How to best care for your lady parts in summer

For most of us, summer means sun's out, fun's out. But the heat, humidity, and heavy, clingy, and wet air can be miserable on your body. You sweat. You feel sticky and icky. The elements this time of year can be especially uncomfortable for your lady parts.

There are plenty of annoying and localized skin problems when it gets all sorts of balmy or just straight up hot as all get out. Luckily, there are equally as many techniques and products that allow you to properly care for your lady parts and to remain comfortable and fresh "down there" during the stifling summer months.


Avoid tight pants or undies

I spoke to Dr. Jennifer Stagg, a naturopathic physician and author of Unzip Your Genes, who told me that to take care of your lady parts in summer it is best to avoid pants, shorts, and undies that are very tight fitting through the crotch, as well as avoiding things like sitting around in a tight and/or wet bathing suit for extended periods of time.

"This type of environment can promote vaginal infections," she said. If you want to be lazy while lounging on hot summer days, do so in loose, roomy, and dry pants and underthings.

Wear cotton briefs

Choosing your summer undies is a critical effort in order to maintain freshness down there. A spokesperson for lingerie brand Brook There suggests opting for cotton briefs in warm weather because the natural fibers can wick moisture away from skin. Sure, materials like silk and satin may be slinkier and sexier, but these fabrics can trap moisture and create a breeding ground for bacteria and infection near your lady parts.

Thongs are also bad idea during the dog days of summer. They might be your go-to for wear with leggings, but that friction can be a real hassle and can keep your lady parts from feeling their most fresh and comfortable.

Dr. Amir Marashi, a Vaginal Reconstruction and Rejuvenation Specialist at New York Center for Aesthetic Rejuvenation, told me, "Wear cotton underwear when you can or any fabric that is breathable. But cotton is usually best. You don't want the area to sweat. Yeast likes to grow in an area that's moist and dry and where there is food aka [where there is] sweat."

Go organic

Holistic doctor Svetlana Kogan, M.D. suggests swapping out your trusty Victoria's Secret undies for an organic pair instead. "Go organic with your underwear and any other clothing item which makes direct contact with your skin — things like your cardigan do not have to be organic," Kogan told me.

Kogan's reason for going with organic materials is critical. She said, "I advise this in order to avoid dangerous pesticides and insecticides used in growing cotton. Dichlorotriphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which was banned in the U.S. in 1972, has been detected in imported cotton fabric."

She further explained that the chemical mixes with sweat and sebum (oil), both of which are increased during the summer heat, and can lead to sicknesses.

Go commando

The folks at Brook There also recommend going commando when sleeping to care for your lady parts. Research studies have shown that lowering your skin temperature increases the depth and quality of your sleep. One way to lower your skin temperature is to sleep in the nude. So, yes, you can crash out sans any clothes. But if you crank the AC during those brutally hot nights, keep an extra blanket handy because, duh. You can also ditch undies when wearing a long tee and boy shorts, a nightgown, or even light linen PJs.

Moisturize

Moisturizing your lady parts is also not only acceptable, but advised. Just be careful what you use. Dr. Ronald D. Blatt, a board-certified gynecologist, Chief Surgeon and Medical Director of the Manhattan Center for Vaginal Surgery and the Manhattan Centers for Women's Health, told me that "intimate skin requires special moisturizing. Facial or body moisturizers can cause irritation and discomfort when applied to the delicate skin of the outer vaginal area."

Therefore, you should keep the region carefully lubricated to avoid dryness and irritation. But be sure and do so by looking for products specifically formulated for this area.

"Your vagina will feel less dry, better to the touch, and look better too with less flaking from irritation due to beach sand, tight bikini bottoms, chlorine, etc.," Blatt said.

Stay safe from the chafe

The heat, sweat, and friction of summer are a miserable combo. You can keep skin safe from chafe — look, a poem! —  with the variety of products on the market that are available at your local drugstore.

I personally use Monistat's Chafing Relief Power Gel before I toss on leggings for my Saturday and Sunday task of walking dogs at my local shelter. It is already blazing at 8 a.m. so I need any and all additional protection. This stuff fights the friction and soothes the inevitable irritation that I experience. Plus, it also moisturizes my skin, so that's an added bonus that I dig. I rely on this stuff when I rock skinny jeans, too. I admit that I can't give up tight pants in summer, despite recommendations to the contrary.

As Melanie Axelrod from Monistat noted, "There is an uncomfortable skin irritation from chafing in the hot summer weather. A chafing gel protects skin with a breathable, moisture-control barrier that leaves skin feeling smooth and chafe-free."

Utilize area-specific wipes

Don't rely on basic body or baby wipes for your lady parts. Instead, grab a specialized product like Goodwipes, whose adorably named Shea Coco Down There Wipes were designed for the private part because they are gentle, soothing, and can refresh your most intimate bodily locale after the gym, using the bathroom, or before or after sexual activity. You never have to worry about not being fresh. Plus, they are flushable and biodegradable, so you can use them without worrying about your environmental footprint.

There are also plenty of other brands that have wipes for the region, including Always, Pure Touch, and Vagisil, which are available and easily accessible at local drugstores.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating dead skin cells isn't just for the face or the elbows. Dr. Blatt also recommends waxing and/or shaving your lady parts to keep the region clean and pretty. Really? Yes! He notes that you can banish the residual discomfort or itch from razor bumps, ingrown hairs, or other general irritation by exfoliating.

"After waxing and shaving the bikini area, use a gentle exfoliant and follow that up with a moisturizer," Blatt told me.  "Look for products that are specific for this delicate area. Shave at night while your body has time to recover from any trauma caused by the waxing or shaving."

Roberta Perry of Scrubz Body concurred, telling me, "If you want to keep your lady parts totally clean… polish them! It really is as simple as that. Gentle, oil-based exfoliation not only takes the dirt away, but polishes and moisturizes the bikini area for an incredible, no in-grown hair, irritation free shaving experience, too!" So, yeah, exfoliate your private parts, people.

Rinse after a workout

To keep your lady parts fresh in the summer, you need to take things a step further than fabric choices. Yes, Dr. Bobby Buka advocates for loose-fitting, breathable fabrics like linens and cottons, but with a twist.

"Bacteria love the summer, so the more warm, wet environments you create, the higher your rate will be of contracting staph and strep on your skin's surface!" he warned. "A quick rinse after a heavy workout prevents bacterial counts from getting out of hand." It really is that easy to rinse and towel off in order to get fresh.

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