Women’s health: How to care for your vulva
A friend sent a video from late-night television show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, to our WhatsApp grouping conversation the other mean solar day.
It was titled "What Do You Know Nearly The Female Body?" and had the production team striking the streets to find out how much men knew about the female person anatomy, in item, the female person reproductive organization.
Naturally, my girlfriends and I laughed when we saw the video because the men interviewed had no clue where or what things were. Merely at the dorsum of my mind, I wondered how much we, every bit women, even know about our own beefcake, particularly the goings-on down south.
How many of usa know the departure between the vagina and the vulva, for instance? Or if it'due south an area of the torso nosotros should requite actress care to (or none at all)? And really, what should we be doing?
VULVA VS VAGINA: DO Yous KNOW WHAT'S WHAT?
Opposite to what many recollect, the vagina is not the vulva – the vagina is part of the vulva.
"The vulva is the outer office of the female genitals that includes the opening of the vagina, labia majora (outer lips), the labia minora (inner lips) and the clitoris," said Dr Coni Liu, a consultant dermatologist at Dermatology and Surgery Dispensary.
Think of the vulva equally the "visible part of your genitals", said Dr Pamela Tan, an obstetrician and gynaecologist with Thomson Medical Center (TLC Gynaecology Practise) in her web weblog. This area includes the mons pubis (the fat pad covered past hair), the groin and the perineum.
YOUR VULVA: THE Side by side Borderland OF INTIMATE Intendance
Dr Liu believes it is time to requite the vulva, also known as the Y-zone, some long overdue attention. "Skin from any part of the body, similar our face, needs care and attention – but most people often merely notice the skin on other parts of the body when information technology starts to requite them problems," she said.
Just like the confront, the vulva is an area of peel that contains a high concentration of mucous glands, nerves and claret vessels, said Dr Liew Hui Min, a consultant dermatologist at HM Liew Peel & Laser Clinic. That makes a sensitive area, and why you should give it the same care as yous would the skin on your face.
HOW TO KEEP THE VULVA CLEAN
"There is no demand to keep the vulva excessively make clean," said Dr Liu. "If information technology is not particularly muddied from activities, you just need to launder the area when you shower."
Interestingly, Dr Liew observed that in Asia, there tends to be a habit of keeping the vulva "way also clean", which can irritate the area and atomic number 82 to itching.
Experiencing these symptoms may then lead a woman to call back she has caught an infection, which leads to more frequent washing. "She may even employ antiseptics to make clean it," she added.
Should you use a dedicated feminine wash? Dr Liu cautioned that some may be too harsh and may cause more dryness and irritation to the area. Choose a wash that "does non strip off the natural oils on the skin and is ideally free from fragrances or essential oils to reduce the risk of contact allergy", she said.
And don't forget to e'er wipe or wash "from front to back", said Dr Liew.
If you are experiencing discomfort or sensitivity in the area, Dr Tan said in her blog that the best remedy is to wash with "plainly, lukewarm (non hot) water".
WHY You SHOULD KEEP THE VULVA'Southward MICROBIOME IN BALANCE
The peel microbiome is an ecosystem fabricated upwards of trillions of micro-organisms that go along the skin good for you. When the microbiome is thrown off residual, dermatologists say it can lead to skin weather condition like eczema and acne. Studies have shown that the skin's microbiome differs at different locations from head to toe
When it comes to the microbiome of the vulva, all the same, Dr Liew said that studies are limited, with some looking at dissimilar body mass alphabetize values in relation to vulva microbiome, and how these can change its state.
This imbalance was found in the concentration of lactobacillus, known to provide protection, which may predispose ane to vulva infections, Dr Liew added.
At the same fourth dimension, Dr Liu said that "as the vulva area is close to the vagina, disturbances in the vaginal microbiome, such as vaginal thrush (also known as candidiasis), can affect the vulva directly".
To proceed the vulva'southward microbiome in balance, Dr Liew recommends keeping a healthy lifestyle, and adopting these habits:
1. Take oral antibiotics only when needed. Oral antibiotics may requite rise to vaginal thrust, a yeast infection that can crusade irritation and even intense itchiness.
2. Add oral probiotics to your daily nutrition. This can be "helpful in those with recurrent vulva-vaginal infection and those who need to swallow regular long-term oral antibiotics or even short courses of oral antibiotics for medical reasons", said Dr Liew.
3. Eat yoghurt for better vulva and vaginal health. Yoghurt is not just good for gut health. To keep it fifty-fifty healthier, opt for carbohydrate-gratuitous yoghurt as "diabetes predisposes 1 to recurrent thrush infection", Dr Liew explained.
WHAT AGEING AND MENOPAUSE Mean FOR THE Y-ZONE
How the skin on your confront ages is exactly what yous can await at the vulva, said Dr Liu. This includes the loss of skin elasticity, hydration and the fat layer, also as reduced muscle tone. Other historic period-related bug include increased pigmentation, sagging of the labia and a deflated appearance of the vulva.
Aesthetics bated, the dryness of the vulva skin can also atomic number 82 to the evolution of eczema, which can in plough cause significant discomfort and distress. "It is not uncommon for some menopausal women to experience symptoms of atrophic vaginitis," Dr Liew said.
Atrophic vaginitis is the thinning, dryness and inflammation of the vaginal walls. Information technology is caused by to the thinning of the mucosal lining of the vaginal opening from the lack of oestrogen as women get through menopause.
That's why, Dr Liu said, information technology is just every bit important to continue the vulva moisturised. And it should exist washed regardless of age because "regular moisturising of the vulva can reduce the gamble of developing age-related dryness and eczema".
The question then, is whether there is a need to use vulva-specific skincare. Beauty brands accept introduced such products in contempo years, from washes to lotions, oils, masks and even sunscreen for the area.
Extra Emma Watson divulged that she uses Fur Oil, a hair oil which she applies to her pubic pilus to keep it soft and prevent in-growns, while reality star Khloe Kardashian uses Medicine Mama'southward Vmagic to soothe and hydrate her womanly bits.
According to Dr Liu, the skin on the vulva behaves more like the peel on our lips, and thus "prefers a more petroleum-based balm as a moisturiser". She added that the moisturiser y'all use doesn't have to exist Y-zone specific, and that something like Vaseline would piece of work just besides.
YOUR Wearing apparel AND UNDERWEAR MAKE A Departure
With the recent trend of athleisure clothing, many women are living in grade-fitting and tight outfits, especially pants. "Tight fitting pants can produce constant friction on the vulva area and lead to increased pigmentation, dermatitis and boils in the friction areas," said Dr Liu.
Another problem that women might face is folliculitis, which is the inflammation of hair follicles that can lead to infections on the skin.
Dr Liew suggested that athleisure wearable made from Dri-fit material and is comfortable to wear, might exist a amend choice.
Likewise your outfit, what you habiliment underneath can make a difference as well. While it might not be the sexiest, Dr Liu advised wearing underwear fabricated of "soft materials similar cotton or bamboo" as they are "most gentle on the pare, likewise, for the vulva".
In improver, Dr Liew as well recommended that you get new underwear every few months – underwear that is non cleaned or dried well can cause issues at the sensitive vulva expanse.
THE Blazon OF FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS MATTERS
"The material on the sanitary pad is not equally soft, so it can increase irritation, and if scented, can increment the hazard of contact allergy, causing chronic dermatitis of the vulva," said Dr Liu.
If your vulva is easily irritated, yous might desire to use tampons or menstrual cups when you lot're on your flow instead, said Dr Liew. Or try period underwear.
And if yous're the blazon to apply panty liners daily, it'southward time to stop, Dr Liew cautioned. These should be used during the end of your monthly wheel. "The dryness of a new panty liner volition rub confronting the vulva pare, leading to itching," she explained.
At the same time, vaginal discharge that gets trapped when y'all wear a panty liner daily, can create a moist surroundings for the vulva. This can lead to conditions from a rash to a vaginal yeast infection.
WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK MEDICAL HELP
Ultimately, when it comes to vulval conditions, Dr Tan advised women not to treat their symptoms on their own.
"The reason why some DIY treatments fail is because you are not targeting the existent crusade. What you might think is a yeast infection could but be dry skin, an allergic reaction, or it could already be a sexually transmitted infection.
"This is why you need medical care to ensure that you tin can care for the problem based on what's causing it," she said.
And until a vulva problem is diagnosed, it is wise to follow a gentle vulva care routine, which applies even when you are non dealing with a potential skin status.
CNA Women is a new section on CNA Lifestyle that seeks to inform, empower and inspire the modernistic woman. If you take women-related news, issues and ideas to share with us, electronic mail CNAWomen [at] mediacorp.com.sg .
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/feminine-health-vulva-care-prevent-vaginal-infection-299066
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