2. Flinn A. I’m a Gynecologist and This Is How You Should *Actually* Be Washing Your Vulva. Well+Good. May 31, 2020.
  3. Gunter J. The Vagina Bible. Piatkus. 2019.
  4. Wikipedia. Acid Mantle.
  5. Laumann B. Pamper Yourself From the Outside In — Fresh Tastes by Bev. IC Network.
  6. Osborne J. The Ultimate IC Friendly Bathroom. IC Network.