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hydrating the desert vagina
not to be mistaken with lube, vaginal moisturizers bring the long-term wet to your dry
jan 31 2020
2 minute read
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while we are all familiar with body and facial moisturizers to give our thirsty skin a hydration boost, there’s one kind of moisturizer you may not have heard of: the vagina moisturizer.
yes, it’s a thing. and yes, you can find it in your local drugstore right next to the tampons. and no, it’s not lube.
whereas lubricants are for for short term use during sex or masturbation to make things a little wetter, vagina moisturizers are intended for women who are reaching or experiencing menopause when estrogen levels start to drop and periods become infrequent, eventually disappearing altogether. as the vagina produces less moisture and the tissue gets thinner, the result is a drier vagina that can feel tight and itchy. being postpartum, breastfeeding and yeast infections can also contribute to a dry vagina.
jennah miller, a toronto-based naturopath who focuses on women’s health told refinery29 that vaginal moisturizers are formulated for the vaginal tissue to maintain more moisture and enhance the health of the vaginal mucosa – the lining of the vaginal canal. they come in gel and cream forms that are made to stick to the inside of the vagina to help keep it comfortable.
while these moisturizers are pretty safe, there could be many reasons why the desert has suddenly come to your nether regions, so it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before using one.
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dr. jen gunter, a gynecologist based in toronto and the author of the vagina bible also told refinery29 that it’s good to check, as you want to make sure there’s nothing atypical going on ‘down there’.
gunter says that younger women who have vaginal dryness should be screened for things such as thyroid issues, premature ovarian failure and even autoimmune diseases.
if you get the all-clear healthwise, and you have the go ahead to bring some hydrating joy to your vagina, gunter suggests using an unscented gentle facial cleanser on your vagina to cleanse as opposed to washing the vulva with soap, which can be drying. she also advises against wipes, as they are a common source of irritation.
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