Everything you need to know about this relationship

The hottest season of the year has arrived and, with it, more opportunities to wear swimwear and spend long hours at the beach and pool. With the summer, special care is also redoubled, such as the use of sunscreen and skin hydration. Intimate health, in turn, also deserves attention, as it can suffer from the high temperatures and habits of the season.

“The intimate area calls for extra care in the summer. As the temperature is higher, it is even more important to take care that the region is more airy. Fungi and bacteria like warm and humid places, so we have to take care to keep the vulva cooler and drier.”explained Mariana Betiolimidwife specialist in intimate health.

Habits such as wearing wet bathing suits for long hours, wearing tight clothes or panties with inappropriate fabrics, and even the prolonged use of disposable pads are not recommended and may, according to the specialist, lead to the development of diseases such as candidiasis and vaginosis. bacterial.

“In the case of disposable pads, there are other points of attention for intimate health. External models, as they are made of plastic materials, prevent air circulation in the region, which in addition to favoring the proliferation of bacteria, causes bad smell and even infections. Internal absorbents, on the other hand, ask for extra attention when changing, which must be done every 4 hours. Prolonged use of this type of pad can favor the proliferation of bacteria in the internal region of the vagina, which can trigger a disease called Toxic Shock Syndrome, which can be fatal.”, said Marianna.

Although the menstruation and summer combo is not very celebrated, Mariana explained that there are ways to deal with the blood that can minimize the discomfort. The menstrual cup or disc are options recommended by the specialist, who highlights the items as possibilities to keep the vulva airy, therefore reducing the risk of vaginal infections. In addition, they can be used for up to 12 hours straight, which makes it easier in case of long periods away from home or on trips. For those who prefer the use of external pads, the expert’s recommendation is for reusable models or menstrual panties, produced in breathable fabrics and without plastic.

Contact with water can also cause discomfort for those who are menstruating. “The use of disposable pads in water is not recommended because they are made to absorb fluids and lose their function shortly after contact with water. Bikinis with absorbent fabric can also cause accidents and cause leaks. The ideal for those who want to stay in the water are the internal options such as disc or collector”, punctuated the expert who is also CEO of Inciclo. Menstruating or not, the specialist’s recommendation is to change the wet bathing suit whenever possible, avoiding contact for long hours of the damp fabric with the skin in the region.

Other vaginal secretions that make the region humid also ask for care; the ideal, in the view of the midwife, for those who have secretions in greater quantity, is to change panties throughout the day or use absorbent panties that do not have plastic layers. “Daily sunscreen is not indicated because it muffles the region and increases the risk of infection”guided the expert.

Increasing the frequency of baths can also influence intimate health. Although the recommendation is to keep the region always sanitized, attention should be paid to the products used in the region. Intimate soap should be as natural as possible, with a pH similar to that of the vagina, to avoid allergies and not cause irritation. Products with alcohol can irritate and dry the region and should be avoided. “Remembering that we should only wash the vulva. Inside the vagina you never wash, neither with water nor with soap “warned Mariana.

At bedtime, going without panties is an excellent recommendation for intimate health. “The habit leaves the region airy, dry, in addition to balancing the temperature”, ended the midwife.