Underwear: eight mistakes that can harm your health
Thongs or culottes? Silk or lycra? Not all intimate garments are suitable for everyone. How to choose the ideal ones to avoid diseases
The habits when choosing underwear generally respond to something very simple: preference. The same woman changes her underwear on special occasions or even chooses clothes according to moods or hormonal moment of the month. But you have to be alert if that choice is the right one for you. It should not irritate the skin or cause infections, for example.
"Both the bathing suit and the lingerie are key elements in the relationship with the body and therefore it is extremely important to choose the correct ones despite the fact that, many times, it is quite difficult," the sexuality specialist Mariela Tesler told Infobae.
Here are the most common mistakes that threaten your health.
Mistake 1: Too tight
It can promote skin rubbing and vaginal irritation, especially in postmenopausal women. "For women who are going through menopause, their vaginal walls tend to be thinner," said Dr. Raquel B. Dardik, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. "If your skin doesn't get irritated, then go ahead, tight underwear won't hurt. But if it does, it's not recommended."
Mistake 2: Shapewear
If tight underwear becomes a shapewear garment, such as those for the hips and abdomen, there is a risk of health complications that go beyond appearance. "If it's too tight, it could lead to pinching of the nerve and decreased circulation," said Dr. Donnica Moore, a women's health expert, who considered that even tight girdles can cause numbness or tingling in the extremities. In addition, they are very difficult to remove. "It is complicated when it comes to going to the bathroom and then women retain more than they should."
Mistake 3: Synthetics and silk
"Most of the available underwear is quite breathable," Tesler said. That is why they must have a layer of cotton in the vaginal area. But if you are looking for the optimal conditions of underwear, it is recommended to stay away from synthetic materials and only use silk on special occasions. "Silk and synthetic fabrics are not breathable, which increases the risk of moisture that can be the setting for a bacterial infection," said Dr. Moore.
Mistake 4: Thongs
If you are prone to fungal or bacterial infections, these types of clothing will only make things worse. "Thongs can be a unique transport vehicle for bacteria from back to front," Moore said, referring to the spread of Escherichia coli from the anus to the vaginal area.
Dr Dardik added: "It can be more irritating, because it has more contact with the vaginal and vulvar area, but that doesn't mean that women can't use them, they just have to find the right type," she said. That is, it should not cause discomfort. "For a woman to become a grandmother, it does not mean that she has to wear 'granny' underwear."
Mistake 5: underwear at night
Most experts consider that the best way to sleep is to sleep completely naked. "Although it's a matter of personal preference, from a breathing perspective it's very good," Moore added. For women going through menopause, it's even better. The sexuality specialist Mariela Tesler told Infobae that it is an ideal option: "Excellent getting used to sleeping without underwear, mainly so that the skin breathes by not having a tight garment on the body. This also helps to enhance sexual desire and skin contact with the other ".
Mistake 6: Not wearing underwear during the day
If breathable underwear is good, is it even better if you don't wear any? The answer is no. "Without underwear it causes a whole host of other problems, mostly because clothes don't tend to have a lining," Dardik explained. "On the one hand, in the pants, the seam is right in the vulvar area and there is constant friction, which can irritate sensitive tissues." Second, she said, the natural moisture produced by the vagina has nowhere to go. "For example, if you wear a dress or skirt, there is nothing that will absorb vaginal moisture."
Mistake 7: sweaty underwear
Women who tend to sweat should change their underwear regularly - at least twice a day, instead of once. "A warm and humid environment is the perfect place for microbes," said Dr. Moore, who advised people prone to sweat more to avoid cotton and opt for a material that absorbs more. During physical exercise, you can opt for a daily protector. So at least it can be changed immediately.
Mistake 8: Non-hypoallergenic soap
Have you experienced itching? "Another common irritation is a form of contact dermatitis," Moore said. "The number one cause is laundry soap. Many brands have a very high concentration of perfumes. The vagina doesn't have to smell like a garden." That is why the expert recommended hypoallergenic cleaning products as much as possible. In addition, washing even the intimate parts with mild soap "so as not to alter the vaginal pH," Tesler said.
