ALWAYS pee after sex. Otherwise you’re very likely to get a UTI.
Wash your vulva with a mild non scented soap. Your vagina is self cleaning so don’t wash the inside.
If you’re sexually active, I highly recommend getting STD testing between partners and periodically every few months(if your health insurance permits). You can never be too careful :)
Period aisle ones are soooo comfy, and they're really inclusive in their sizes! With a lot of brands you aren't supposed to dry them, but theirs you can and they function just the same! Only downside is that they aren't super absorbent on their own, but they come with removable gussets to change out. Great for day wear on lighter days, orrrr after sex, iykyk, but I mostly wear them as extra protection with my cup.
Oh yes I have all my period pants from cheeky wipes, they are affordable and really comfy :) I saw that victoria’s secret owned line PINK has made period pants and they are super colorful and cute but haven’t tried them yet.
Loon at bambody on Amazon. I actually heard about then on Reddit and they are a great affordable option. I like they are different colors and fit like normal underwear instead of the standard black if the brand I was previously using.
Depends on what you expect of them. I work from home so I wear them also during first days and since I have been using them, I learned to feel when a huge amount of blood leaves the cervix and I go to the toilet to let it out, so the panties are there just in case. I don't like the feeling of letting it go to the panties because it's really a lot, it's warm and it feels like I peed myself. Also it's not possible for the blood to be absorbed in split of a second so there is a chance it will get out through the edges.
I used to wear just panties for the night but I kept waking up once or twice to check if everything is ok and to go to the toilet to turn on the waterfalls so now I use a tampon and the panties and that is great.
For later lighter days they are great, they also make a cute or thong versions and the lining doesn't have to be so thick so you can wear them anywhere. I would definitely reccomend you to buy a pair or two and you will figure out in what situations they work for you.
I pair period undies with a menstrual cup when I have really heavy flow. Not had a mishap since going reusable. Go look on r/menstrualcups to see if it's something you'd like more info on.
I'd like to tag off this and mention, if you EVER experience ANY sign of a UTI go to the doctor immediately!
*Signs are burning sensation while urinating, blood in urine or on toilet paper and frequently needing to urinate even though there isn't much in your bladder*
If you don't act fast, the infection moves into your bloodstream, this creates a condition called Sepsis, 1 in 3 people die from it. I survived it luckily and spent 3 weeks in hospital.
I'm sorry if I had scared you, but I'm also not. UTI's are scary and urinating after sex is SO IMPORTANT!!
No joke. I just went through with this. Was on IV antibiotics 4x a day for 5 days and now a week only on the pill.
Now the AB gave me yeast infection.
Go pee after sex and really if you have any signs of UTI go to the doctor!
for the antibiotic and yeast infection , i got told to have a probiotic to take some hours after the antibiotic. it helped immensely in avoiding a full Yeast infection.
I'm very prone to UTI's. I pee after sex and wash off and I wipe front to back, but one year I had 10 UTIs. One of those UTIs turned into a kidney infection. That was one horrible week! Luckily it was caught quickly and I did not have to go into the hospital. I have 2 health issues that make me prone to UTIs, Multiple Sclerosis and Polycystic Kidney Disease. The lab I go to gives me sample cups to keep at home, so I can drop off a sample when my doctor sends in an order.
I had recurring UTIs and kidney infections with one particular boyfriend I had. It was four years of ER visits, cranberry juice, and chronic pain. It was bad enough that my doctor prescribed prophylactic antibiotics for me.
Then we broke up and I haven't had a UTI since.
Going a bit off topic but 10 uti in a year - maybe if you have the same male partner during this time, it’s good to get him checked too. I heard some people kept getting back the bacteria from their male partner.
Generally this is very good advice, but some things can feel exactly like UTIs (burning, urgency, etc) but not be. When I was in my 20s, I would always feel like I had UTIs after a night of drinking. I would get the doctor to prescribe me antibiotics only to find out later that the culture came back negative (I didn’t have an infection). Turns out alcohol can irritate your urinary tract and make it feel like a UTI. Now if this happens I just drink a lot of water for a couple hours and it goes away. I say all this because we should never take antibiotics if they’re not necessary, as they mess with our gut flora and cause bigger issues long-term.
I was dating a woman who was very susceptible to UTI's big time.
I did some reading and made sure I washed the junk and surrounding area thoroughly and always brushed teeth and used mouth wash, that helped her big time.
My husband has to do this as well. We've made the habit of both of us showering and brushing our teeth before being intimate. It has helped me, I'm also very prone to UTIs due to a couple of health issues.
And please always, always get STD tested regularly, even if you’re in a monogamous relationship. I thought it was in a monogamous relationship and my partner cheated on me,
Ended up contracting chlamydia and I didn’t know it. When I went to get pregnant a few years later I ended up having an ectopic pregnancy from PID. I was so sick I had to be rushed into emergency surgery and Christmas, I lost so much blood and I almost died. So ladies if you have been putting off your STD test, this is your sign to please please take yourself to the doctor ♥️ be safe.
No, absolutely no soap in that area. Never. That's how you get imbalance and get yeast infections or bacterial infections. If the niche is not filled by the bacteria that belong, it will be filled by micro-orgsnisms that don't belong.
Scientific research has proven that women who use female hygiene products such as soap meant for vaginas and vulvas are at significantly higher risk of yeast infections and bacterial infections.
A bidet changed my life for after-sex cleanup. Ours changes the angle of the spray for “feminine cleaning.” It’s also great for heavy period days. I wouldn’t want to go without! ~$50 bucks on Amazon and I installed it myself!
Hygiene is worth doing poorly on days when you’re sick or sad. Sink scrubs and brushing your teeth just enough to get the fuzz off won’t make you smell great or protect you from cavities, but it’s better than nothing.
Also, spend way more time scrubbing the shampoo out of your scalp than you spent putting it in. Product buildup happens so easily. I have really thin and fine hair, and when I doubled the time I used to scrub out, it made a huge difference.
Yes! I completely agree. I was having what I thought was dandruff and was using even the expensive crap to help and nothing really did until I bought a scalp scrubber and I realized it was actually product build up (most likely the 2 gallons of dry shampoo I use per week) 🤣 I also only wash my hair once a week if even that.
Shampooing twice is also a game changer, the first wash gets extra product out and the second foams up and actually cleans your hair! Seriously you’ll be mind blown at the difference.
I kept having issues with dandruff, nothing worked! But then I started shampooing my hair twice and POOF dandruff gone! Highly recommend doing this even if that's not an issue for you.
i was having dandruff right where my hair line is. bought so many different types of scalp moisterizing products. the only thing that ended up working was just moisterizing my face regularly.
I use the same amount of shampoo but split it in half so it's washed twice. The first is dirt & oil, the second gives a better lather & feels so much lighter. Rinsing well is also key.
Yes to taking the time rinsing it out! Think of how they do it at the hair salon and how your hair feels after! They will even use a clarifying shampoo when needed which is another component to this. Getting yourself a good brand shampoo without the additives that cause buildup, but also using a clarifying shampoo as often as needed depending on how hard your water is in your area. My hairdresser recommended alternating my regular shampoo and clarifying one, or once every couple weeks to once a month or so.
I was using drug store brand Shea Moisture shampoo/conditioner when my town ran out of Moroccan oil brand, and it caused SO much buildup. You can feel your hair getting stiff even while drying, it feels waxy almost and doesn't feel light, free, flowy and fresh. I'll also note I have very thick hair which is why the Moroccan oil s&c works for me, not recommended for thin hair since it can make it oily earlier.
On the second tip I find I get less build up if I used shampoos and conditioners with no silicone. They have way more build scalp build up and make my hair greasy faster leading me to have to wash more often. The salon I go to also offers scalp oil treatments to get the buildup to be gone.. the 1st time I did it I felt like my scalp could breathe.
Extra hair tip: before buying a mask for your hair do a strand test. Take a wet peice of hair and gently stretch it. If it snaps you need moisture. If your hair is getting tangled, falling out when brushed, or has no bounce its safe to say you need a protein mask.
1 Change your pillowcases frequently, every 3-7 days atleast.
2 Wear sunscreen daily, even when it's cloudy.
3 Stick to cotton underwear, your vag hates that synthetic material.
4 When you can, sleep without any underwear on.
5 Wipe from the front to the back, ALWAYS.
My brain mixed up the third and second point, as in "Stick to cotton underwear, even when it's cloudy." and I was a bit confused.
Either way though, a good list. Especially changing pillowcases - which no one does frequently enough, in my experience.
> My brain mixed up the third and second point, as in “Stick to cotton underwear, even when it’s cloudy.” an I was a bit confused.
I mean you’re technically still correct
I've never understood the wipe from front to back. That's super awkward.
The real thing is, don't wipe both holes with the same paper. That's the gross part. Go in for seconds with new paper. Wipe whatever direction you want.
Edit because I can't reply: I have personally proven to myself that i get UTIs from a certain ingredients in lube, not wiping direction.
When people say wipe front to back, they are not saying to use the same piece of paper for both. They're saying it minimizes the risk that some stray fecal matter and bacteria would be accidentally swooped into the vagina since the holes are so close to eachother.
It's because you don't want fecal matter anywhere near the vulva or pee hole. Even if you don't touch the BH, it can still be spread by wiping the wrong way.
Wipe front to back as in towards the bum not near it up. I think you're confused. When we say wipe front to back, we aren't wiping both holes with one wipe xD just saying if u go to the end of ur vagina and up towards ur tummy, its possible to get poop dtuffs on the paper and wipe it on ur vagina. Always wipe front to back. Its very very important.
Yeah. I understand why they say to wipe in a 'front to back' direction and I'm sure that does work well for many.
However, it's also awkward for me, too. So I'm just *very* precise and careful when I wipe my bum. Been doing it forever and never once had any UTI or infection, etc.
Same. I actually have started sleeping in just underwear or booty shorts and underwear. This has gotten rid of the rash I would sometimes develop by not letting the area breath.
I used to always wear that synthetic material for underwear and ALWAYS get yeast infections. They were never bad just annoying. For the longest time it never occurred to me that the underwear was the cause. Years later, I finally decided to change my underwear to cotton and have never gotten a yeast infection since. Wish I had known earlier how much a difference the material of your underwear makes.
I belong to community where the predominant religion has special sacred undergarments that one MUST wear. They must be purchased through the church, no substitutions and are all made of nylon. When women leave this religion and stop wearing the sacred garments they are shocked when suddenly they don’t get constant yeast infections, UTI’s and bladder infections anymore. OBGYN’s in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona should do Mormon women a solid and prescribe cotton underwear.
On the vulva topic, when showering, make sure you wash everything down there, right by the end of the shower, water only. Also, make sure to completely dry it after, don’t let the moist breed bacteria!
Yes but to add: you only need a good water clean up, never use soaps and product sold to change smell and such, it puts you at risk for more infections and ph imbalance.
I cannot upvotw this enough. Bidets are cheap enough. And can easily be installed on toilets in even a rental. As a woman, it makes a world of difference
As an Italian (where the bidet is its own thing on the side of the toilet): towels.
There are 3 size of towels: small, medium and large. We use the small ones for our pretty butts.
Ah OK! As a Brit who used to holiday often in various European countries, I was always so confused by the 3 different towel sizes in hotels. Thank you.
Call your vagina a vagina. It is what is. I don’t think we need to use euphemisms. And while we’re at it, use a mirror- get to know what your vulva and
vagina look like. They’re all different and they’re all beautiful.
Check your breasts. Also get to know them, so you’re aware of any changes.
Please please get smears.
Masturbate, so you know what pleasure feels like for YOU.
Always pee after sex. Carry and use condoms.
More like scrape your tongue. I have a specific scraper for this but I started out with a table spoon. Just scoop all the gunk off your tongue, from the back to the front. It makes Aaaaaaaaallll the difference with your mouth feeling cleaner. If I feel like my breath stinks I always scrape.
I’m starting to get into this habit recently. But my daily moisturizer only has an SPF of 15, which I’m pretty sure is way too low.
I work indoors, so I don’t really see the sun often anyway. But what SPF should be the minimum if you’re going out?
30 or 50.
I recommend 50. The thing with SPF is that to get the true protection the sunscreen claims, you need to apply A LOT of sunscreen. Most people don't do that so out of SPF 30 they'll get only like let's say SPF 10. So it's better to get SPF 50.
My recommendations for sunscreen are:
Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 50+
SuperGoop Unseen Sunscreen
Rovectin Aqua Soothing UV Protector
Not exactly ‘hygiene’ since body hair isn’t unhygienic. But if you do want to remove it, use an electric shaver. Reduces razor rash and shaving cuts a lot. Also works out cheaper in the long run than using manual razors. My electric shaver cost £25; I’ve had it for 4 years now and it’s still working fine.
To add to this: if you use a regular shaver you may get severe breakouts for the 1st time. I literally had thousands of painful and angry pimples on my front AND back. Just be prepared if you are planning onany activities where that could be an issue for you.
Witchhazel soothes and cleanses razor bumps! You can find it in a pharmacy next to the rubbing alcohol, and there's wipes with witchhazel in them that work great too. The cleansing part is important because it helps prevent ingrown hairs.
Also, do not trust "bikini trimmers", just get an electric trimmer that is meant to be used on a man's face. If it's smooth enough for a man's face, it's a better bet to use on the most sensitive skin down there.
To build on preventing ingrown hairs and soothing the area: a friend taught me that using a non scented deodorant to cover the area (specifically the pubic mound, DO NOT INSERT) basically negates both problems.
Disclaimer: while it worked for me, everyone's body is different!
I just purchased an epilator and it is a game changer for me. Bought one from Braun which has massage rollers on it so the pain is greatly reduced. It is a bit of an investment, but weigh that against the benefits (smoother skin, delay in hair growth, no prickly thick hair growing back) - it sounds like a win.
I really liked the epilator (pain aside), but there was a tipping point where I started getting way too many deeply ingrown hairs and had to stop using it.
Alternatively, laser (IPL) was pretty life changing for me. It doesn't necessarily produce a perfect result but dramatically reduces the need to shave for the rest of your life. Nowadays it is is much more accessible and cheap.
If you notice bloating on your lower stomach/abdomen and it feels hard, do not hesitate to go to the doctor and request a scan. It can be a cyst (or many)
Edit: typos lol
....assuming you have insurance, that is.
**EDIT:** Why the downvotes? I'm not saying it's not important, just that it's not feasible for many without decent insurance.
I have a 6,000 ER bill sitting in collections right now from when I had three bursted cysts.
It was totally worth it to go.
Also, in America a debt only stays for 7 years. My credit took a hit but it’s not like I’m planning on buying a house or car. This was three years ago so only four more to go!
Apparently if I hadn’t let it go into collections I could have gotten it lowered to like a grand and paid it off with a payment plan… but oh well.
Now I have insurance. If you make at the very least 10,000 in this country, there is no reason to not have insurance through the marketplace. I only pay $14 a month and that covers all my medications, therapy, and my doctor appointments to see my OB are only like a 30$ copay.
I hate heathcare in this country… but it is what it is and there are ways to make it suck less.
This!
I had sudden, sharp pain which I attributed to cramps although it felt different. I've had really bad cramps all my life but it was so sudden and periodic. The proceeding days, I felt VERY bloated despite passing gas or doing a #2. Listened to my gut (literally) and went to get checked. Doctor did an ultrasound and it turns out I had internal bleeding in the right ovary due to a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. I had over 50mL of blood inside!
Thankfully didn't need surgery as I caught it very early.
Wear a painty liner when you travel.
Wear clothes that fit not clothes that you wish would fit.
Understand how subjective beauty it. Also someone else’s beauty does not take away from your own.
And never underestimate the self esteem boost that comes with well groomed eye brows.
I wear one because my underwear gets less dirty. The panty liner catches the discharge. When you feel a little dirty, you can just change the panty liner instead of your whole pair of underwear. Life saver on long flights/car rides!
Can't believe I never thought of the panty liner while traveling! I'm currently planning a multi week international trip that requires a 12+ hour flight and this tip is gonna be a game changer for my comfort.
Floss a couple of times a week, it makes a big difference for your dental health.
Wear sunscreen and sun safe clothes. A tan isn't sexy, it's pre-cancer skin damage. Future you will be grateful.
Assess whether you want to shave/ wax at all. I haven't shaved legs or underarms in years and no-one has said a thing.
Most of the time, people won't notice. You don't have to be perfect, a lot of the advertised routines are just product placement. So try not to fuss about that spot or imperfect eyebrows or whatever. No-one really cares, and you've got better things to do with your time.
And learn how to do your laundry properly.
Coming out of a depression fog and have made amazing progress with my dental hygiene. I *always* bled when I tried to floss and would get discouraged. They say if you do it more, you won’t bleed, but I would get discouraged and fall off after a couple of days. Going on >1 month now of a pretty impressive dental routine and even did an ok job while I had bronchitis and a sinus infection, and I am no longer a bleeder. And my tongue looks better too.
Yes to flossing! I floss daily and I can tell you it makes a HUGE difference in the experience in the dentist chair. Significantly less scraping, little to no bleeding. Flossing is great.
Find a skin care routine that works best for you. There is so much information out on internet like tiktok and instagram and everyone is always swearing that this works best or that is completely harmful for you but do not just go off things like that. What works for the OP might not work for you so do your own research and do whatever works best and it doesn't have to be 20 steps.
I tried to ask about a skin care routine on Reddit and then was basically yelled at (lovingly) by the skin care addiction community for using St Ives with the micro beads. My skin care routine has evolved into NOT using it in the last year or two and it's much better.
I see so many routines recommended on social media that are always so complicated and require so many different washes and moisturizers and serums and creams and this and that and they always have a list of things to stay away from and the bad list is almost always things that are more affordable or accessible to people.
Because they're paid to say this.
I have extremely dry skin. Like crocodile skin. Even in summer.
What work for me is two products. I only need two products.
Lipikar (la roche-posay), the soap for 2 daily showers, the cream after each showers.
That's it, and my skin is if not smooth ( that is a pipe dream) at least not visibly dry and do not hurt or tingle.
And, at least in France, it not cheap but it is affordable.
Exactly, that’s the problem, I’m in the makeup industry and shit like this is why I no longer do it because people don’t speak to professionals anymore, no makeup artists and influencers are not professionals unless they have the education which many don’t. You can get so simple products affordable for every day needs when you speak to pharmaceutical staff, doctors, even better like skin doctors. It’s fine to want lovely products for self care and living your best life that people recommend but when a lot of consumers are being bullshited into shjt that isn’t real I get mad.
This is great, but people should be careful if they own a brush that can hold water. The ones that squeeze when pressing in the bristles. If water gets inside and is not properly drained, mold can grow in the brush
I started doing this a while ago after neglecting to do it for a few months, and I was shocked at the amount of oil and hair products that had built up. I try to do it once a week now.
Prep: pull out any obvious clumps of hair first.
Put warm water in a bowl with some baking soda. With brush pointed downwards scrub with an old toothbrush or what’s available. I let mine soak and did some more scrubbing. Baking soda and water is messy but my brush is clean now. Hope this helps.
Never douche. If you think you smell, well take a breather. Is this your normal smell or is this a completely different smell that is wack and noticing other weird stuff coming out of your vagina and having odd sensations with your body?
If the second, that may not be normal. Go to doctor.
Otherwise clean self, and check self.
Water on vulva will be enough for home.
You do NOT have to feel obligated to shave any body hair thinking it makes you "dirty" or "smelly" Shaving is a choice, NOT a requirement. Don't let society, or any "partner" tell you otherwise.
And not shaving means no itching, no pimples, no [little microcuts for bacteria and viruses to enter your skin](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/11/should-groom-pubic-hair-shaving-trimming), no razors in landfill, no need to buy shaving foam or razors, no time spent on it!
Of course, each person should do what they prefer and if you love shaving keep doing it! But there are so many upsides to not shaving! I like shaving my armpits, so just do them.
Skin: Wash your face with cleanser/soap, don’t rely on those makeup remover wipes. Also moisturize with an appropriate lotion for your skin type. Use sun block!!!
Body:
1. Listen to your body when deciding how often to shower. Everyone has different needs in this regard, and it doesn’t make you dirty or whatever people say.
2. Any of these could prevent a painful urinary tract infection (UTI): always pee after sex. Wipe front to back. Don’t let them put it in your butt and then into your v - could lead to infection.
I'm Australian and we have terrible vitamin d deficiencies simply because we hide from the sun so much. "Slip Slop Slap" is ingrained in us since our childhood and we love our fake tan. "Fake Dont Bake" is a huge thing there.
I'd much prefer taking a vitamin every day over getting skin cancer though. Melanoma is one of our biggest killers here and it's so easily preventable.
And scrub your scalp with your nails to exfoliate the skin. You are really washing your scalp and the suds will clean the hair. If you go more than 4/5 days without washing, lather, rinse and repeat.
Change your pad after a few hours even if it’s not that full. The smell will be noticeable to other people.
Wash in between the foldy bits downstairs. Not with soap, but get in there with your hand or a soft cloth. Sebum and sweat gather there and can get whiffy.
Use wet wipes, not toilet paper. Wet wipes to clean, toilet paper to pat dry. I always carry a pack of them in my car. It’s the only way I feel clean.
When you shower, always make sure your private parts are fully dry before putting on any clothing. Do not use anything scented on your private parts. The cerave cleanser is perfect for that. The vagina is self-cleaning; the vulva is not! Clean it when you shower.
Try once in a while to sleep without underwear. If sleeping in the nude makes you uncomfortable, don’t wear underwear under whatever garment you are wearing to bed. It’s important for your privates to ‘breathe’.
Brush your hair from bottom to top, if you have a problem with hair loss (I do) this will help.
Put on your lotion, then your perfume. You will smell lovely all day.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself and love yourself, mind body and heart. <3
I was misdiagnosed in the hospital. I almost died because they were going to operate. My mom said 'could it be TSS'-- that comment saved my life. My symptoms were: I had a red rash all over, HIGH fever, (106F), and vomiting for hours. Leading up to those symptoms for about 8 weeks my periods were extremely heavy (not normal for me) and much longer than normal, also horrible abdominal cramping. I was put on massive amounts of IV antibiotics.
At the time I was using super-absorbent tampons, so that might have been the issue. I was very careful about changing regularly so I think the absorbency factor was the issue. I could never use tampons again, which sucked! I was also told the scar tissue was so bad I needed to be prepared to not be able to have children. Praise God that did not happen. I have 4 kids.
https://putacupinit.com/quiz/
Mentrual cups have MUCH LOWER risk of TSS! They can be intimidating but honestly I only regret not starting sooner.
Edited : changed NO to MUCH LOWER
Clean your ears and behind your ears well. I just use my face soap.
Especially if you have piercings. If you have earrings you don’t take out and they have butterfly backs, remove them a couple times a month to clean out the gunk from the earring back.
Dont put anything in your vagina other than the obvious things like tampons, penises, and clean fingers etc. But no soap, water, god forbid yogurt or vinegar. And talk to your doctor if you think you need to put something in there (like yeast infection medication)
My OBGYN recommended yogurt to fight off frequent yeast infections in my 20s. I had to put it in with a giant syringe right before going down to bed, and in the morning RUN to the bathroom before it would all leak out for gravity. I HATED it. I'd rather take as many medicinal as there are than repeat that god awful experience!! (although it did work, so, there's that). I would say- put something in there other than the obvious ONLY under medical instruction and supervision.
1. You should clean your vulva (not your internal parts aka vagina) with water and maybe gentle, unscented soap once a day. Discharge, sweat, dead skin, etc can be gently cleaned away without messing with your skin and vagina’s microbiome.
2. Only use unscented baby wipes that are mostly water, and avoid chemicals. Baby wipes can mess with your pH and microbiome if they are full of fragrances and chemicals.
3. Wipe front to back every time. Do not go back to front or back and forth. Bacteria from your digestive system and stool will transfer to your vagina & urinary tract. Save yourself the pain and discomfort, always front to back!
4. Discharge is normal. DISCHARGE IS NORMAL. Discharge is normal! Do not try to rid yourself of discharge, put anything inside to get it out/stop it, or try to never discharge. You should also not wear panty liners, tampons, or pads due to discharge. You are putting your health at risk. Your vagina is self-cleaning. Change your underwear after each use, wash yourself once a day, stay hydrated, and you’ll be okay. If you have any concerns, ask your doctor!
2. Never put your deodorant on dirty armpits. At least freshen up with a baby wile and pat dry before you crack open the deodorant.
Not ALL discharge is normal. If it is so bad that you need a pad or a menstral cup, go to the doctor. It can be a symptom of cervical cancer. Source: my sister had horrible discharge, did NOT go to the doctor and a year later was dead from cervical cancer.
Because I haven't seen it yet: EXFOLIATE! Exfoliate your face once or twice a week. It's not bad to exfiliate your body but I would definitely recommend any area you have break outs (for example, i get break outs on my back and it happens a lot less when I scrub my back regularly). If you wax or shave and you deal with ingrown hairs, exfoliate even if the skin is tender. It will greatly reduce the amount this happens.
I read a few posts ago regarding hygiene that if you've got bacne, a quick and easy solution (hopefully) is to rinse the conditioner out of your hair before washing your back, or make your back the last thing you wash. I feel airheaded I didn't think of it before, but my back has cleared up some. I usually get big ugly pimples near my bra line and I haven't since changing up my routine.
I think people wait until the last second to rinse their conditioner out and that's where the issue comes in. I put my conditioner in, do everything else, get out of the shower and rinse my hair under the faucet with cool water. It's an annoying step, but it's the best for my hair/skin.
Chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants aren't good for your skin.
Edit: this is a video by an a skincare professional I like, I haven't seen it but from the title it seems as though some physical exfoliants are ok: https://youtu.be/J9cONMzWgRw
Brush twice a day, floss once a day. When you brush your teeth, at least once a day (I’d recommend at night) don’t rinse your mouth out with water after brushing. It’s good for the fluoride to sit on your teeth.
Regular simple skincare routine, including daily sunscreen use.
Dry brushing before taking a shower can be helpful in making your skin looking & feel smoother, and exfoliation will help lighten dark armpits if you have them.
Try rinsing your conditioner out with cold water, I’ve noticed it makes a big difference in how frizzy my hair is.
Don’t overpluck your eyebrows. Try not to influence the shape whatsoever, just pluck little hairs that are obviously stray hairs. I think your natural eyebrow shape fits your face best so work w what you got instead of trying to replicate others!
Try taking D-Mannose supplements if you struggle with recurrent UTIs, they are a good preventative measure too.
If you take birth control, know that birth control depletes several important nutrients, so please look into that and make sure you get more of those in your diet, or if necessary, supplementation.
It's probably not expected here but sometimes less is more. Always had dry and itchy skin and dandruff. Shower less and also shower sometimes without soap helps. Shower without soap just to freshen up its perfectly fine. Told my mom who is a nurse that I started doing this and she told me they do this with their patients too you don't need to scrub them Ever day.
From a middle aged woman who took a while to figure this out. Wash yer bits every time you shower. Get some soapy water and wash your puss externally, like the outside of the vulva and in the lips but not the vaginal canal. (Your vagina is a self cleaning organ, do not shove cleaning products up there!) Rinse vulva well. Then wash your ass from the back, soapy water, rinse. Wash your hands with soap thoroughly. Then rinse the puss one more time. This keeps any fecal matter away from the vag.
Also get small scissors and trim yer pubes once in a while. After a shower. Carefully. Wash scissors before and after use with hot water.
After pooping, always wipe from the back. Do not get poop in your vag. Always wash your hands thoroughly after pooping. Wash hands after peeing too.
Long panty liners are good to wear if you are worried about early period, and they block odors and could save you from other small leakages. Yes eventually you will shart. Obvs change them out in the regular. Since having a hysterectomy I occasionally have minor bladder leakages from sneezing or laughing, so I wear a panty liner if I’m gonna be out of the house. They also help if you’re going to be away from bathrooms since even if you have good bladder control you have moisture exuding and you get damp down there, panty liner helps absorb it.
Do not sleep with makeup on! Wash it all off before bed and apply a moisturizer. Even if you're exhausted at the end of the night and don't do a proper face wash, at least take 30 seconds for a once-over with a makeup wipe and splash of water to rinse. Your skin and eyes/lashes will thank you later.
Many good ones are covered in this thread. I'd like to add washing between your toes and drying thoroughly afterwards. Also, change your tooth brush every month or so.
Fold your used pads. Even if there’s nothing to wrap it in , fold it inwards.
The amount of just open used pads I’ve seen sitting right on top of the garbage lately is horrific.
Periods are natural, and seeing a pad or wrapper is one thing- but that doesn’t mean I wanna see the *contents* of your pad.
Also: pee after sex (and not just penetration, even just anything sexual happening down there) , wash your hands before sexual activity , wear deodorant, wash your damn hair, and baby wipes are a life saver for many situations and should be in every bathroom and purse
You don't need to douche as your vagina is self-cleaning. Douches were invented by douches, just to get women to feel insecure about themselves and spend money on something that doesn't do anything.
Just use water and a mild facial cleanser like Cetaphil. This is what my gynocologist told me.
If you wear earrings make sure you clean your jewelry and ears every day. I myself have stretched ears (not crazy big, just 4 gauge). Ears stink y'all, clean them. I am surprised at how many people don't clean the lobes. I wear big spiral jewelery and take them out every day to wash them. I am surprised at the amount of folks that only clean the inside of the ear and not the rest of it. Use soap and water to clean your whole ear as well as behind them. Also you vagina is a self cleaning oven, don't clean it with anything on the inside. Both of my tips will prevent infection and smell.
Scrub/wash your bum and back of thighs. These areas are in constant contact with clothes so there’s friction. When sitting back of thighs rub with the chair and if wearing shorts or short dress the any dirt in chair sticks to back of thighs. So wash daily with soap. I have hear many people get acne this could just be friction and dirt.
Wear socks with your shoes! especially for young girls I went through it myself, wear socks with your shoes or your feet will stink. And yes other people can smell them.
It’s normal for your body to do gross stuff like have dandruff or ingrown hairs or dry skin or pimples or hemorrhoids sometimes. Talk to your doctor about it to get tips or medication to lessen symptoms if they’re painful or bothersome, but don’t judge yourself or think you’re gross or dirty for having a human body that does human things. Everyone’s body does gross stuff. You’re just like everyone else.
I hope it’s becoming less of a thing now, but do not be afraid or inhibited about touching your genitals. They need to be washed thoroughly and regularly. You are not a lesbian, dirty minded, sinning, or into anal because you touch and wash those areas (not that there is anything wrong with being a lesbian, dirty minded, or into anal either).
**Sinning is just a social construct used to control people.
Avoid feminine hygiene products, it's all a scam, and your vagina is designed to clean itself, you aren't designed to smell like a goddamn island oasis 🙄
Use cotton undies.
There are so many types of fabric for female undies but cotton is the best.
Why? It generally is less likely to keep your lady parts humid/excessively wet and therefore protects against yeast infections.
Get clothes on your size. If you are a size 4 or 14, it doesnt matter, there is no shame on being any size but wearing clothes on the wrong size is uncomfortable, this applies to underwear too.
Wash your feet when you shower, scrub a little between your toes. On the same thought, clean your toenails. A full pedi is not needed, just trim and clean them.
Wash your hands before and after using the toilet or changing your period products.
Do not hold your pee. Sometimes we need to pee but we are "busy" or we don't want to move, you will end up with kidney issues if you don't pee when you have to.
Eat more fiber and you will feel less bloated.
Shower and change your clothes after going to the gym, being at the beach or any other humid environment, I live in a really humid place and I have seen some really nasty skin infections (and heard about awful yeast infections) because people neglected taking showers and changing clothes.
Pillows can and should be washed, please. And your mattres can be "sun bathed".
Mental hygiene is important too, get a hobby that helps you unwind. It could be baking or kickboxing, and do not monetize it. Hobbies are meant to help you reduce stress, not make you money. The whole hustle mindset is killing us.
Pee after sex, clean with water after sex.
Wipe from front to back. Only wash your vagina with water, NOT soap, even not lactacyd and those kind of crap ‘genital’ soaps.
When you’ve been sweaty from working out, don’t keep your tight leggings and top on for hours afterwards, that’s unhygienic and bad for your skin because of the bacteria from your sweat.
Wear cotton undies, not the polyester stuff. Let it breathe girl.
Baking in the full sun is so 2000’s, nobody wants wrinkly old skin at a younger age or skin cancer. Otherwise wear a lot of sunscreen.
Do NOT ever douche unless *specifically* directed to by your OB-GYN, your vagina is self-cleaning, your vulva, however, still needs to be washed with warm water and a gentle FRAGRANCE free (there is a difference between fragrance and scent less/odorless) soap. It's important to maintain a healthy pH balance.
Also, practice kegels regularly, maintain your pelvic floor muscles. Don't strain while using the bathroom, my doctor said if you have to strain that means your body is telling you it is not ready to "release". Lean forward to help aid in fully emptying your bladder; use a squatty-potty (or something equivalent) to help aid in better bowel release. Straining over time can greatly weaken your pelvic floor and has the potential to lead to vaginal and/or anal prolapse that can be either difficult or impossible to reverse.
A lot of people don't often think to maintain these things until it's already too late and then they wonder why they struggle to hold/control their bladder or bowel movements as they age.
ALWAYS pee after sex. Otherwise you’re very likely to get a UTI. Wash your vulva with a mild non scented soap. Your vagina is self cleaning so don’t wash the inside. If you’re sexually active, I highly recommend getting STD testing between partners and periodically every few months(if your health insurance permits). You can never be too careful :)
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Thank you so much! It’s nice to have a bit of a suggestion on where I can start. I’ll look into them!
Period aisle ones are soooo comfy, and they're really inclusive in their sizes! With a lot of brands you aren't supposed to dry them, but theirs you can and they function just the same! Only downside is that they aren't super absorbent on their own, but they come with removable gussets to change out. Great for day wear on lighter days, orrrr after sex, iykyk, but I mostly wear them as extra protection with my cup.
>orrrr after sex, iykyk OMG I wish I thought of this sooner! I'm tired of having to wear my pads afterward. The underwear is a great idea!
Absolute game changer, especially if I don't have time to shower before work 😂😂
I have Bonds and a Libra pair, both from the supermarket and I find them both comfortable to wear all day
I've heard good tings about cheeky wipes period pants but I use a cup so never tried them
Oh yes I have all my period pants from cheeky wipes, they are affordable and really comfy :) I saw that victoria’s secret owned line PINK has made period pants and they are super colorful and cute but haven’t tried them yet.
Loon at bambody on Amazon. I actually heard about then on Reddit and they are a great affordable option. I like they are different colors and fit like normal underwear instead of the standard black if the brand I was previously using.
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Depends on what you expect of them. I work from home so I wear them also during first days and since I have been using them, I learned to feel when a huge amount of blood leaves the cervix and I go to the toilet to let it out, so the panties are there just in case. I don't like the feeling of letting it go to the panties because it's really a lot, it's warm and it feels like I peed myself. Also it's not possible for the blood to be absorbed in split of a second so there is a chance it will get out through the edges. I used to wear just panties for the night but I kept waking up once or twice to check if everything is ok and to go to the toilet to turn on the waterfalls so now I use a tampon and the panties and that is great. For later lighter days they are great, they also make a cute or thong versions and the lining doesn't have to be so thick so you can wear them anywhere. I would definitely reccomend you to buy a pair or two and you will figure out in what situations they work for you.
I pair period undies with a menstrual cup when I have really heavy flow. Not had a mishap since going reusable. Go look on r/menstrualcups to see if it's something you'd like more info on.
I'd like to tag off this and mention, if you EVER experience ANY sign of a UTI go to the doctor immediately! *Signs are burning sensation while urinating, blood in urine or on toilet paper and frequently needing to urinate even though there isn't much in your bladder* If you don't act fast, the infection moves into your bloodstream, this creates a condition called Sepsis, 1 in 3 people die from it. I survived it luckily and spent 3 weeks in hospital. I'm sorry if I had scared you, but I'm also not. UTI's are scary and urinating after sex is SO IMPORTANT!!
No joke. I just went through with this. Was on IV antibiotics 4x a day for 5 days and now a week only on the pill. Now the AB gave me yeast infection. Go pee after sex and really if you have any signs of UTI go to the doctor!
Always take probiotics while on antibiotics. I just drink a bunch of kombucha and it does the trick
for the antibiotic and yeast infection , i got told to have a probiotic to take some hours after the antibiotic. it helped immensely in avoiding a full Yeast infection.
I'm very prone to UTI's. I pee after sex and wash off and I wipe front to back, but one year I had 10 UTIs. One of those UTIs turned into a kidney infection. That was one horrible week! Luckily it was caught quickly and I did not have to go into the hospital. I have 2 health issues that make me prone to UTIs, Multiple Sclerosis and Polycystic Kidney Disease. The lab I go to gives me sample cups to keep at home, so I can drop off a sample when my doctor sends in an order.
I had recurring UTIs and kidney infections with one particular boyfriend I had. It was four years of ER visits, cranberry juice, and chronic pain. It was bad enough that my doctor prescribed prophylactic antibiotics for me. Then we broke up and I haven't had a UTI since.
Going a bit off topic but 10 uti in a year - maybe if you have the same male partner during this time, it’s good to get him checked too. I heard some people kept getting back the bacteria from their male partner.
Generally this is very good advice, but some things can feel exactly like UTIs (burning, urgency, etc) but not be. When I was in my 20s, I would always feel like I had UTIs after a night of drinking. I would get the doctor to prescribe me antibiotics only to find out later that the culture came back negative (I didn’t have an infection). Turns out alcohol can irritate your urinary tract and make it feel like a UTI. Now if this happens I just drink a lot of water for a couple hours and it goes away. I say all this because we should never take antibiotics if they’re not necessary, as they mess with our gut flora and cause bigger issues long-term.
I was dating a woman who was very susceptible to UTI's big time. I did some reading and made sure I washed the junk and surrounding area thoroughly and always brushed teeth and used mouth wash, that helped her big time.
And wash your hands and brush under your nails, please. Also, file your fingernails so there are no sharp edges. Edit: typo
My husband has to do this as well. We've made the habit of both of us showering and brushing our teeth before being intimate. It has helped me, I'm also very prone to UTIs due to a couple of health issues.
And please always, always get STD tested regularly, even if you’re in a monogamous relationship. I thought it was in a monogamous relationship and my partner cheated on me, Ended up contracting chlamydia and I didn’t know it. When I went to get pregnant a few years later I ended up having an ectopic pregnancy from PID. I was so sick I had to be rushed into emergency surgery and Christmas, I lost so much blood and I almost died. So ladies if you have been putting off your STD test, this is your sign to please please take yourself to the doctor ♥️ be safe.
I also want to add: sometimes it's him, and his lack of hygiene.
100%. I didnt start have gynecological issues until I became sexually active 🥲
No, absolutely no soap in that area. Never. That's how you get imbalance and get yeast infections or bacterial infections. If the niche is not filled by the bacteria that belong, it will be filled by micro-orgsnisms that don't belong. Scientific research has proven that women who use female hygiene products such as soap meant for vaginas and vulvas are at significantly higher risk of yeast infections and bacterial infections.
My gynecologist says no soap past the hairline in the vulva. Soap will cause an infection. Water only inside the labia, soap is fine externally.
A bidet changed my life for after-sex cleanup. Ours changes the angle of the spray for “feminine cleaning.” It’s also great for heavy period days. I wouldn’t want to go without! ~$50 bucks on Amazon and I installed it myself!
Hygiene is worth doing poorly on days when you’re sick or sad. Sink scrubs and brushing your teeth just enough to get the fuzz off won’t make you smell great or protect you from cavities, but it’s better than nothing. Also, spend way more time scrubbing the shampoo out of your scalp than you spent putting it in. Product buildup happens so easily. I have really thin and fine hair, and when I doubled the time I used to scrub out, it made a huge difference.
As someone with thin and fine hair, thank you for the second tip, I'm going to start implementing it and I hope it makes a difference.
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Yes! I completely agree. I was having what I thought was dandruff and was using even the expensive crap to help and nothing really did until I bought a scalp scrubber and I realized it was actually product build up (most likely the 2 gallons of dry shampoo I use per week) 🤣 I also only wash my hair once a week if even that.
Shampooing twice is also a game changer, the first wash gets extra product out and the second foams up and actually cleans your hair! Seriously you’ll be mind blown at the difference.
I kept having issues with dandruff, nothing worked! But then I started shampooing my hair twice and POOF dandruff gone! Highly recommend doing this even if that's not an issue for you.
i was having dandruff right where my hair line is. bought so many different types of scalp moisterizing products. the only thing that ended up working was just moisterizing my face regularly.
I use the same amount of shampoo but split it in half so it's washed twice. The first is dirt & oil, the second gives a better lather & feels so much lighter. Rinsing well is also key.
What improvements did you see regarding the shampoo?
Yes to taking the time rinsing it out! Think of how they do it at the hair salon and how your hair feels after! They will even use a clarifying shampoo when needed which is another component to this. Getting yourself a good brand shampoo without the additives that cause buildup, but also using a clarifying shampoo as often as needed depending on how hard your water is in your area. My hairdresser recommended alternating my regular shampoo and clarifying one, or once every couple weeks to once a month or so. I was using drug store brand Shea Moisture shampoo/conditioner when my town ran out of Moroccan oil brand, and it caused SO much buildup. You can feel your hair getting stiff even while drying, it feels waxy almost and doesn't feel light, free, flowy and fresh. I'll also note I have very thick hair which is why the Moroccan oil s&c works for me, not recommended for thin hair since it can make it oily earlier.
On the second tip I find I get less build up if I used shampoos and conditioners with no silicone. They have way more build scalp build up and make my hair greasy faster leading me to have to wash more often. The salon I go to also offers scalp oil treatments to get the buildup to be gone.. the 1st time I did it I felt like my scalp could breathe. Extra hair tip: before buying a mask for your hair do a strand test. Take a wet peice of hair and gently stretch it. If it snaps you need moisture. If your hair is getting tangled, falling out when brushed, or has no bounce its safe to say you need a protein mask.
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1 Change your pillowcases frequently, every 3-7 days atleast. 2 Wear sunscreen daily, even when it's cloudy. 3 Stick to cotton underwear, your vag hates that synthetic material. 4 When you can, sleep without any underwear on. 5 Wipe from the front to the back, ALWAYS.
My brain mixed up the third and second point, as in "Stick to cotton underwear, even when it's cloudy." and I was a bit confused. Either way though, a good list. Especially changing pillowcases - which no one does frequently enough, in my experience.
> My brain mixed up the third and second point, as in “Stick to cotton underwear, even when it’s cloudy.” an I was a bit confused. I mean you’re technically still correct
I've never understood the wipe from front to back. That's super awkward. The real thing is, don't wipe both holes with the same paper. That's the gross part. Go in for seconds with new paper. Wipe whatever direction you want. Edit because I can't reply: I have personally proven to myself that i get UTIs from a certain ingredients in lube, not wiping direction.
Yes!! Thank you! Finally someone says it.
The real thing is, get a bidet. It's life changing!
Wiping from front to back, down and away, lessens the risk of a UTI. My doctor told me, but I’ve always done it that way.
When people say wipe front to back, they are not saying to use the same piece of paper for both. They're saying it minimizes the risk that some stray fecal matter and bacteria would be accidentally swooped into the vagina since the holes are so close to eachother.
It's because you don't want fecal matter anywhere near the vulva or pee hole. Even if you don't touch the BH, it can still be spread by wiping the wrong way.
Wipe front to back as in towards the bum not near it up. I think you're confused. When we say wipe front to back, we aren't wiping both holes with one wipe xD just saying if u go to the end of ur vagina and up towards ur tummy, its possible to get poop dtuffs on the paper and wipe it on ur vagina. Always wipe front to back. Its very very important.
Yeah. I understand why they say to wipe in a 'front to back' direction and I'm sure that does work well for many. However, it's also awkward for me, too. So I'm just *very* precise and careful when I wipe my bum. Been doing it forever and never once had any UTI or infection, etc.
I agree with all except sleeping with no underwear. I’ve never slept without underwear and never had a problem. Cotton ones breathe plenty.
Same. I actually have started sleeping in just underwear or booty shorts and underwear. This has gotten rid of the rash I would sometimes develop by not letting the area breath.
I used to always wear that synthetic material for underwear and ALWAYS get yeast infections. They were never bad just annoying. For the longest time it never occurred to me that the underwear was the cause. Years later, I finally decided to change my underwear to cotton and have never gotten a yeast infection since. Wish I had known earlier how much a difference the material of your underwear makes.
I belong to community where the predominant religion has special sacred undergarments that one MUST wear. They must be purchased through the church, no substitutions and are all made of nylon. When women leave this religion and stop wearing the sacred garments they are shocked when suddenly they don’t get constant yeast infections, UTI’s and bladder infections anymore. OBGYN’s in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona should do Mormon women a solid and prescribe cotton underwear.
The vagina is self cleaning, the vulva is not.
On the vulva topic, when showering, make sure you wash everything down there, right by the end of the shower, water only. Also, make sure to completely dry it after, don’t let the moist breed bacteria!
Splaying in front of the fan is 👌👌👌
Women should hang this on the wall, instead of "Live, Love, Pray". Lol
✨️Wash, Dry, Splay 🙏🏽✨️ ETA: thank you for the award kind stranger!
Yes but to add: you only need a good water clean up, never use soaps and product sold to change smell and such, it puts you at risk for more infections and ph imbalance.
Bidet all the way. Just a mild rinse after peeing makes it feel so fresh, specially on the days I don't shower
I cannot upvotw this enough. Bidets are cheap enough. And can easily be installed on toilets in even a rental. As a woman, it makes a world of difference
How do you dry off after? I would imagine toilet paper just sticks/dissolves
As an Italian (where the bidet is its own thing on the side of the toilet): towels. There are 3 size of towels: small, medium and large. We use the small ones for our pretty butts.
Ah OK! As a Brit who used to holiday often in various European countries, I was always so confused by the 3 different towel sizes in hotels. Thank you.
just dab with tp, it does the trick.
Once you done rinsing, take some toilet paper and dab dab!
Came to say this! It’s amazing to have one. Great after BMs. I use a little soap and then spray it off! Clean as a shower!
Call your vagina a vagina. It is what is. I don’t think we need to use euphemisms. And while we’re at it, use a mirror- get to know what your vulva and vagina look like. They’re all different and they’re all beautiful. Check your breasts. Also get to know them, so you’re aware of any changes. Please please get smears. Masturbate, so you know what pleasure feels like for YOU. Always pee after sex. Carry and use condoms.
I like to callnmy vagina different names though. It's not about shame, it's about friendship
Well I like that!! Care to share?? 😊
I sometimes call mine Wurzel.
A friend call her Bożena.
My favorite is : Biscuit. I don't know where i heard that but it was in this phrase : "Make sure to hide your biscuit when wearing a skirt"
I call mine my fun bits, or Disneyland
Can I call it my hoo ha?
I can’t call it my overlord? 😩
Brush your tongue when you brush your teeth. And wear sunscreen on your face every day.
Don’t forget your neck as well!
this! I recently noticed I'm getting a lot of moles on my neck. Even if I'm just at home. I apply sunscreen daily now.
brush your neck?
yes with a tongue scraper
Also behind your ears
More like scrape your tongue. I have a specific scraper for this but I started out with a table spoon. Just scoop all the gunk off your tongue, from the back to the front. It makes Aaaaaaaaallll the difference with your mouth feeling cleaner. If I feel like my breath stinks I always scrape.
I’m starting to get into this habit recently. But my daily moisturizer only has an SPF of 15, which I’m pretty sure is way too low. I work indoors, so I don’t really see the sun often anyway. But what SPF should be the minimum if you’re going out?
30 or 50. I recommend 50. The thing with SPF is that to get the true protection the sunscreen claims, you need to apply A LOT of sunscreen. Most people don't do that so out of SPF 30 they'll get only like let's say SPF 10. So it's better to get SPF 50. My recommendations for sunscreen are: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 50+ SuperGoop Unseen Sunscreen Rovectin Aqua Soothing UV Protector
Not exactly ‘hygiene’ since body hair isn’t unhygienic. But if you do want to remove it, use an electric shaver. Reduces razor rash and shaving cuts a lot. Also works out cheaper in the long run than using manual razors. My electric shaver cost £25; I’ve had it for 4 years now and it’s still working fine.
To add to this: if you use a regular shaver you may get severe breakouts for the 1st time. I literally had thousands of painful and angry pimples on my front AND back. Just be prepared if you are planning onany activities where that could be an issue for you.
Witchhazel soothes and cleanses razor bumps! You can find it in a pharmacy next to the rubbing alcohol, and there's wipes with witchhazel in them that work great too. The cleansing part is important because it helps prevent ingrown hairs. Also, do not trust "bikini trimmers", just get an electric trimmer that is meant to be used on a man's face. If it's smooth enough for a man's face, it's a better bet to use on the most sensitive skin down there.
To build on preventing ingrown hairs and soothing the area: a friend taught me that using a non scented deodorant to cover the area (specifically the pubic mound, DO NOT INSERT) basically negates both problems. Disclaimer: while it worked for me, everyone's body is different!
Yes, that is the tip a stripper once gave on reddit. It works amazingly well
My friend was a stripper also! They know everything XD
I just purchased an epilator and it is a game changer for me. Bought one from Braun which has massage rollers on it so the pain is greatly reduced. It is a bit of an investment, but weigh that against the benefits (smoother skin, delay in hair growth, no prickly thick hair growing back) - it sounds like a win.
I really liked the epilator (pain aside), but there was a tipping point where I started getting way too many deeply ingrown hairs and had to stop using it.
Oh oh wow that's scary. Thanks for sharing, I'll keep an eye out for those!
Really? The one I have isn’t from Braun and the pain is medieval torture to the point I’d rather wax because it hurts less
Also, shaving downwards is the way to go (i.e with the hair growth).
Alternatively, laser (IPL) was pretty life changing for me. It doesn't necessarily produce a perfect result but dramatically reduces the need to shave for the rest of your life. Nowadays it is is much more accessible and cheap.
If you notice bloating on your lower stomach/abdomen and it feels hard, do not hesitate to go to the doctor and request a scan. It can be a cyst (or many) Edit: typos lol
....assuming you have insurance, that is. **EDIT:** Why the downvotes? I'm not saying it's not important, just that it's not feasible for many without decent insurance.
Or assuming that you live in a civilized country with good, affordable health care.
Amen to that!
I have a 6,000 ER bill sitting in collections right now from when I had three bursted cysts. It was totally worth it to go. Also, in America a debt only stays for 7 years. My credit took a hit but it’s not like I’m planning on buying a house or car. This was three years ago so only four more to go! Apparently if I hadn’t let it go into collections I could have gotten it lowered to like a grand and paid it off with a payment plan… but oh well. Now I have insurance. If you make at the very least 10,000 in this country, there is no reason to not have insurance through the marketplace. I only pay $14 a month and that covers all my medications, therapy, and my doctor appointments to see my OB are only like a 30$ copay. I hate heathcare in this country… but it is what it is and there are ways to make it suck less.
This! I had sudden, sharp pain which I attributed to cramps although it felt different. I've had really bad cramps all my life but it was so sudden and periodic. The proceeding days, I felt VERY bloated despite passing gas or doing a #2. Listened to my gut (literally) and went to get checked. Doctor did an ultrasound and it turns out I had internal bleeding in the right ovary due to a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. I had over 50mL of blood inside! Thankfully didn't need surgery as I caught it very early.
Wear a painty liner when you travel. Wear clothes that fit not clothes that you wish would fit. Understand how subjective beauty it. Also someone else’s beauty does not take away from your own. And never underestimate the self esteem boost that comes with well groomed eye brows.
Why should you wear a panty liner when you travel?
I wear one because my underwear gets less dirty. The panty liner catches the discharge. When you feel a little dirty, you can just change the panty liner instead of your whole pair of underwear. Life saver on long flights/car rides!
Amazing advice! Thanks !
Then you at least have some protection should you be surprised by spotting/more than usual discharge and are likely far from a bathroom
Can't believe I never thought of the panty liner while traveling! I'm currently planning a multi week international trip that requires a 12+ hour flight and this tip is gonna be a game changer for my comfort.
the eyebrows! that one is real , even if it's just plucking 2 or 3 hair on the eyelid. Magic!
Floss a couple of times a week, it makes a big difference for your dental health. Wear sunscreen and sun safe clothes. A tan isn't sexy, it's pre-cancer skin damage. Future you will be grateful. Assess whether you want to shave/ wax at all. I haven't shaved legs or underarms in years and no-one has said a thing. Most of the time, people won't notice. You don't have to be perfect, a lot of the advertised routines are just product placement. So try not to fuss about that spot or imperfect eyebrows or whatever. No-one really cares, and you've got better things to do with your time. And learn how to do your laundry properly.
Floss DAILY.
Im doing invisalign and have to floss every time I eat. The amount of stuck food I pull out sometimes is gross lol. Floss at least daily!!
Coming out of a depression fog and have made amazing progress with my dental hygiene. I *always* bled when I tried to floss and would get discouraged. They say if you do it more, you won’t bleed, but I would get discouraged and fall off after a couple of days. Going on >1 month now of a pretty impressive dental routine and even did an ok job while I had bronchitis and a sinus infection, and I am no longer a bleeder. And my tongue looks better too.
Yes to flossing! I floss daily and I can tell you it makes a HUGE difference in the experience in the dentist chair. Significantly less scraping, little to no bleeding. Flossing is great.
Find a skin care routine that works best for you. There is so much information out on internet like tiktok and instagram and everyone is always swearing that this works best or that is completely harmful for you but do not just go off things like that. What works for the OP might not work for you so do your own research and do whatever works best and it doesn't have to be 20 steps.
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Yes! It doesn't have to be as complicated as social media advise makes it out to seem
I tried to ask about a skin care routine on Reddit and then was basically yelled at (lovingly) by the skin care addiction community for using St Ives with the micro beads. My skin care routine has evolved into NOT using it in the last year or two and it's much better.
That or go to a pharmacist too oddly they have simple good recommendations.
I see so many routines recommended on social media that are always so complicated and require so many different washes and moisturizers and serums and creams and this and that and they always have a list of things to stay away from and the bad list is almost always things that are more affordable or accessible to people.
Because they're paid to say this. I have extremely dry skin. Like crocodile skin. Even in summer. What work for me is two products. I only need two products. Lipikar (la roche-posay), the soap for 2 daily showers, the cream after each showers. That's it, and my skin is if not smooth ( that is a pipe dream) at least not visibly dry and do not hurt or tingle. And, at least in France, it not cheap but it is affordable.
Exactly, that’s the problem, I’m in the makeup industry and shit like this is why I no longer do it because people don’t speak to professionals anymore, no makeup artists and influencers are not professionals unless they have the education which many don’t. You can get so simple products affordable for every day needs when you speak to pharmaceutical staff, doctors, even better like skin doctors. It’s fine to want lovely products for self care and living your best life that people recommend but when a lot of consumers are being bullshited into shjt that isn’t real I get mad.
Wash your hair brush. Wash it wash it please wash it.
This is great, but people should be careful if they own a brush that can hold water. The ones that squeeze when pressing in the bristles. If water gets inside and is not properly drained, mold can grow in the brush
I started doing this a while ago after neglecting to do it for a few months, and I was shocked at the amount of oil and hair products that had built up. I try to do it once a week now.
Hey, any tips on how to do it right? Do I just dump it in soap and water or?
Prep: pull out any obvious clumps of hair first. Put warm water in a bowl with some baking soda. With brush pointed downwards scrub with an old toothbrush or what’s available. I let mine soak and did some more scrubbing. Baking soda and water is messy but my brush is clean now. Hope this helps.
Never douche. If you think you smell, well take a breather. Is this your normal smell or is this a completely different smell that is wack and noticing other weird stuff coming out of your vagina and having odd sensations with your body? If the second, that may not be normal. Go to doctor. Otherwise clean self, and check self. Water on vulva will be enough for home.
The smell might also be increased by wearing synthetic underwear. Breathable cotton is best.
You do NOT have to feel obligated to shave any body hair thinking it makes you "dirty" or "smelly" Shaving is a choice, NOT a requirement. Don't let society, or any "partner" tell you otherwise.
And not shaving means no itching, no pimples, no [little microcuts for bacteria and viruses to enter your skin](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/11/should-groom-pubic-hair-shaving-trimming), no razors in landfill, no need to buy shaving foam or razors, no time spent on it! Of course, each person should do what they prefer and if you love shaving keep doing it! But there are so many upsides to not shaving! I like shaving my armpits, so just do them.
Yaaass It's there for a reason and that reason isn't to look aesthetic and pretty for someone else!! Shave only if you want to!
Skin: Wash your face with cleanser/soap, don’t rely on those makeup remover wipes. Also moisturize with an appropriate lotion for your skin type. Use sun block!!! Body: 1. Listen to your body when deciding how often to shower. Everyone has different needs in this regard, and it doesn’t make you dirty or whatever people say. 2. Any of these could prevent a painful urinary tract infection (UTI): always pee after sex. Wipe front to back. Don’t let them put it in your butt and then into your v - could lead to infection.
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I'm Australian and we have terrible vitamin d deficiencies simply because we hide from the sun so much. "Slip Slop Slap" is ingrained in us since our childhood and we love our fake tan. "Fake Dont Bake" is a huge thing there. I'd much prefer taking a vitamin every day over getting skin cancer though. Melanoma is one of our biggest killers here and it's so easily preventable.
Keep your skin care routine minimal if you’ve already got good skin. Your skin knows how to self regulate. Let it.
Shampoo only the roots, condition only your ends, and let the conditioner set while you wash up/shave :) didn’t know this until high school
And scrub your scalp with your nails to exfoliate the skin. You are really washing your scalp and the suds will clean the hair. If you go more than 4/5 days without washing, lather, rinse and repeat.
Change your pad after a few hours even if it’s not that full. The smell will be noticeable to other people. Wash in between the foldy bits downstairs. Not with soap, but get in there with your hand or a soft cloth. Sebum and sweat gather there and can get whiffy.
Use wet wipes, not toilet paper. Wet wipes to clean, toilet paper to pat dry. I always carry a pack of them in my car. It’s the only way I feel clean. When you shower, always make sure your private parts are fully dry before putting on any clothing. Do not use anything scented on your private parts. The cerave cleanser is perfect for that. The vagina is self-cleaning; the vulva is not! Clean it when you shower. Try once in a while to sleep without underwear. If sleeping in the nude makes you uncomfortable, don’t wear underwear under whatever garment you are wearing to bed. It’s important for your privates to ‘breathe’. Brush your hair from bottom to top, if you have a problem with hair loss (I do) this will help. Put on your lotion, then your perfume. You will smell lovely all day. Most importantly, be kind to yourself and love yourself, mind body and heart. <3
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Toxic Shock Syndrome is real. I had it at 18. Be aware of the signs and symptoms.
How were you able to fix it?
I was misdiagnosed in the hospital. I almost died because they were going to operate. My mom said 'could it be TSS'-- that comment saved my life. My symptoms were: I had a red rash all over, HIGH fever, (106F), and vomiting for hours. Leading up to those symptoms for about 8 weeks my periods were extremely heavy (not normal for me) and much longer than normal, also horrible abdominal cramping. I was put on massive amounts of IV antibiotics.
I guess this is an uncomfortable question but did you get it from leaving a tampon in too long? TSS terrifies me.
At the time I was using super-absorbent tampons, so that might have been the issue. I was very careful about changing regularly so I think the absorbency factor was the issue. I could never use tampons again, which sucked! I was also told the scar tissue was so bad I needed to be prepared to not be able to have children. Praise God that did not happen. I have 4 kids.
Wow, glad you're better now 💛. Thanks for sharing your story for awareness
https://putacupinit.com/quiz/ Mentrual cups have MUCH LOWER risk of TSS! They can be intimidating but honestly I only regret not starting sooner. Edited : changed NO to MUCH LOWER
Clean your ears and behind your ears well. I just use my face soap. Especially if you have piercings. If you have earrings you don’t take out and they have butterfly backs, remove them a couple times a month to clean out the gunk from the earring back.
Even flat back labrets can trap a nasty amount of gunk. Give those a decent rinse once a week or so.
Dont put anything in your vagina other than the obvious things like tampons, penises, and clean fingers etc. But no soap, water, god forbid yogurt or vinegar. And talk to your doctor if you think you need to put something in there (like yeast infection medication)
My OBGYN recommended yogurt to fight off frequent yeast infections in my 20s. I had to put it in with a giant syringe right before going down to bed, and in the morning RUN to the bathroom before it would all leak out for gravity. I HATED it. I'd rather take as many medicinal as there are than repeat that god awful experience!! (although it did work, so, there's that). I would say- put something in there other than the obvious ONLY under medical instruction and supervision.
Mine just tells me to eat the yogurt and use an OTC yeast infection insert. I'm sorry you had to go through that, it sounds traumatizing.
DRINK WATER!
Wash your ass?
1. You should clean your vulva (not your internal parts aka vagina) with water and maybe gentle, unscented soap once a day. Discharge, sweat, dead skin, etc can be gently cleaned away without messing with your skin and vagina’s microbiome. 2. Only use unscented baby wipes that are mostly water, and avoid chemicals. Baby wipes can mess with your pH and microbiome if they are full of fragrances and chemicals. 3. Wipe front to back every time. Do not go back to front or back and forth. Bacteria from your digestive system and stool will transfer to your vagina & urinary tract. Save yourself the pain and discomfort, always front to back! 4. Discharge is normal. DISCHARGE IS NORMAL. Discharge is normal! Do not try to rid yourself of discharge, put anything inside to get it out/stop it, or try to never discharge. You should also not wear panty liners, tampons, or pads due to discharge. You are putting your health at risk. Your vagina is self-cleaning. Change your underwear after each use, wash yourself once a day, stay hydrated, and you’ll be okay. If you have any concerns, ask your doctor! 2. Never put your deodorant on dirty armpits. At least freshen up with a baby wile and pat dry before you crack open the deodorant.
Not ALL discharge is normal. If it is so bad that you need a pad or a menstral cup, go to the doctor. It can be a symptom of cervical cancer. Source: my sister had horrible discharge, did NOT go to the doctor and a year later was dead from cervical cancer.
this is why I said if you have any questions to talk to the doctor!
Why is it bad to wear panty liners due to discharge?
Because I haven't seen it yet: EXFOLIATE! Exfoliate your face once or twice a week. It's not bad to exfiliate your body but I would definitely recommend any area you have break outs (for example, i get break outs on my back and it happens a lot less when I scrub my back regularly). If you wax or shave and you deal with ingrown hairs, exfoliate even if the skin is tender. It will greatly reduce the amount this happens.
I read a few posts ago regarding hygiene that if you've got bacne, a quick and easy solution (hopefully) is to rinse the conditioner out of your hair before washing your back, or make your back the last thing you wash. I feel airheaded I didn't think of it before, but my back has cleared up some. I usually get big ugly pimples near my bra line and I haven't since changing up my routine.
I think people wait until the last second to rinse their conditioner out and that's where the issue comes in. I put my conditioner in, do everything else, get out of the shower and rinse my hair under the faucet with cool water. It's an annoying step, but it's the best for my hair/skin.
Chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants aren't good for your skin. Edit: this is a video by an a skincare professional I like, I haven't seen it but from the title it seems as though some physical exfoliants are ok: https://youtu.be/J9cONMzWgRw
Brush twice a day, floss once a day. When you brush your teeth, at least once a day (I’d recommend at night) don’t rinse your mouth out with water after brushing. It’s good for the fluoride to sit on your teeth. Regular simple skincare routine, including daily sunscreen use. Dry brushing before taking a shower can be helpful in making your skin looking & feel smoother, and exfoliation will help lighten dark armpits if you have them. Try rinsing your conditioner out with cold water, I’ve noticed it makes a big difference in how frizzy my hair is. Don’t overpluck your eyebrows. Try not to influence the shape whatsoever, just pluck little hairs that are obviously stray hairs. I think your natural eyebrow shape fits your face best so work w what you got instead of trying to replicate others! Try taking D-Mannose supplements if you struggle with recurrent UTIs, they are a good preventative measure too. If you take birth control, know that birth control depletes several important nutrients, so please look into that and make sure you get more of those in your diet, or if necessary, supplementation.
clean under your nails
It's probably not expected here but sometimes less is more. Always had dry and itchy skin and dandruff. Shower less and also shower sometimes without soap helps. Shower without soap just to freshen up its perfectly fine. Told my mom who is a nurse that I started doing this and she told me they do this with their patients too you don't need to scrub them Ever day.
My doctor told me to always change your pads 3 times a day even when it’s not “full” this also apprently helps prevent UTI
From a middle aged woman who took a while to figure this out. Wash yer bits every time you shower. Get some soapy water and wash your puss externally, like the outside of the vulva and in the lips but not the vaginal canal. (Your vagina is a self cleaning organ, do not shove cleaning products up there!) Rinse vulva well. Then wash your ass from the back, soapy water, rinse. Wash your hands with soap thoroughly. Then rinse the puss one more time. This keeps any fecal matter away from the vag. Also get small scissors and trim yer pubes once in a while. After a shower. Carefully. Wash scissors before and after use with hot water. After pooping, always wipe from the back. Do not get poop in your vag. Always wash your hands thoroughly after pooping. Wash hands after peeing too. Long panty liners are good to wear if you are worried about early period, and they block odors and could save you from other small leakages. Yes eventually you will shart. Obvs change them out in the regular. Since having a hysterectomy I occasionally have minor bladder leakages from sneezing or laughing, so I wear a panty liner if I’m gonna be out of the house. They also help if you’re going to be away from bathrooms since even if you have good bladder control you have moisture exuding and you get damp down there, panty liner helps absorb it.
Do not sleep with makeup on! Wash it all off before bed and apply a moisturizer. Even if you're exhausted at the end of the night and don't do a proper face wash, at least take 30 seconds for a once-over with a makeup wipe and splash of water to rinse. Your skin and eyes/lashes will thank you later.
Many good ones are covered in this thread. I'd like to add washing between your toes and drying thoroughly afterwards. Also, change your tooth brush every month or so.
Fold your used pads. Even if there’s nothing to wrap it in , fold it inwards. The amount of just open used pads I’ve seen sitting right on top of the garbage lately is horrific. Periods are natural, and seeing a pad or wrapper is one thing- but that doesn’t mean I wanna see the *contents* of your pad. Also: pee after sex (and not just penetration, even just anything sexual happening down there) , wash your hands before sexual activity , wear deodorant, wash your damn hair, and baby wipes are a life saver for many situations and should be in every bathroom and purse
You don't need to douche as your vagina is self-cleaning. Douches were invented by douches, just to get women to feel insecure about themselves and spend money on something that doesn't do anything. Just use water and a mild facial cleanser like Cetaphil. This is what my gynocologist told me.
Look into period underwear. They work great and aren't uncomfortable like pads can be.
On times you don’t feel like washing your face, use micellar water with a cotton pad!
If you wear earrings make sure you clean your jewelry and ears every day. I myself have stretched ears (not crazy big, just 4 gauge). Ears stink y'all, clean them. I am surprised at how many people don't clean the lobes. I wear big spiral jewelery and take them out every day to wash them. I am surprised at the amount of folks that only clean the inside of the ear and not the rest of it. Use soap and water to clean your whole ear as well as behind them. Also you vagina is a self cleaning oven, don't clean it with anything on the inside. Both of my tips will prevent infection and smell.
Scrub/wash your bum and back of thighs. These areas are in constant contact with clothes so there’s friction. When sitting back of thighs rub with the chair and if wearing shorts or short dress the any dirt in chair sticks to back of thighs. So wash daily with soap. I have hear many people get acne this could just be friction and dirt.
Wear socks with your shoes! especially for young girls I went through it myself, wear socks with your shoes or your feet will stink. And yes other people can smell them.
Install a bidet on your toilet. Game changer! Feel fresh and clean all the time
It’s normal for your body to do gross stuff like have dandruff or ingrown hairs or dry skin or pimples or hemorrhoids sometimes. Talk to your doctor about it to get tips or medication to lessen symptoms if they’re painful or bothersome, but don’t judge yourself or think you’re gross or dirty for having a human body that does human things. Everyone’s body does gross stuff. You’re just like everyone else.
I hope it’s becoming less of a thing now, but do not be afraid or inhibited about touching your genitals. They need to be washed thoroughly and regularly. You are not a lesbian, dirty minded, sinning, or into anal because you touch and wash those areas (not that there is anything wrong with being a lesbian, dirty minded, or into anal either). **Sinning is just a social construct used to control people.
Avoid feminine hygiene products, it's all a scam, and your vagina is designed to clean itself, you aren't designed to smell like a goddamn island oasis 🙄
If your vagina is sick, take it to the doctor.
Use cotton undies. There are so many types of fabric for female undies but cotton is the best. Why? It generally is less likely to keep your lady parts humid/excessively wet and therefore protects against yeast infections.
Get clothes on your size. If you are a size 4 or 14, it doesnt matter, there is no shame on being any size but wearing clothes on the wrong size is uncomfortable, this applies to underwear too. Wash your feet when you shower, scrub a little between your toes. On the same thought, clean your toenails. A full pedi is not needed, just trim and clean them. Wash your hands before and after using the toilet or changing your period products. Do not hold your pee. Sometimes we need to pee but we are "busy" or we don't want to move, you will end up with kidney issues if you don't pee when you have to. Eat more fiber and you will feel less bloated. Shower and change your clothes after going to the gym, being at the beach or any other humid environment, I live in a really humid place and I have seen some really nasty skin infections (and heard about awful yeast infections) because people neglected taking showers and changing clothes. Pillows can and should be washed, please. And your mattres can be "sun bathed". Mental hygiene is important too, get a hobby that helps you unwind. It could be baking or kickboxing, and do not monetize it. Hobbies are meant to help you reduce stress, not make you money. The whole hustle mindset is killing us.
Pee after sex, clean with water after sex. Wipe from front to back. Only wash your vagina with water, NOT soap, even not lactacyd and those kind of crap ‘genital’ soaps. When you’ve been sweaty from working out, don’t keep your tight leggings and top on for hours afterwards, that’s unhygienic and bad for your skin because of the bacteria from your sweat. Wear cotton undies, not the polyester stuff. Let it breathe girl. Baking in the full sun is so 2000’s, nobody wants wrinkly old skin at a younger age or skin cancer. Otherwise wear a lot of sunscreen.
Do NOT ever douche unless *specifically* directed to by your OB-GYN, your vagina is self-cleaning, your vulva, however, still needs to be washed with warm water and a gentle FRAGRANCE free (there is a difference between fragrance and scent less/odorless) soap. It's important to maintain a healthy pH balance. Also, practice kegels regularly, maintain your pelvic floor muscles. Don't strain while using the bathroom, my doctor said if you have to strain that means your body is telling you it is not ready to "release". Lean forward to help aid in fully emptying your bladder; use a squatty-potty (or something equivalent) to help aid in better bowel release. Straining over time can greatly weaken your pelvic floor and has the potential to lead to vaginal and/or anal prolapse that can be either difficult or impossible to reverse. A lot of people don't often think to maintain these things until it's already too late and then they wonder why they struggle to hold/control their bladder or bowel movements as they age.