Skincare down there
When I asked my social media followers what they wanted to learn about in Sex Ed for Grownups, the number one answer was hygiene. I’m not surprised, as one of the most common referrals I get is for Contact Dermatitis of the vulva, commonly caused by Over-the-Counter products.
The problem is worse for people with vulvas. Every single genital hygiene product on most Canadian pharmacy shelves is marketed toward women, and the majority are harmful. I hope the lawyers don’t come after me for saying this, but a common saying among sexual health providers is “Vagisil makes you ill”.
In case people with penises are feeling left out, never fear! You can order products online specifically for your genitals including Nads, Manscaped, Below the Belt Grooming, and Nutt Butter.
Genital hygiene brands are full of chemicals that can cause redness, itching, and rawness. Don’t worry though, when your $15 Peach Blossom Feminine Wash gives you an itchy allergic reaction, you can buy Calming Wipes! Gynecologists DETEST wipes; their convenience comes from alcohols, which evaporate away so that no drying is needed. The alcohols destroy your skin's protective barrier causing irritation and sensitivity. Please don’t use wipes on the sensitive skin of your genitals or anus.
So you spent $15 on a cleanser that caused this problem, then $7 on wipes that made it worse? No problem, they have an Itch Relief line for $12-15. These products feature Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (another chemical that disrupts the protective skin barrier and worsens dermatitis) and Benzocaine (a potent allergen that causes blistering reactions).
Want to try “Natural”? Sure, but essential oils can land you in my office too! Tea tree oil is highly irritating, stimulating the immune system enough to treat warts. Do not put it on your genitals. Other essential oils that commonly cause dermatitis are peppermint, cinnamon, clove, and ylang-ylang.
Many people don’t think about the function of body odour. The reason we make smells so pungent is so that potential mates can sniff us out over long distances. We even retained special patches of hair to hold odour in the areas with lots of sweat and scent glands: the armpits and crotch. I see a lot of patients who are concerned that getting sweaty and smelly “down there” means there’s a problem. Don’t worry - you are specifically designed to be sweaty and smelly there. You just gotta shower if you want to smell fresh, and on some hot or stressful days, you may have to change your underwear mid-day as well. That’s normal!
The skin of the genitals is even more sensitive than the skin on your face, so the simple solution is to use a gentle facial cleanser like Cerave or Cetaphil on the hair-bearing skin. Please don’t use soap on the sensitive inner parts of your vulva or vagina. It is unnecessary, like washing the inside of your mouth or nose!
Both the foreskin and the clitoral hood contain cells that make smegma - a waxy substance with a slight odour. If you don’t occasionally clean the part of your penis or clitoris that’s covered by the hood/foreskin, smegma builds up and gets smelly. Just pull back the foreskin, or tug down on the labia minora and use a finger to gently wipe the wax away.
Patients (and some physicians) think that genital hygiene products are useful but the reality is that the industry exploits a marketing strategy designed to turn shame and insecurity about sexuality into profit. Your crotch should smell like crotch - it’s healthier that way!