Battling with thrush, what soap do you use?

[isthismylifenow]

I am getting a bit fed up. I love a bath, but have never been able to use bubble bath as I would get thrush straight away. Not sure if it's because I'm getting older now but every time I bath I seem to as well. I'm thinking it's the soap. I shower mostly now and it just seems to be bathing that is triggering it.

I have been using white Lux or Dove unscented, both the bars and not the liquid soap. I have had terrible experiences with most of the other nice soaps like Neste Dante, Jo Malone or anything scented.

So, if you are sensitive what do you use. My last visit to gynae he advised not to use the feminine hygiene soaps and gels that are supposed to keep the pH balanced, he says they are just as bad.

I just really fancy having a nice long soak in the bath without getting the irritation the next day.

I limit my hot baths and when I get one it's Friendly Soap Company soap. It's lovely and gentle.

Afterwards I always starfish on the bed and let everything dry and cool down before I get dressed. It's then always cotton clothes.

I know your gynae advised not to but femfresh wash is the only thing I use down there and doesn't irritate me. Makes me feel clean and fresh.

Could you have a lovely long soak in the bath and then do your actual washing in the shower? I couldn’t tell from your post but are you using soap on your vulva? I always use plain water

Olive oil soap, Usually bought on holiday in France but sometimes from Holland and Barratt or as Aleppo soap from amazon. There’s usually 2 or three ingredients in it.

And I wash my vulva and bum with it too.

For soaking in the bath I use bath oil e.g. sweet almond oil or similar - no soap at all. Scented anything can be v bad for my thrush situation (whether soap or bath oil), but after a process of elimination I've discovered a couple of essential oils that are ok if I use only a tiny amount so I put a couple of drops of that in the almond oil before adding it in the bath. The bath oil makes the bath a bit slippery so if you try it take care, but my skin has improved dramatically since swapping soap for oil, the bath smells lovely and (for me at least) no thrush issues.

No soap in the bath here. I wash my armpits in the sink then soak in bath.
A bit of lavender essential oil maybe.

You are not supposed to use soap on your vulva, this seems to be your issue, water only.

If you're prone to thrush do not use any soap in the bath whatsoever! I use essential oils or bath oil to make it smell nice.

@FelicityBeedle

Could you have a lovely long soak in the bath and then do your actual washing in the shower? I couldn’t tell from your post but are you using soap on your vulva? I always use plain water

Just plain water. Washing with soap on the vulva is a definite no for me.

I've suffered for many many years

Not hot baths when having thrush. No soap

Try to wear cotton undies. At night try to wear nothing. Let the air get to it

I avoid soaps in my bath - I find they give me cystitis. I stick to plain water and maybe some essential oils. I also don't actually wash in the bath - the bath is a relaxing thing for me - I do my washing in the shower and I use nothing but water on the delicate bits.

Canesfresh (same brand as Canesten) is a nice mild wash that smells nice and clean. It is really soothing too

I have seen some natural olive oil soap so I'll try that, but in the meantime I will try a drop or two of lavender oil and perhaps do a rinse off douche type thing with the shower attatchement.

And I do so love nice smelling soaps. Pity they don't love me back quite as much.

Anyone found it got worse with peri menopause? I've always avoided bubble baths but it has never been this bad.

Have you tried organic/natural baby bath stuff? Just thought they're made to be extra gentle for babies so they might allow you to be able to have a bubble bath?

Moogoo milk wash is fab and isn't scented and doesn't irritate.

I use faith in nature soap bar - coconut. All the time, works for me

Is it just washing that sets your thrush off?

Have you checked your diet?
Reoccurring thrush can be a sign of other conditions, and ‘deep rooted’ candida can be a b’stard to get rid of. There are books if you google. The diet is hard core though. Basically anything tasty has to go - sugar (in any form), fruit & some veg, delicious refined carbs, vinegar, anything fermented, mushrooms, did I mention delicious refined carbs...

The other thing to check - are you ping ponging it backwards and forwards between yourself and your partner?

Oh the irony of my name...

I use a pure olive oil soap called Oliva, I buy it from from Holland and Barrett, the only ingredients are olive oil, salt and water. It's very gentle

Was also going to say canesfresh. It doesn't have much of a smell and it very gentle as it had no soap.

Dermol - recommended by GP

The issue of where to wash with a product comes up frequently. The vagina should not have any soap or shower gel inserted but the labia need a proper wash. Females also produce a creamy substance like male smegma which will gather in the folds and plain water struggles to remove. As a nurse I have cathterized many women and what hides in the folds is surprising.

Dermol 500 has changed my life.

Use it in the bath instead of bubble bath. I love baths but was getting constant thrush. The doctor recommended it and you buy it over the counter at the pharmacy. It doesn't foam up though which is a shame.

Aqueous cream works well. Never had any issues since I started using it years ago.