What is an intimate wash?

You probably already know that vagina is a self-cleaning organ. You need no douching or spraying there. In most cases, it is enough to rinse your perineal and perianal area with warm water to support overall vulvovaginal health. 

Nevertheless, sometimes our microbiome needs additional support. Our bodies host millions of bacteria, and about 85% of them are beneficial. But that 15% can overgrow due to different reasons. They may include:

• Taking antibiotics – they kill both bad and good bacteria;
• Poor diet or high sugar consumption – yeast feeds on sugars, which leads to their overgrowth;
• Douching or using feminine sprays – they can have alcohol and fragrances among the ingredients;
• A weakened immune system or hormonal changes.

All of the above cause microbial imbalance and can result in vaginal and bladder infections. This is why feminine washes were specifically designed to keep the pH levels balanced, protect the intimate area from opportunistic bacteria overgrowth, and support commensal microorganisms.

Why can’t I use regular body wash or soap?

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Our skin pH ranges between 4.1 and 5.8, and normal vaginal pH ranges between 3.8 and 5.0. We need the intimate area to be more acidic than the rest of the body to control the balance between commensal and opportunistic bacteria. 

Besides that, shower gels and soaps often contain ingredients you’d better avoid when using on your perineal area, like glycerin, parabens, fragrances, etc. Here is how you should choose ph-balancing washes.

How to choose a good intimate wash?

First of all, let’s discuss what you WANT to see on a wash label. 

Acids in washes normalize the skin’s pH. The acidic pH limits the number of opportunistic bacteria responsible for infections. Acids in washes help to establish a healthy microbiome and repair the natural skin barrier (acid mantle). Apart from normalizing intimate flora, acids also exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells, so they are beneficial for the skin on the whole body.

Lactic acid is commonly used in personal care products. It is gentler compared to other acids and is perfect for dry and sensitive skin.  

We use citric acid in our WASH to fight opportunistic bacteria and naturally support normal skin pH. Citric acid is also considered a mild acid. It is great for removing dead skin cells and keeping the skin moisturized. 

But what is the perfect pH of a wash? Depends on other ingredients. Ideally, if a wash contains surfactants, and it most likely does, the pH should be neutral or slightly acidic. Our WASH has a pH of around 6.5, which is close to neutral.

Prebiotics are a great ingredient in a wash. They are nutrients that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in and on our bodies. Beneficial microorganisms feed on prebiotics, while opportunistic bacteria can’t digest them. Thus, the population of commensal bacteria increases, and they suppress bacteria responsible for body odor and infections. 

Clinical tests show that the prebiotic blend that we use in WASH boosts the growth of beneficial skin bacteria.

Natural preservatives. Yes, preservatives are a must in a wash. Any water-containing products should be preserved to prevent microbial growth and ensure product quality and stability. 

We use Leucidal Liquid preservatives, which are derived from Lactic Acid Bacteria, so they protect the product and keep the skin microbiome healthy. They destroy pathogenic bacteria, maintain commensal organisms, acidify the skin, and promote overall skin health.

What should I avoid in a wash?

Although the benefits of natural preservatives are obvious, some brands still use synthetic ones, which can trigger allergic reactions. Probably the most well-known synthetic preservatives are parabens. 

Artificial parabens are made by esterification of para-hydroxybenzoic acid with the appropriate alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, or n-propanol. With continuous use, they can cause allergic reactions, especially on sensitive and damaged skin. Parabens are triggering for people with an aptitude for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

Sometimes parabens are associated with more serious health issues. Read more about preservatives in this post.

Surfactants (surface active agents) are added to products for foaming, thickening, and cleaning. 

Continuous use of some types of surfactants can alter the pH and top skin layers’ structure. They can penetrate deeper layers of the skin, damage the natural skin barrier, strip the skin of its natural moisture, and leave it inflamed.

The most common surfactants you can come across in personal care products are SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium Laureth sulfate).

The aim of glycerin in washes is to attract and keep moisture on the skin. The concern about glycerin is that it is pretty much sugar, which you introduce to the vaginal area. Yeast, which is naturally present in the vagina, feeds from sugar in glycerin and, as a result, overgrows. And yeast overgrowth will change your vagina’s pH and promote yeast infections. 

The American Academy of Dermatology reported fragrances to be the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Fragrances can be listed as perfumes; they are used to add a nice scent to a product or to mask the odor of other chemical ingredients, which can be unpleasant. 

Skincare and cosmetic brands are not obliged to list the ingredients used in their fragrances, as it is considered a trade secret. So often, there is no way to find out what they put in their fragrances. 

However, brands will usually mention if they use essential oils, which are “natural” fragrances. Essential oils are liquids extracted from plants by distillation. To add essential oil to a water-based product, it should be mixed with an emulsifier, which in many cases is a chemical substance (like perfumers’ alcohol or polysorbate). So despite their natural source, essential oils are mixed with chemicals. And the chemical composition of each oil is not disclosed to the general public. 

Some essential oils are more likely to trigger a reaction. They include lemon, orange, bergamot, lemongrass, peppermint, jasmine, and other oils. If you know you are prone to allergies or irritations, try using fragrance-free products, and avoid all kinds of fragrances in intimate washes, whether synthetic or natural.

Herbal extracts are liquid solutions made by mixing dried or fresh herbs with solvents. The functions of herbal extracts in personal care products are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial. Some examples of herbal extracts include hemp seed, green tea, ginger root, aloe vera, and witch hazel. 

Despite their beneficial properties, these ingredients are very nutritious food for bacteria, so they require more preservatives. And just like with essential oils, brands are not obliged to open how they preserve their herbal extracts. So we recommend avoiding intimate washes with any kinds of plants and herbs among the ingredients. 

Fragrance sensitivity

Another reason to avoid fragranced products is sensitivity to scents. Fragrance sensitivity is an irritation or an allergic reaction to chemicals in a fragrance. People who already have allergies are more likely to experience fragrance sensitivity. Those who have asthma, pregnancy, and hyperosmia (heightened sense of smell) are also more exposed.

The most common fragrance sensitivity symptoms include:

• Headaches, 
• Respiratory problems, including asthma aggravation,
• Watery, itching, burning, and red eyes, 
• Sneezing and runny nose, 
• Sometimes nausea and skin irritation.

Usually, people experience fragrance sensitivity within a few minutes after the exposure, and sometimes it may take days for symptoms to appear. The longer and more intense the exposure, the more severe and long-lasting a reaction will be.

As mentioned earlier, manufacturers are not obliged to open what they include in a fragrance. That is why the best way to deal with fragrance sensitivity is to opt for fragrance-free products and avoid scented ones. 

You can also see your doctor and check whether you have any scent allergies to avoid products with certain ingredients.

Summary

1. Sometimes our intimate microbiome needs additional help to restore the balance between commensal and opportunistic bacteria. This is when intimate washes rush to rescue.
2. Preferable ingredients in an intimate wash are acids (lactic and/or citric), prebiotics, and natural preservatives.
3. Ingredients to avoid are parabens, surfactants, fragrances, essential oils, and herbal extracts.
4. Fragrance allergies and sensitivity can be avoided by using fragrance-free products.