Oops! Beware of using these 5 things on your vagina

The vagina is a most mysterious and delicate area of the body, making it vulnerable to a wide range of conditions. You always need to be careful with what you’re using on your vagina because certain things can backfire. Trying social media-suggested solutions for vaginal problems can prove to be beneficial, but trusting them blindly can sometimes result in issues. There are many things that can cause vaginal infections and it’s important to be aware of the risk factors. 

Here’s a list of things that can mess up with your vagina:

1. Aromatic soap 

Regular cleaning of the vagina is necessary, you need to be careful with the things you’re using down there. According to Dr Nupur Gupta, Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis, Gurugram, using normal soap to clean the intimate area causes no harm. But if the soap is loaded with chemicals and has a strong scent, then it can hamper the pH level of the vagina and can cause itching, inflammation, and rashes on or around the vagina. 

2. Perfume

Although we all know that our vagina has a smell of its own. But its smell keeps on changing especially during your periods. So if you think to get rid of that smell you can use perfume in your intimate area, then you’re highly mistaken. Using sprays, perfume, perfumed sanitary napkins, is not the best solution because they are all laden with chemicals and preservatives that can lead to the growth of bad bacteria inside your vulva, causing recurring vaginal infection. 

3. Toothbrush

Do you seriously believe in using a toothbrush for cleaning the vagina? If you do, then you must be prepared for some serious trouble down there. According to Dr Aruna Kalra, Senior Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, there are no benefits attached to it. Instead, it can be really harmful for such a sensitive region. A toothbrush running in the vagina could damage the vaginal lining and even cause infections. 

4. Lemon

Citrus fruits like lemon have the power to rock your vaginal health specially if recurring infections and vaginal discharge are the issues you face. This is because of the heavy dose of vitamin C. But applying lemon topically on the skin of the vagina is not a good idea. Many DIY solutions available on the internet say that it helps in maintaining vaginal health and can brighten the skin texture but the high level of citric acid in it can damage your sensitive area and cause burns. It can also lead to irritation and rashes. 

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5. Yoghurt-soaked tampons

If you have a yeast infection, you need good bacteria to rescue you. Yoghurt does exactly that. It helps the growth of good bacteria because of probiotics and restores the balance of the microorganisms of your vagina. But using yoghurt-soaked tampons to treat infection is probably not a great idea. Bacteria and yeast love dark, moist places that’s why it can cause infections. 

The vagina is a sensitive organ and is often prone to infections. So think before you apply anything to it. 

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