How to teach girls about personal hygiene

Did you know that vulvovaginitis, or inflammation of the female genital area, is the most common gynaecological problem in prepubescent girls? This is because, in many cases, girls have not yet developed proper hygiene habits, and the female genital area requires specific care as it is a poorly ventilated area and prone to infections.

As parents, whilst our daughters are still in nappies, we place great importance on caring for their intimate area, mainly out of caution, fear and a lack of knowledge. We use hypoallergenic, fragrance-free wet wipes to clean the area; water and special soaps to preserve the natural bacterial balance and prevent the area from drying out; we never rub the genitals, but pat them dry gently… …and countless other little details! However, once nappies are a thing of the past and little girls start learning to use the toilet on their own, we tend to let our guard down without really realising whether these habits have been properly established.

Intimate hygiene habits for girls

The first tip is basic – you’ve probably heard it a thousand times – but your daughter might not be doing it properly. Pay attention! Cleaning should always be done from front to back to prevent any traces of faeces from reaching the vulva and potentially causing infections.

The second tip? Here it is! When drying the vulva after having a wee, it’s important to use toilet paper (not wet wipes) to ensure the area doesn’t remain damp, thereby preventing fungal infections. On a related note, it’s also important to stand with your knees apart when you go for a wee, so that the urine flows straight into the toilet, preventing the genitals from getting wet and remaining damp afterwards.

Another useful tip for showering is the importance of using intimate hygiene products that are pH-neutral, soap-free and dermatologically tested to reduce skin hypersensitivity and contact dermatitis. We recommend using Pediatrics Intimate Hygiene, a skin-protecting intimate hygiene product with an anti--itch effect, enriched with extracts of mallow, peony, calendula and lime blossom, which provide soothing, softening, refreshing and emollient properties that help relieve the typical complaint of ‘Mummy, it’s itching!’.

Underwear is also crucial for good intimate hygiene. Girls should wear 100% cotton knickers and change them daily. Furthermore, just as we pay attention to the product we use to wash the genital area, it is important to pay attention to the soap used to wash their underwear. We recommend using a gentle or silk fabric conditioner to avoid disrupting the genital microflora.

About Paediatric Intimate Hygiene

If you are interested in our Pediatrics Intimate Hygiene product to treat any inflammation, itching, redness or burning in the external genital area of your young daughter or teenager, you should know that it can be used 1–2 times a day as part of daily intimate hygiene or as needed during periods of increased discomfort.

​​