Soaping your bits (TMI)

[Pachonga]

So I’ve had a stubborn bout of thrush recently (brought on by a sugary lube ) and found it tricky to shift (can’t use pessaries or soothing creams) so I read every yeast-related thread on Mumsnet and a recurring suggestion was not to use soap on your a vulva at all. Now I’ve never used soap inside my vagina but have always given the flaps and everything external a good soap up daily. However, as I was so sore and so sensitive, I decided to give it a go and after a few days, the area actually feels loads better. But I do have a few questions:

Is warm water really enough on it’s own? Am I getting rid of any sweat/normal discharge just by rinsing?

I still wash my outer pube area and the inner tops of my thighs, bum crack (sorry) and external part of the bum hole (even sorrier) with soap. Is this ok?

Can confirm there is absolutely no smell coming from that area and it does feel a lot less sore so I’m going to continue. I just want to hear from people that know that I’m not storing up problems for the future.

Thanks in advance

@SandysMam - I do like everything squeaky clean. Try it!

My nickname from friends is Ms Demestos, but that would be a little harsh in the areas for others to worship.

I was told by a gynaecologist that just water is too drying and was told to use dermol 500 lotion.

@LocoCoconanas

I was told by a gynaecologist that just water is too drying and was told to use dermol 500 lotion.

Water isn't drying!! Soap is drying. How did women manage to have clean and moisturised vulvas before dermol 500 lotion was invented?? Did this dermatologist sell you the lotion by any chance?

I do remember a gynaecologist saying ‘ never add anything to the bath except yourself’ sounds sensible.

It was a gynaecologist and no she did not. I was seeing her because I had been misdiagnosed with lichen sclerosis and I was in a lot of pain, with peeling skin, itching and general soreness. I couldn’t even wear knickers I was so sore.

She advised to wash with Dermol 500 and use diprobase ointment afterwards if I was feeling any irritation. It worked, it’s now been years and I only use dermol to wash with (and so do my daughters).

@LocoCoconanas

It was a gynaecologist and no she did not. I was seeing her because I had been misdiagnosed with lichen sclerosis and I was in a lot of pain, with peeling skin, itching and general soreness. I couldn’t even wear knickers I was so sore.

She advised to wash with Dermol 500 and use diprobase ointment afterwards if I was feeling any irritation. It worked, it’s now been years and I only use dermol to wash with (and so do my daughters).

Sorry, calling her a dermatologist was a Freudian slip. Bit of a drip feed though that you had a nasty skin condition which is why you needed special care! The condition wasn't caused by washing just with water though it may be soothed by using emmolients.

Soap on hairy bits and only water on the vulva. Re discharge in the flaps. The washing motion should clear this not soap. Use a sponge or flannel or something if your hand isn’t working.

I must be a total freak of nature - I not only use one puff all over, but it's also doused in mint/tea tree original source. Never have any issues, I must have an iron fanny.

Watch this space, I'll be crippled with thrush now 😬

I not only use one puff all over, but it's also doused in mint/tea tree original source.

Even on my head that's too tingly! No way would I use it down below, it'd be like the spilt perfume incident! (Spilt perfume stings. A lot. And it's expensive.)

@TuftyMarmoset

Soap on hairy bits and only water on the vulva. Re discharge in the flaps. The washing motion should clear this not soap. Use a sponge or flannel or something if your hand isn’t working.

There's a difference between discharge that can be washed away as quite water soluble and the waxy white stuff.

I don't get any waxy white stuff so perhaps that affected my perspective
Also my flaps are quite neat and tidy and not very flappy so that might make them easier to clean
Oh the things we share on mumsnet

I soap my hair at the front and my crack/bum hole. But I use the fragrance free Simple shower gel for this. I only use warm water on my undercarriage. I have one exception to this rule, when I'm on my period I sometimes use pads and will then use the Simple shower gel on my flaps. My vulva will tolerate this as an occasional thing though.

I’ve never had anything that didn’t come off with a bit of scrubbing. If the advice is that you shouldn’t use soap there, and you have stuff which requires soap to remove, maybe see a doctor to check it is normal.

@CloseYourEyesAndSee I didn’t have a nasty skin condition, and it wasn’t a drip feed. She said exactly that. Water alone is drying and an emollient should be used. If you read up thread, you’ll see many other women recommended an emollient (aqueous cream). I am merely sharing what worked for me just like everybody else on here. Don’t be offended

P.s I don’t know what caused the dryness and soreness. I went to the doctors thinking I had thrush but a swab came back negative. It could very well have been washing with only water. Whatever caused it, it was solved by using an emollient so the actual problem was dry skin.

direct from NHS website -
Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the the vulva gently every day.

I was told by the GP to never use soap and to try aqueous cream, or Epaderm if aqueous cream stung.

I couldn't get on with aqueous cream so I switched to Epaderm and I've been using that for years on the whole area, with a bit of soap on the pubic hair only.

I've always used Simple soap to wash my vulva and I've never had thrush in my life. Can't imagine just using water. I wouldn't feel clean.

@GoodnightGrandma

I can’t imagine not washing down there when I’m on my period.

But if you regularly got thrush, then you'd probably manage!

If you've not experienced recurrent and enduring thrush I'm not sure it's something you can understand.its a burning, painful itch unlike anything else.

OP water only here for nearly 15years and no thrush since stopping.

And no fem fresh or similar vaginal washes - if you get recurrent thrush this will cause it too.

@whereisthekey

direct from NHS website - Use plain, unperfumed soaps to wash the the vulva gently every day.

Yes, but if you get thrush regularly then you can't use any soap.

If you don't suffer from thrush soap won't cause thrush, but it will increase frequency and severity in people who are predisposed to thrush.

I used to get some itching/soreness with shower gels, so now I use Femfresh zero I think it's called. No issues now at all.

I wash everywhere down there except internally

A slight tangent but neat apple cider vinegar is amazing for thrush. If anyone wants a 'special' but non soapy rinse for the bits, ACV diluted would be good. It makes the pubes shiny too.

I always soap my flaps. There's always, um, exudate... there. That needs scraping off.

After reading this thread, I’ve instructed my man servant to take extra care when washing me. 😂