Summer brings sunshine, sand, water, sunscreen, and sometimes even scandal. Who doesn’t dream of romantic walks on the beach, lingering looks with a mystery stranger while soaking the hot tub, or fighting the waves with your partner/ random bronzed hottie? No matter what the daydream, the chances are that if it occurs during the summer, your heroine has another enemy to slay — the Yeast Beast and how to prevent yeast infections.
No matter how hot, wet, or scandalous you plan on getting this summer, get prepared for battle. Almost three in four women experience a yeast infection once in their lives, almost half get at least two infections, and many experience symptoms during the summer, when the risk increases due to increased heat and humidity. Keep reading for a step-by-step defense strategy that will leave you healthy, dry, and as free as you can be.
Steps to Prevent Yeast Infections in the Summer
Step 1. Keep your clothes dry.
Soggy bathing suit bottoms or sweaty gym clothes are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi; increased levels in moisture can lead to the overgrowth of yeast causing itching, burning, clumpy and fishy smelling discharge, and painful intercourse, the primary symptoms of a yeast infection in women.
Step 2. Shower & soap, but never douche.
Get up in there during your shower with water, but be very careful to never put any scented soaps near your vagina as this can immediately disrupt the delicate pH balance within the vagina and lead to the overgrowth of natural fungi. Douching itself also alters the vagina’s natural environment, leaving it prone to infection, but the rush of fluid upwards can also spread infections to the cervix and uterus.
Step 3. Get rid of all the remaining moisture.
From intense toweling to using hair dryers, we suggest you use whatever creative means necessary to feel dry down there. You can choose to sit in front of your A/C unit and air-dry, rub baby powder in the crease where your thighs meet your vagina, or use a hand-held fan, but make sure when you get dressed, there’s no excess dampness.
Step 4. Trade in silk for cotton.
Shove your silk thongs to the back, and instead, grab a pair of cotton undies for the day. Cotton fibers allow your nether regions to breathe properly by allowing more air flow than the tightly knit fibers of polyester fabrics. If you’re tied to the sex appeal, opt for panties with a cotton crotch for a cute compromise!
Step 5. Up your probiotic and yogurt intake.
In addition to helping with digestion and excretion, yogurt contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, a friendly type of bacteria that assists in maintaining a healthy pH balance and encourages the growth of other friendly bacteria. Try RepHresh Pro-B, a once-daily supplement, or for a fun summer treat grab a package of Yakult probiotic drinks from the grocery store and pop them in the freezer; you’ll have to peel the plastic but you can devour them like mini ice-pops.
Ways to Prevent Yeast Infections Year Round
Using 100% cotton tampons and pads is a pointer we left off the above list because this yeast infection preventing method applies year round and not just during the summer. But don’t just take our word for it, check out this list of tips for avoiding vaginal infections by the doctors at the Drexel Vaginitis Center, a nationally recognized center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of women with chronic vaginal infections.
If you think you may have a yeast infection and it is your first, we recommend visiting your OBGYN since many times, yeast infections can mimic the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. If you’ve had a yeast infection before or feel comfortable with a DIY option, pick up the Fem-V panty liner test, an at-home screening kit for PH levels. Yeast infections are easily treated with over the counter medication like Monistat, although some women have reported using tampons soaked in Tea Tree Oil for internal relief and other natural remedies like organic, cold-pressed coconut oil and garlic paste for their vulva for external relief. However you choose to treat your symptoms, we suggest you consult a doctor if your symptoms don’t go away within 72 hours of initial presentation.