Down-there clean tips

hree ways to keep your privates fresh and healthy.

Always cleanse your vaginal area gently
Each time you shower or bathe, use a mild body soap, lathering your outer labia lightly. And be sure to rinse your genitals immediately after you soap them up using warm water, because not rinsing all the soap off may cause inflammation.

Never wash inside your vagina
There's no need: your daily discharge acts as a cleanser, clearing germs and other substances-such as semen-as it makes its way down your vaginal canal. Using soap on the delicate skin of your inner lips and in your vagina can lead to inflammation and itching. Also, don't douche: you risk washing out naturally occurring bacteria that keep microbes in check, reducing your odds of infection.

Stay away from bath products with additives
The chemicals used in scented soap, bath oil, and post-shower powder have been known to trigger an itchy rash. Other products you should avoid: antibacterial soaps. These tend to dry out and irritate genital skin. Plus, regular soap is just as effective at killing germs as the antibacterial kind is.