We all know the feeling. Fresh from the shower and feeling good, we’re ready for the day. Hygiene and cleanliness are particularly important for our health, and there are countless benefits to being mindful of it. We have more confidence, are more productive, keep a whole host of illnesses at bay, and smell good – to ourselves and to other people. The genital area is a particularly sensitive patch of skin which requires special care. Which products are best? Intimate shaving – yes, or no? Find out all that and other important info here. We even have a secret little tip for you … personal lubricant, of course. 😊 Time to get excited!
- Ladies first: Intimate care for women
- What about when you’re on your period?
- Intimate care for men – how to do it right.
- Intimate shaving – yes, or no?
- Secret tip …
- Now you’re ready for anything
Ladies first: Intimate care for women
The female intimate area is very different to the male area, and there are a couple more things to bear in mind, so we’ll focus on women first. We all know that not washing enough results in problems with personal hygiene and increases the risk of bacterial and fungal infections. Using the wrong care products can also disturb the balance of the intimate area, which also gives bacteria an easy ride.
The vagina has a pH value of between 4 and 4.5. The mucous membrane keeps everything clean, and naturally protects the area from harmful microorganisms. This means the best way of caring for the intimate area is also the easiest: daily cleaning with clear water. In addition, it can be sensible to also use products designed especially for the intimate area. But we’ll talk more about that later. Overly aggressive soaps or washing can dry out the mucous membranes and encourage fungal infections. So, be gentle.
The vagina can discharge around 5 – 10ml fluid every day, so washing daily is vital and above all prevents any unpleasant odors. When you’re washing down below with clear water, take care to clean all the external genitals. This includes the inner and outer labia and the clitoris. Under no circumstances should you wash your whole vagina, unless you’ve been recommended to by a doctor. Once you’ve finished washing, rub everything dry so as not to leave any damp and create a breeding ground for bacteria.
Important tip which is also linked to intimate hygiene: the anal area should always be washed in the right direction to prevent any intestinal bacteria from entering the vulva and vagina. Which way’s the right way? Always from front to back.
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway for the sake of completeness: changing your underwear every day is absolutely ESSENTIAL! Throughout the day we lose a lot of bodily fluids in different areas, particularly the intimate area, in a combination of sweat and discharge. That is why you should slip into fresh underwear straight after showering. Your partner will also thank you for it. 😉 It’s best to wear cotton underwear, as cotton fibers are more breathable than synthetic fibers. Ideally, you should wash your underwear at 60 degrees to effectively kill any bacteria.
What about when you’re on your period?
Those are the basic tips for standard days. But what about when your period starts? Don’t worry, we have tips for that time of the month, too.
The bleeding can vary and be either heavy or light on different days. On lighter days, you can use sanitary pads or panty liners. For heavier days, you can use tampons. You should change sanitary towels and tampons every 6 hours at most. And please always make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before changing. This prevents bacteria and infections.
Bonus tip for after sex
After orgasming, we all generally get the urge. But, in case you didn’t know, urinating after sex can help to prevent bacteria from getting into the urethra. Say “Bye!” to those irritating cystitis infections. 😉
And what about intimate shaving? It’s an important issue for many, because some people think it is beneficial, and not just for esthetic reasons. We’ll come back to that later. Now, let’s move on to men.
Intimate care for men – how to do it right.
Let’s also start with some practical basic tips again, that work for everyone. Always important: wash every day and pick fresh underwear – EVERY day. Throughout the day we lose a lot of sweat, and after a while this begins to stink. So, remember to shower daily and always have plenty of fresh clothes in the drawer. This will help you feel fit, confident, and strong – every single day.
Now, for the care tips especially for the male intimate area. The question is: are you circumcised or not? Having a foreskin has a considerable influence on the growth of bacteria in warm and damp conditions – and thus also on the development of odors. Some men are also born with a tight foreskin (called “phimosis”), so a decision needs to be made early in childhood about whether to circumcise them or not. Not washing properly under the foreskin can lead to the buildup of a secretion called smegma. It is formed naturally by the body, and ensures that the skin stays supple. However, it is generally a sign that men have not washed themselves down below for a long time – and it also smells very unpleasant.
So, it doesn’t matter how everything looks down there: wash thoroughly with clear water. You can also use a special shampoo, ideally one that is skin-neutral. Thoroughly wash the penis, the area under the foreskin (if you have one 😉), the scrotum, and anal area. After the shower, thoroughly dry everything to prevent the microorganisms from multiplying. They enjoy warm, damp conditions. Ideally you should change your bath towels every two days. You can also give yourself a pleasant spritz of freshness with our pjur med CLEAN spray. It is antibacterial, as well as being alcohol-free, doesn’t burn, and has a slight scent.
Intimate shaving – yes, or no?
Let’s talk about intimate shaving – after all it’s a crucial question for many people: yes, or no?
First, the facts: more hair around the intimate area means a considerably larger surface area, and therefore more potential bacterial colonies. This means it’s beneficial from a hygiene point of view to be as smooth as possible down there. If you like hair, make sure you always clean particularly thoroughly. If you are pro shaving, we have an extra care tip for you: at pjur we have developed an after shave for her and for him that’s gentle on the skin. Both are completely free from perfume and alcohol. Give them a try!
Secret tip: personal lubricant to help with intimate care
In addition to pH skin-neutral care products and shampoos for the genital area, we also have another secret tip for you: buy a water-based personal lubricant with ingredients that are kind to the skin like aloe vera, jojoba,
provitamin B5, or panthenol. Water-based personal lubricants enter the top layers of skin and nourish it with their special ingredients. Personal lubricants also leave the skin supple and therefore protect sore, painful places where bacteria could penetrate.
Now you’re ready for anything
As you can see, all you need is a daily routine, which can be very simple, and then you’ve done everything you need to clean and care for your intimate area. Plus: keep a close eye on your most intimate areas. Nobody knows your body as well as you do. So, if something changes or seems unusual, talk to your doctor just to be sure. Have fun with our tips, we hope they’ve been useful. 😊
Image sources: pexels-karolina-grabowska-5240754 ; pexels-armin-rimoldi-5301653
