Body

7 Reasons Your New Vaginal Care Regimen Is Dangerously Nuts

Further proof you should never detox your vagina (No. 4 will make you shudder)

by Katie McCarthy | COMMENT

PHOTO 5/8

No. 5: You Probably Need Just One Product To Keep Your Vagina Clean. (Your First Guess Is Most Likely Correct.) Our MDs couldn't recommend yoni pearls, yoni eggs or V-steams for promoting vaginal health. But are there any mass-marketed vaginal cleansing products that normal, healthy women should be using?

"Honestly, no," says DePree. "The vagina is self-cleaning! The normal secretions of the vagina act as a mechanism to remove cellular debris, and new skin appears there, just like every other area of the body. The skin of the vulva can be very sensitive, so this is an area where the 'less is best' rule applies."

DePree recommends cleansing a healthy vagina with mild soap and water, or even just water. "This is one area ... where [women] are truly low-maintenance, so enjoy, and spend the energy somewhere else!"

Minkin is on the same page. "Unfortunately, many products out there are very disruptive of the pH balance," she says. "If folks do want to wash, I would encourage just plain water and a mild soap."

If you really believe something is awry with your vagina, both doctors recommend one over-the-counter product for keeping your vagina clean and pH-balanced. "When women complain to me about an odor, I often suggest they try a product like RepHresh," Minkin says.

DePree agrees, saying it "can be helpful to maintain or restore the pH if it has been disrupted... But, generally speaking, there is no specialized cleaning regime or treatment needed for the vulva or vagina."

Image via Getty

SEE NEXT PAGE: No. 6: Your Vagina's Scent and Secretions Are Probably Normal

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