Hygiene 101
The main focus of this article I will discuss the most common personal hygiene tips that every woman should know about. Some may seem basic, while others you may not have known about. The purpose is to keep in line with the idea that prevention is better than curing — at least no one can say they weren’t told.
The best way to clean “down there”
The good news is that your vagina is a self cleaning “machine.” In other words, as part of its function, your vagina actually cleans itself. But, when you need to clean “down there,” the best way to do it is to use water and gently remove any possible dirt and debris. If you want to use a cleanser, make sure it’s a mild form of soap. Try to avoid products with perfumes as it may irritate the area. Use hypoallergenic and pH-balanced gentle cleansers. Try not to overdo cleansing in the area because it may cause an imbalance of the normal growth of bacteria around your vagina and lead to possible infections. Lastly, try to take showers and not baths. Bath water is full of bacteria from the skin, so sitting in the tub will allow these bacteria to reach the genital region, which can increase your chances of getting a urinary tract infection.
The best way to wipe
Always wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. Doing it the opposite way increases the chances of bacteria from your butt region moving to your vaginal region, which can cause a urinary tract infection. Wipe the same way for washing and showering. Try to wash your hands before using the toilet or at least before wiping (especially in public). When you are out and about in public, your hands are exposed to a lot of bacteria so washing your hands can avoid passing germs from your hands to your genital region as well.
The real deal with shaving
As shaving is the most popular form of hair removal, it’s worth discussing in more detail. One myth that should be cleared up about shaving is this: it does not cause hair to grow back thicker. If hair does appear thicker to you, it may be because of the angle in which the razor or shaver cut the hair. Make sure you shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid razor bumps. Choose a lubricating shave gel to prevent nicks and cuts and place a cool compress on the skin after shaving to prevent irritation and swelling. Shaving can cause spreading of any existing warts so the best way to prevent this from happening is to use one razor for the area with the wart and use another razor for the rest of the body.
Odor/ Discharge
It is common if down there smells or you see discharge (once you start puberty). But, you gotta understand that your vagina is self cleaning. Meaning you don’t want to mess with down there or throw off your PH balance by putting so much hygiene products down there. It may even cause a yeast infection.
What discharge mean
* it it part of the female reproductive cycle
* increases closer to ovulation and sexual arouse
* everyone has their own smell down there
* it will continue even after your cycle
The colors and what it means
* White: Thick, white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Normal white discharge is not accompanied by itching. If itching is present, thick white discharge can indicate a yeast infection.
* Clear and stretchy: This is “fertile” mucous and means you are ovulating.
* Clear and watery: This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising.
* Yellow or Green: May indicate an infection, especially if thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odor.
* Spotting Blood/Brown Discharge: May happen right after periods, and is just “cleaning out” your vagina. Old blood looks brown. This may occur when you are ovulating/mid-cycle.
Food contribues to your odor
If you want to know the real determinant factor that controls the smell of your vagina it’s what you eat. Eating fruits and greens (vegetables) helps the vagina smell great. Especially pineapples and almonds. Having a well-balanced diet and exercising, while not over washing the vagina will help down their smell great. Everyone has a smell, some stronger than others, and once in a while its okay if down there don’t smell fresh.
Foods and other things that defeat bad odor
* Eating fruits ( pineapples)
* nuts ( like Almond)
* greens ( especially Kale)
* Greek Yogurt
* Citrus
* Cranberry juice ( cleans out the system, fight UTI’s, discharge, and many more)
* Lemon ( lemonade helps restore you PH balance)
* Garlic ( but not to much can help fight vaginal problems)
* Not wearing tight clothes or pants
* drinking water
* well balanced diet
* Not using too much products down there
* shaving is optional
