Keeping clean "down there"
From underwear to panty liners and washing💧
Quick summary 📝
1️⃣ Wash daily: use unscented soap and warm water, avoid harsh products
2️⃣ Change underwear daily: this prevents yeast infections and irritation
3️⃣ Panty liners: use for sweat, discharge, and a light period flow, but don't overuse to avoid irritation
4️⃣ Nightwear: consider going underwear-free for better breathability or wear breathable cotton underwear
5️⃣ Replacing underwear: generally do this yearly, but this varies based on wear frequency and condition
6️⃣ Material matters: choose cotton underwear to allow skin to breathe and avoid moisture build-up
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From underwear use to panty liners and washing practices, there’s so much misinformation out there on what it takes to have 'happy' hygienic genitals! That’s why luna’s here to break down the big questions, and help you take care of ‘down there’ in the best way possible ✨
How often should you wash your genital area?
It’s recommended you wash your genital area once daily 🚿 Make sure to not use scented soaps or any ‘feminine hygiene’ products 🙅 as they’re often too harsh and disrupt the good bacteria that you naturally have there, and can lead to irritation and infection. For the vulva (the external parts) you can use a plain unscented soap and warm water to prevent any irritation when washing 💙
How often should you change your underwear?
It’s recommended you change your underwear everyday 📆 But, if you find that you live a very active life and maybe sweat a lot more, you might even want to change it twice a day - whatever makes you feel most comfortable 😌 Changing your underwear daily helps prevent yeast infections and skin irritation.
Do you have to wear panty liners?
Panty liners can be useful to help absorb sweat and discharge, or at the beginning and end of your period when your flow is lighter, keeping you feeling comfortable and dry 🤍 But it’s important to not wear them more than you need as they may cause skin irritation if they're overused.
Should you wear underwear at night?
It’s sometimes recommended to go underwear-free at night and wear loose-fitting pyjamas instead. This lets your genital area breathe and stay dry - particularly if you’ve had lots of yeast infections in the past. Know that this is all personal preference, so you can still wear underwear to bed if you’d be more comfortable 💤 If you do choose to wear underwear overnight, cotton underwear is the best choice as this is a lot more breathable for your vagina.
How often should you replace underwear?
Generally, it’s recommended to replace underwear every year. But, it’s difficult to specify a time frame as we all have a different number of pairs of underwear 🤷 If you only have a few pairs that you wash and wear often, you may need to replace them sooner than someone who has dozens of pairs of underwear. And of course, if they’re torn you should replace them ✔️
What materials should you choose?
Cotton is the most recommended material for underwear as it allows the skin to breathe, rather than trapping in moisture 💚 Other materials tend to trap heat and moisture, making you more at risk of yeast infections and irritation.
Hope this cleared some things up for you, and helps you on your way to having a routine that works for you (and your genitals!) ✨
How we answered this question:
luna's team of experts comprises GPs, Dermatologists, Safeguarding Leads and Junior Doctors as well as Medical Students with specialised interests in paediatric care, mental health and gynaecology. Questions are answered and reviewed by this team.
Sources:
Devon Sexual Health 'Genital hygiene'
https://www.devonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/your-sexual-health/genital-hygiene-our-tips/
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