Am I not washing properly?

[Washerg]

Inspired (worried!) following a poster today talking about buttocks washing.

I shower daily. By this I mean I stand under the shower and clean under my arms with water only, same down below. I let the water run all over me for a good ten or fifteen mins but don’t actually scrub or touch other parts of my body. On days I wash my hair (weekly), the soap will run down my body obviously but that’s the extent of any soap that runs over me.

I have from time to time used some shower gel but only if I feel like it. Haven’t for about a year or so and before then it would be some weeks not others. Just don’t feel the need I suppose... and when I do use it, again it would be under arms and definitely not a big body scrub. I don’t think I’ve ever ever washed my toes apart from when I’ve been on the beach or outside with no shoes on in summer. I do use deodorant and perfume.

I’m actually worried now that I’m some sort of disgusting person who doesn’t realise it!! It’s not something I’ve ever discussed with friends. Am I weird? Should I be scrubbing away?! I’ve NC.

@Bluntness100

Why the hell do some folks on mumsnet get so obsessed by how to wash their fannies. It’s not exactly rocket science. Wash it like any other part of you and don’t go inside for gods sake. Unless you’ve health issues and need to use specific products.

Quite. I was once told a (hopefully untrue) story about an unfortunate chap who emerged from between his new Lady-friend's thighs only to realise he has somehow gained a thick and creamy 'milk moustache' due to her apparent lack of care in the vulva-washing department.

< definitely not envy

In memory of that tale I always have a good thorough clean (externally) with soap or shower gel and am yet to have it drop off, come out in hives or burst into flames. I sometimes reckon I could use dettol down there without ill-effect.

@peboh

Vaginas are self cleaning, so hot water there is fine. However you definitely need to use soap on other parts of your body 😳

Of course, you don't need to clean inside your vagina, it's your vulva that'll probably smell without soap/shower gel/intomate wash.

@FlamingoAtTheBingo

So you're asking if it's normal to shower without using any soap or shower gel at all?

It's not normal. Under arms especially needs soaping to remove swear. Your err bottom needs more than some water running over it

Am I really explaining this to a grown up?

You made me laugh in my bed at this time, oh god mumsnet is entertaining

I'm similar to you OP.

I do use soap on my armpits and under my breasts, but nowhere else. I do wash elsewhere but only with water. I used to get horrendous cystitis so soap doesn't go anywhere near my nether regions.
DH would definitely inform me if I smelt as he's brutally honest!

It's actually not very healthy for your skin to use heavily fragrances soaps and lotions regularly. Your body adjusts to needing them, much like you hair adjusts to needing to be washed more frequently if you wash it more frequently. It's a vicious circle.

Those who just use water, do you receive oral sex? They're soap free shower gels made specially for vaginas. Ofcourse you shouldn't touch your innards as your body cleans itself from the inside. I can't imagine just using water only to shower in general (and I'm someone who doesn't sweat). I do scrub my feet too when showering.

I’m a gynaecologist. For all those posters asserting that a doctor/nurse has recommended they avoid washing “nether regions”, that’s absolute rubbish.

To clarify:

Femfresh not recommended by any doctors, apart from those employed by them. Contains perfumes and no less likely to irritate genital area than soap. Reinforces negative views of women’s genitals being “smelly”, imho

You should not use water, soap, shower gel or any other potion inside the vagina. It is self-cleaning. Will often trigger BV or thrush, due to washing away the natural acid- producing bacteria.

The vulva DOES need washing, every day, with soap, shower gel, or another proprietary wash. It has lots of crevices, is warm, and will have sweat/stale vaginal discharge/traces of urine and possibly semen within it. Failure to do this will mean it smells unpleasant, to varying degrees depending on person, lifestyle, temperature.

Ditto the bum/arse crack.

Washing the vulva cannot “give” you a urine or kidney infection. This is caused by bacteria ascending the urethra. Over washing, or using a strongly perfumed soap can sensitise the area and make it sore in some women - in which case an unperfumed version of standard soap, or a cream/oil based wash from a dermatologist or OTC can help.

No need to be phobic about your genital odour, or over-wash at all, BUT I can assure you that (as someone who carries out genital examinations on women multiple times a day), water alone is insufficient - you are then just wet and unclean.

And please wash feet each day too. Thanks.

HTH

@DuzzyFuck as a child I was allergic to all kinds of bubble baths. I used to bath daily in Dettol (with a bar of soap to wash with) up to secondary school age - after which I found by trial and error which bubble baths didn't bring me out in a rash, and started using them. No ill effects whatsoever from the years of Dettol bathing!

once a week hairwash is fine and much better for hair than daily. I use soap on my armpits to remove deodorant. Water is fine for nether regions.....what did people do before soap was invented? Probably had a dip in the river. Have never once washed or dried between my toes....always think that is weird. You stand in water and step onto bath mat and feet are dry by time you leave bathroom.

Please use some soap to wash yerself! You needn't 'scrub' just use your hand, etc but make sure it goes all over. The body does have its own ways of staying clean but we've evolved a long way now...hygiene has become quite big in the last two hundred years...

There is nothing competitive about washing your body.

I wash all my body using soap. But tbf I had this conversation with a friend of mine last year, social media was full of "do you wash your legs" posts for some reason and she told me she rarely used soap and only washed her hair, so pretty much like you and tbf she doesn't smell at all. I dont see how she feels clean though but she obviously does. You must be like her.

Heavens the comments made me laugh

Adults who don't know how to wash, seriously, you couldn't make it up. Hate to think what they've taught their children

Op I’m the same as you shower every morning & wash hair & sit in bubble bath of an evening. I definitely don’t smell. Like you will use soap/shower gel every so often. You’re fine. How dirty can you get in lockdown!

@quince2figs

I’m a gynaecologist. For all those posters asserting that a doctor/nurse has recommended they avoid washing “nether regions”, that’s absolute rubbish.

To clarify:

Femfresh not recommended by any doctors, apart from those employed by them. Contains perfumes and no less likely to irritate genital area than soap. Reinforces negative views of women’s genitals being “smelly”, imho

You should not use water, soap, shower gel or any other potion inside the vagina. It is self-cleaning. Will often trigger BV or thrush, due to washing away the natural acid- producing bacteria.

The vulva DOES need washing, every day, with soap, shower gel, or another proprietary wash. It has lots of crevices, is warm, and will have sweat/stale vaginal discharge/traces of urine and possibly semen within it. Failure to do this will mean it smells unpleasant, to varying degrees depending on person, lifestyle, temperature.

Ditto the bum/arse crack.

Washing the vulva cannot “give” you a urine or kidney infection. This is caused by bacteria ascending the urethra. Over washing, or using a strongly perfumed soap can sensitise the area and make it sore in some women - in which case an unperfumed version of standard soap, or a cream/oil based wash from a dermatologist or OTC can help.

No need to be phobic about your genital odour, or over-wash at all, BUT I can assure you that (as someone who carries out genital examinations on women multiple times a day), water alone is insufficient - you are then just wet and unclean.

And please wash feet each day too. Thanks.

HTH

Honestly, you’d think you’d not have to post this to what is hopefully a bunch of adult women. But it seems you did 😱

What’s concerning is are people actually telling their sons and daughters not to wash their arses or genitalia as well, that a rinse with some water will do it?

Oh dear OP,

Is this a joke?? You 100% need to be using soap/shower gell and a sponge all over your body to get clean.

Why on earth haven't you?

what did people do before soap was invented

Well it was invented in 2800 bc. Before that it was clay, pumice, sand etc. And I’d assume they stank.

i think it seems lots of people have confused vulva ith vagina so when told not to use soap they just dont go near the area at all

Everywhere scrubbed with a shower pouffe and shower gel, paying particular attention to pits, under boobs outside of vag and arse then the Inside of vag gets rinsed with the shower water to ensure it's clean. Occasionally instead of using shower gel down there I'll use Johnson's Baby shampoo because it doesn't irritate as much. Hair I tend to wash twice a week. It's mainly tied back for work anyway. And I'm sure as long as you rinse all the soap or shower gel out of a sponge, flannel or pouffe and hang them to dry they shouldn't harbour too many germs. There's no way I could feel clean from just using my hands. I like a good scrub and then a hard scratchy towel to get a good drying with

You’d think most people (assuming NT or not severely deprived) would know this, Bluntness!

@quince2figs weird that - as femfresh has been reccommended to me by intensive care staff, a consultant urologist (and both urology nurses), there's been a conversation with my GP and the gynaecologist too.

None of them work for Femfresh. And having just checked the bottle I have it clearly says non perfumed on it. The one I suggested up thread.

So why don't you, Dr Gynaecologist, check things out before you post, and don't post things that are untrue as medical advice, under the capacity of your gynaecologist profession.

Why would intensive care staff or urology team be recommending a vulval wash?

For those of you who think it is sufficient to sprinkle a bit of water over your vulva/minge and arse crack, let me assure you that it is not. A hot day, microfibre pants and a polyester dress and the hot cumin smell of unwashed fanny will be wafting around the train or office. I’ve had to speak to someone in my office about their personal hygiene. They showered every day, but didn’t use soap and it came as a real shock to them that they stank. Washing liquids, rather than big box powder also aren’t great at removing the smell of sweat.

@HopingForOurRainbowBaby

Everywhere scrubbed with a shower pouffe and shower gel, paying particular attention to pits, under boobs outside of vag and arse then the Inside of vag gets rinsed with the shower water to ensure it's clean. Occasionally instead of using shower gel down there I'll use Johnson's Baby shampoo because it doesn't irritate as much. Hair I tend to wash twice a week. It's mainly tied back for work anyway. And I'm sure as long as you rinse all the soap or shower gel out of a sponge, flannel or pouffe and hang them to dry they shouldn't harbour too many germs. There's no way I could feel clean from just using my hands. I like a good scrub and then a hard scratchy towel to get a good drying with

how do you rinse INSIDE your vagina?! A hose?! And WHY

I use soap. Everywhere. Under arms, between toes, face, back, tummy, bum, knees, elbows, behind my ears. I used to use shower gel and it didn't make me properly clean. Soap is marvellous.

@quince2figs if you look at my post - I was talking about "nether regions" including my arse crack - and I was in intensive care with a kidney infection (and subsequent sepsisy thing), I am now under the care of the urology team because of the damage it did to my kidney.

Unbalanced ph leads to infections, which can travel up to the kidneys, but if your a gynae consultant you will know this.