Most women will experience yeast infections at one time or another in their life, and any woman who’s had one knows how difficult it is to get rid. Here are a few simple tips to help you avoid such an infection before it ever starts.
Use a non-deodorant soap to clean this delicate area and rinse thoroughly. Deodorant soaps smell great and may be okay for the rest of the body, but they irritate the vaginal area. Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast overgrowth is allowed to grow out of control when the good bacteria of the vagina are decreased by the perfume in the soaps.
Avoid antibiotics when possible. Antibiotics, when taken for the full ten day course, cause vaginal yeast infections. One infection is cured, but another that is just as painful crops up. What to do? Eat yogurt. The live bacterial cultures counteract the effects of the antibiotics. As soon as your doctor prescribes an antibiotic for you, load up on the Dannon! Actually any yogurt will do. One container a day should be enough.
Shed the wet clothing. Fungus and other kinds of bacteria love moist, wet places on the body. They are ideal spots for growth. After a day in the pool or a hard workout at the gym, change out of those damp clothes as soon as possible. You may not feel wet in the vaginal area after a workout, but if you are sweating heavily everywhere else, you are damp there, too.
Tighter is not better. Tight fitting underwear and pants increase the heat in the vaginal area. There is no way for air to circulate and keep the genitals cool and dry. Loosen up, literally. Choosing cotton underwear over nylon will absorb the wetness and keep it away from the body. Pants don’t have to be baggy, but they should have room to breathe.
Put away that vinegar and water. Many women feel the need to cleanse their vaginal area after their menstrual period. There are several kinds of douches and sprays on the market for that purpose. My gynecologist told me that there was no need to use anything but plain soap and water to clean the vaginal area. Using a cleansing product internally upsets the acidic environment of the vagina, wiping out the natural bacteria.
Vaginal yeast infections are not life threatening, but they can interrupt your daily life. Following a few simple tips will keep this pesky problem at bay.
Most women will experience yeast infections at one time or another in their life, and any woman who’s had one knows how difficult it is to get rid. Here are a few simple tips to help you avoid such an infection before it ever starts.
