Intimate hygiene is a gesture of daily comfort and prevention of certain pathologies, the most serious being the infections.

The challenge is therefore to strike a balance between an excess of caution and a certain laxity that can both lead to intimate inconvenience.

A little reminder of anatomy

The genital area plays a very important role in the protection of the internal genitalia. Indeed, the vulva protects the vagina and the uterus from physical, chemical or bacterial attacks.

Very fragile and sensitive, the skin of this area contains many nerve cells that react very badly to the slightest skin discomfort.

Hence the interest of paying special and specific attention to it by cleaning it with adapted hygiene products, which allow to maintain its hydration continuously and to protect it from external aggressions.

Why is it important to have good personal hygiene?

In addition to the feeling of comfort, intimate hygiene plays a major role in the prevention of infections , particularly through the preservation of vaginal flora .

The vaginal flora (or Flora of Döderlein) is composed of lactobacilli, bacteria naturally present in the vagina, which prevent microbes from developing by creating a protective barrier at the level of the intimate mucosa. When it is unbalanced, because of bad hygiene habits or during certain periods (menopause for example), the number of lactobacilli is reduced, leaving the possibility for germs to multiply inside the vagina. Beware of infections and irritations that can settle.

From an early age, it is important to worry about your personal hygiene by learning the right actions to preserve it.

How to make his daily intimate toilet?

"Above all, it is necessary to take stock of a great misconception: it is not enough to clean oneself with water to have a good personal hygiene, it alters the hydrolipidic film of the skin, which prevents the evaporation of the skin. water, which leads to dehydration of the vulva, "says Dr. Jean-Marc BOHBOT, Infectiologist, Andrologist, Head of Genital Infectionology Unit and Medical Director of the Institut Fournier (Paris).

The latter recommends using a dermatological bar (soap-free soap) or intimate cleansing gels . Their formula, adapted to the sensitivity of the skin, respects its natural hydration and preserves its comfort in everyday life.

The so-called "classic" shower gels are to be avoided, especially if one suffers from mycosis or vaginal dryness . And the Savon de Marseille? "To be totally outlawed, it's a product that is far too aggressive and desiccating for the intimate area," says our expert.

If there are no particular problems, one toilet per day is sufficient . Hand washing is the most hygienic method according to specialists - and the best way to (re) discover body and anatomy according to sexologists.

Intimate wipes can be used occasionally: to feel fresh during the day, before an appointment with the gynecologist, after sport, during menstruation ... They should not, under any circumstances, replace an intimate toilet made with suitable and recommended products.

As for intimate deodorants , they can cause allergies and may mask an odor that may be a symptom of a pathology. It is therefore inadvisable to put in order to be always alert on any inconvenience intimate. In case of unusual odors, a consultation with the doctor is advised in order to identify and treat the cause.

Another precaution to take: soaping the front to back (as is done after the toilet), to prevent the spread of bacteria from the anus to the vagina. This action makes it possible to avoid cystitis.

Finally, we dry the area with a cotton towel, by light taps.

Should we favor products with a physiological pH?

Another received idea.

"The brands that promote this sales argument refer to the vaginal pH, which is very acidic (between 3.5-4.5), but we never wash the inside of the vagina with a hygiene product. The pH of the wash area ranges from 4.5 at the entrance of the vagina to 7-8 on the surrounding skin, so there is not a single good pH, but several physiological pH of the zone.This notion of physiological pH is therefore meaningless, "explains Dr. Bohbot.

Rules, sexual intercourse ... Special cases of personal hygiene

• Intimate hygiene during menstruation: during this short period, which generally lasts no more than a week, one can wash oneself morning and evening, or even more if the flow is important using wipes specially designed for intimate hygiene. However, care is taken to use very moisturizing products, the vulva being very dry during this period because of a significant drop in hormones and prolonged wearing of sanitary protection.
  
  
• During pregnancy: during pregnancy, the woman's vaginal flora is put to the test and irritation is frequent. The concentration of hormones is important, which stimulates the production of glycogen, a sugar that can promote the development of C andida albicans , a yeast responsible for vulvovaginal mycoses. We therefore favor a gentle and hypoallergenic care.
  
  
• The intimate hygiene of the menopausal woman: the fall of the hormones during the menopause causes an important vaginal dryness. Indeed, the vagina and vulva no longer benefit from female hormones. We opt for products specially designed to fight against this drying out.
  
  
• Mycosis and vaginal dryness, what intimate hygiene to adopt? Fungus infection is a vaginal and vulvar infection, so it is better to opt for slightly alkaline products, which create an atmosphere less conducive to the installation of infection and limit the risk of recurrence. To compensate for a vulvovaginal dryness, products enriched with natural and moisturizing active ingredients (such as products based on hyaluronic acid) are used, which calm the sensations of discomfort and limit the pains during sexual intercourse. In case of irritation, a plant-based active can also relieve.
  
  
• Intimate toilet before / after sex: it is not necessary to scrub before each report. Minimal hygiene is still to be respected by both partners. It is still advisable for women with cystitis and other repetitive urinary infections to urinate before and after each vaginal intercourse to chase away any microbes. For others, no need to rush in the shower at the end of a report.
  
  
• On holiday: at the pool or at the beach, women are prone to recurrent yeast infections should avoid keeping a wet swimsuit when they leave the water. The microscopic fungi responsible for mycosis, which are already present naturally in the vagina, tend to grow and multiply in hot and humid environments. To keep a wet jersey and to expose oneself to the sun is to offer the best mushroom conditions to settle down. So we opt for a bathing suit dry time to tan.

Intimate toilet: the gestures to avoid

"We avoid the glove, a true nest of microbes, and most importantly, we never proceed to an internal toilet type shower vaginal.The inside of the vagina already has a system of" automatic cleaning "and washing the inside, we is only disrupting its natural defenses, "warns Dr. Bohbot.

Same process with lemon, vinegar and other essential oils, used by some women to "acidify" the vagina. These ingredients do nothing but damage it and may even cause allergies.

Finally, antiseptics, if used in daily use, may cause an imbalance of the flora by destroying the vestibular lactobacilli (the intermediate zone between the vagina and the vulva), which are the first barriers against external aggression . This type of product is only dedicated to medical use (after surgery for example).

Thanks to Dr. Bohbot and IPRAD Laboratories.