A gentle intimate wash from Cattier's Gynea range formulated for dryness, 200 ml — soap-free, pH-adapted, and richer than the standard version.
An honest and important distinction: this is a cleanser, not a treatment. Vaginal and vulvar dryness has causes, and a wash addresses none of them. The commonest by far is falling oestrogen — in menopause and perimenopause, but also while breastfeeding, after certain cancer treatments, and with some contraceptives. Reduced oestrogen thins the tissue and reduces natural lubrication, and it is a physiological change, not a hygiene problem. What treats it is a vaginal moisturiser used regularly, a lubricant for sex, and — where appropriate — local vaginal oestrogen, which is highly effective and prescribed for exactly this. All of that is a conversation with a doctor, and it is worth having: this is one of the most common and most under-treated complaints in women's health, largely because people assume it is simply to be endured.
What a wash formulated for dryness genuinely does. It avoids making things worse, which is not nothing. Ordinary soap is alkaline at pH 9 to 10 and strips lipids; on already-thin, already-dry tissue that turns discomfort into soreness quickly. A soap-free, pH-adapted, richer cleanser cleans without stripping. Think of it as the correct tool rather than the solution.
External only. The vagina is self-cleaning and maintains its own acidic environment; nothing should be washed inside, and douching is associated with bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. Wash the vulva, once a day at most — over-washing is itself a cause of irritation, and doubly so on dry skin.
Avoid entirely: fragranced washes, intimate deodorants, scented wipes, and antiseptics unless prescribed. And note that many everyday lubricants are high in glycerine or have a pH poorly matched to vaginal tissue, which can worsen irritation — worth checking if dryness is a persistent problem.
See a doctor if dryness is persistent, if sex is painful, or if there is bleeding, itching or a change in discharge. These are treatable, and they should not be lived with.
Available at Só Verde, an organic concept store in Foz, Porto.