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Do Bath Bombs Cause Yeast Infections in Women and Girls?
At events, by email and telephone we’re inevitably asked if bath bombs cause yeast infections. There are many factors that can cause yeast infections and there is also a lot of misinformation going around. So this article was written to help everyone chill, make intelligent choices and enjoy.
Talking about yeast infections is not high on the list of subjects that anyone likes to talk about. But they are a part of life for 75% of the women in the world, so the facts of the subject need to be shared.
Knowledge is power
Let me help by giving you some scientific and biological facts so you can easily understand this issue and more importantly, so that you can make your own intelligent, informed personal decision regarding the issue.
See Cures and Prevention Below
Questions, Controversy & Rumor
There is question and even great controversy regarding Bath Bombs and their potential for causing yeast infections in women. There are rumor mills, websites and YouTube videos scaring women professing that bath bombs are a significant cause of yeast infections in women, especially young women. This is a dis-service to women and it comes from rumor, lack of research, study, knowledge and understanding of the subject. In olden days we’d call information without specific educational criteria “wives tales”.
Controversy
The controversy isn’t really just a general question of:
Do bath bombs cause yeast infections in women?
The full answer can be more complicated than a general all encompassing “Yes” or “No”.
Rumor
In many articles and videos there has become a specific attack, pointing the finger at some specific ingredients in bath bombs. Someone has unscientifically and erroneously assigned a large amount of blame to ONE ingredient in bath bombs, namely Cornstarch. Uninformed bloggers and vlogers are jumping on the bandwagon without an instrument, professing that bath bombs and/or cornstarch in bath bombs is a vaginal nuclear bomb.
Ladies, this is a dis-service to you, and with sufficient knowledge on the subject, you won’t have to be afraid.
Don’t let all those bloggers writing false articles and making videos claiming a bath bomb gave them a yeast infection, taking up the cross to broadcast the rumor without doing any research of their own, without any knowledge of what they are really purporting. Many of these people are just doing an uninformed “Ditto”…
So the real question for most of these flag waving, dooms day criers comes down to this;
Is there a scientific correlation between bath bombs and yeast infections in women?
We’re going to examine all sides of that question and more.
In General
The General answer (without making you read the information below) is this: Bath bombs are perfectly safe for adult women, when used in moderation with or without perfumes, cornstarch, bubbles or other ingredients.
However, as you read the information below, you will learn that all of the ingredients in a bath…, even including the bath water and anything in it can change that answer to one degree or another for some women, not all.
That said; there are many biological and scientific factors that can alter my “perfectly safe” statement so I encourage you to read on to learn all of the factors of the answer…and then make your own personal conclusions.
The Full Explanation
I‘m going to cover a lot of ground in the following discussion. I would advise you to talk with your OB-GYN (obstetrician-gynecologist) or family doctor about anything you read here and don’t understand or may have heartburn with. Please don’t call or email me your mothers cure, your girlfriends thoughts or your aunties wives tales. If you read the entire post, you’ll see the science and biology. If you have a vagay, this article is for you. It was written so you can make your own decisions armed with knowledge over rumor.
Before we get started…
Before we get into bath bombs, their chemistry and possible effects on the vagina, lets go over what a yeast infection is.
What causes a Yeast Infection?
The vagina normally maintains a healthy pH and contains a balance of good bacteria and yeast which are fed by the hormone estrogen. The main good bacteria is lactobacilli. A yeast infection is the result of an upset in the pH balance which disrupts the balance of good bacteria and yeast, which then lets a bad fungus called Candida to take over and colonize the vagina in what is known as a “yeast overgrowth”. Candida is a fungus from the genus of the yeasts family and is the most common cause of fungal yeast infections worldwide.
Where does candida come from?
Candida is a common fungus (yeast) that lives in our digestive tract. Small amounts of this microbe also live in warm, moist places within the body including mouth, rectum, moist skin folds and of course, the vagina.
Symptoms of a yeast infection
The main symptoms are itchiness and discomfort in the southern pass but there are other signs as well. You may also notice a thick white odorless vaginal discharge similar to cottage cheese. You could also develop a urinary tract infection at the same time which will give a burning sensation when you pee. Some women say that a yeast infection makes sex painful. You may also experience redness and/or burning of the vagina and/or vulva (the outer female genitalia). All in all, the weather in the southern pass is turbulent and uncomfortable.
How long does it take for a yeast infection to manifest?
It can take 24-36 hours (1-3 days) from the start of a fungal take over for you to notice the signs and symptoms of a yeast infection.
Okay…on to bath bombs
First lets talk about what chemicals are in bath bombs, why they are used and what they do to the bath water and you in the bath water.
The three main ingredients in a bath bomb
that make it work are Sodium Bicarbonate and Citric Acid bound together with with a binding agent, typically; cornstarch.
Cornstarch is a chemical binder widely used in many bath bomb recipes. It is an essential ingredient for a very hard, slower burning bath bomb. Consider it, the cement of the mix if you will.
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (common name baking soda) [abbreviation: BS] and Citric Acid [CA] are the two main active ingredients in a bath bomb and quite frankly they do NOT play well together, in fact it is their hatred of each other that makes bath bombs so fizzy, wonderful and fun.
They are on the opposite of the the pH scale from each other and want to neutralize each other in a fierce battle when combined in the presents of water. Baking Soda is a “base” or alkaline and Citric Acid is of course a mild “Acid”. It is this knockout fight to the death from these two that causes the beautiful fizzing spectacle in the bath tub.
This chemical reaction is also the same chemical reaction used by children with their volcano projects in primary grade schools. In this case vinegar is substituted for citric acid.
The baking soda in a bath bomb also neutralizes most if not all of citric acid from the bath water and can even leave the bath water a little on the alkaline side of the scale.
Add in some coloring, a pleasant scent, maybe some Epsom salt as a detoxifier, perhaps some skin softening essential oils and maybe even some foaming and bubbling agents and voila, you’ve transformed your blah bath tub into a relaxing, meditating arena.
Why is Cornstarch used in bath bombs?
Baking Soda and Citric Acid hate each other so much that they do not like to even hold hands, or in other words, they do NOT like to stay bound together just by their own friendliness.
To hold them together in the form that bath bombs take you have to introduce some moisture (liquid; water and/or oil) to get them to slightly emulsify (mix in) and bind together.
In their anhydrous (dry) state, they will mix together as powder without any reaction. They basically don’t know that the other exists but they also remain just two powders. Some bath mixes are just this, powders that you throw into the bath water.
NOW… if you add a little too much water trying to get them to bind together you’ll risk waking them up where they sense each others presence and THAT my friend is risking setting the entire mix off with a premature fizzing reaction before the bath bomb is ever molded into its final shape.
The goal for bath bomb makers is to combine the two active ingredients (BS and CA) without them knowing that they’ve been combined and that presents a problem because two dry powders just don’t join up and go rock hard and live together in peace and harmony waiting for water, without major HELP.
Therefore bath bomb makers typically must add one or more binding ingredients like: clay, cornstarch or even cream of tartar which will absorb moisture in the bath bomb mix and then bind and hold the two adversaries together without giving them enough moisture to allow them to react or in bath bomb makers terms: set them off.
Other beneficial attributes of cornstarch
These binding ingredients give the bath bomb its form and solid attributes but the binder cornstarch not only makes the bath bomb rock hard but it actually has a FIVE attributes that make it very desirable.
- Cornstarch as I previously mentioned is a super binder, gluing the mix together into a rock hard form.
- It is also a conditioner. It conditions and softens the bath water. This lets the essential oils in the bath bomb penetrate and soften your skin better which also allows your skin to hydrate better, absorbing more moisture.
- It also helps bath bombs float on the top of the water after they’re very dry and hard.
- It also makes bombs fizz slower and longer by buffering the fizz reaction between the two main ingredients.
- It is the least expensive of all of the binding ingredients possible, and to keep the price down on bath bombs as much as possible, makers use cornstarch.
With a high pressure bath bomb press, a bath bomb maker can create bath bombs with less of a binder but the finished product will still be softer and fizz out quicker, they will never get as rock hard and they may not float. Some makers however, purposely make them this way as their desired effect.
Regarding Cornstarch and yeast infections
So the first question we have to research would be:
Can the cornstarch in the bath bomb be the major cause of yeast infections or could it be something else?
With a little research and common sense we quickly find that the causal problem with yeast infections is not limited to bath bombs alone (as I’m sure a large population of woman reading this article is well aware, you can get them without the aid of a bath bomb).
To answer that, lets address the issue of yeast infections and cornstarch using science and biology.
The vagina has a natural acidic pH of 3.8 to 4.5. It’s natural acidity maintains an environment where undesirable bacteria and fungi such as candida just can’t survive.
To help you understand where that is, a pH of 7.0 is the neutral center of the pH scale. Plain clear water from the tap as an example can have an average range from pH 6.9 to as high as 8.0 (depending where you are).
Water with this pH variation is no problem when we’re drinking it and actually we can handle it very well in our digestive tract.
But even rinsing (douching) the vagina with plain tap water can alter its natural pH higher than its normal and even up to that of the tap water. This douching action with tap water alone can break down the protection zone and allow undesirable bacteria and fungi, that may be present, to join in, and that can become the start of a yeast infection.
There are many factors here too, like those women who’s vaginal pH recovers faster after a disturbance than other women. There are many other factors relating to douching that are not necessary for this discussion (if you’re concerned about this, talk with your OB-GYN).
Suffice it to say, douching is not typically recommended by OB-GYN’s as it can too easily interrupt the fragile vaginal pH environment.
If you do douche, doctors recommend that a commercial douche liquid that is pH specific for the vagina is better than plain water or some other kitchen concoction.
All in all the scientific and medical conclusion is: plain “tap water”, without any help from bath bombs, bubble bath products or the additives in them, can cause a yeast infection.
Epsom Salt
If Epsom salt is present in a bath bomb you’ll get two more benefits from its presence. It too is a water softener but its second benefit is even better, it naturally helps remove toxins from your skin. Toxins that may be coming to the surface from within, or toxins from a polluted atmosphere that have attached to your skin and are on their way in. This detoxification is good for your health and it can also brighten your skin complexion.
Bath water pH changes when using bath bombs
In bath bombs the ratio of baking soda to citric acid is usually 2:1 (2 parts BS to 1 part CA). This can also be as high as 1:1 for embeds (those little colored parts of the bath bomb that fizz faster propelling it around in the tub). Typically a bath bomb has much more baking soda than citric acid, so the baking soda typically neutralizes all of the citric acid. That can leave the bath water with an even slightly higher alkaline pH from the baking soda, and while higher alkaline water is better for the digestive tract, the bath water is getting farther away from the low acidic pH of the vagina.
75% of women will experience a yeast infection in their lifetime
Yes, about 75% of woman are susceptible to yeast infections and the causes can be far and wide, we’ll talk about a number of these in a moment.
Taking a bath without a bath bomb can always have the potential to present a risk of a vaginal itch, irritation, rash, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection or even bladder infection so lets examine what the REAL underlying causes could be.
Yeast infections are not common to all women. According to WebMD 75% of women (three out of four) will experience at least one yeast infection in their lifetime and 40-45% will have multiple cases†. In reverse, that also means that one out of four women will never experience a yeast infection in their lifetime. That said; a portion of those 40-45% of women feel like its their cross to bear having them frequently.
It all varies by the individual BUT it is usually caused by factors that you can control if you know what they are.
Lets go back to the natural vaginal acidic pH barrier
As stated above the vagina maintains its own very stable acidic pH of 3.8 to 4.5 which is relatively the same pH as Apple Juice, Orange Juice or even some beers. Stating this I’m only giving you a common item idea of what the acidity is like. I am NOT recommending or advising that any of these liquids or any other edible liquids be placed in the vagina or used as a rinse or douche (always consult your physician).
Anything over pH 4.5 in the vagina represents a higher probability of allowing many different negative vaginal conditions including bacteria and fungi to develop and flourish and remember, plain tap water in your bath tub can be as high as pH 8.0.
The vagina’s acidic pH is its natural shield and armor against the outside world. It is a delicate balance and there are many things that can upset it making it and you very unhappy.
So, if its not a bath bomb, what caused my yeast infection?
That is a good question.
It could be anything from: something in the diet of that day or even as far back as 3 days before you noticed it, OR any of the exposures listed below, or it could be a combination of diet with the oils, or colorants, or salts, or other ingredients in a bath bomb. OR it could even be something that was previously lurking in the bath tub. Yes, it could be the cornstarch or any other ingredient in a bath bomb but more likely it was probably something else altogether.
You’ve got to put on your detective hat and seriously look at your lifestyle to rule-in or rule-out bath bombs as the culprit.
It is difficult to say that any additional bath water ingredients do or do not play a role in contracting a yeast infection for all women, but science and logic tells us that your risk grows greater with each item you add to your bath water, as each ingredient can alter the pH of the water differently and that combined with your personal pH of that day, and from diet, exercise, clothing, intimacy, stress, illness or even environmental exposures may make you more or less susceptible.
If you notice the tell tale signs of a yeast infection coming on right after a bath, you probably had it before your bath and just didn’t realize it. It can take 24-36 hours for candida to colonize and get going so look farther back for the potential cause.
Allergies
♦ It could even be a slight allergy to one of the ingredients in the bath bomb, or the bath water or something that you just ate that alters your body’s pH just enough to set the stage for candida to grow and take over.
It therefore may or may not be related to the ingredients in a bath bomb. Only you and your doctor could diagnose where the true cause may lie.
Antibiotics
♦ Another cause of concern for a yeast infection could be if a woman is taking an antibiotic.
Almost every GP and OB-GYN would recommend that if she is particularly prone to yeast infections, she should try to wear a dress or skirt and not denim pants (these are the worst as they trap moisture and allow little to no fresh air which helps maintain dryness and combat yeast growth!).
Also, under the direction of her doctor, Fluconazole (brand name: Diflucan) oral may also be prescribed to help hold down or even prevent a yeast infection from starting while on antibiotics.
And even MORE causes of Yeast Infections
♦ Vaginal pH changes can be caused from a variety of activities like (but not limited to);
- Sex
- A compromising infection somewhere in the body
- Low immune system
- Exhaustion
- Douches and Vaginal Sprays
- Something transferred from unwashed hands
- Tainted underwear or even outer wear
- Laundry detergents
- Bathing too long (whoa, did I just say bathing too long?)
- Swimming
- Certain foods that you may eat
- Diabetes
- Bathing in water with a pH your are not used to (like when travelling)
- Hormones
(changes from pregnancy, breast feeding, menopause, birth control pills, etc.)
- and there are many more no on this list. Even wearing snug denim pants too long in a hot environment can create a problem. All of these conditions and more can be the cause of a yeast infection by themselves or in combination with each other.
♦ Bathing in high pH water that you’re body is not used to, like when you’re traveling, or taking a long, soaking, meditating for a long period in a bath or yes, even bathing too long in the pretty looking and smelling water made with bath bomb ingredients could compromise your vaginal pH. Every woman reacts differently or not at all.
It could even be an allergic reaction to an essential oil or fragrance of a particular bath bomb.
♦ Too much unstable pH moisture down in the southern valley, or the vagina being surrounded or worse penetrated by moisture of a different pH or for that matter, any moisture or fluid that is out of pH or containing foreign chemicals can all interrupt the natural protective acidic pH designed to protect the vagina and keep it healthy.
When the security defense is compromised the villains sneak in.
♦ Men can also get yeast infections. That’s right, some men can get a yeast infection however, they seldom if ever have any pain, smell, itching, discharge or discomfort. Most men never know that they have a yeast infection and worse, they can pass it on to their female sexual partner who, if her vaginal pH is already compromised, will definitely notice it.
If your partner has a yeast infection, you could be going in circles trying to get rid of it. Just when you think your over it, voila… its back! If you though it was bath bombs, maybe that’s not the case.
If you suspect that your returning or frequent yeast infection may be coming from your sexual partner, have him visit the doctor with you (that may be easier said, than done!!! I’ve heard, yeah, right… get my man to go to the doctor with me!! Dream On!). The doctor will most likely prescribe him Fluconazole which is a one capsule treatment that will most likely clear up his problem in a week and once you’re both clear of the infection, neither of you will reinfect the other.
Lets keep this all in perspective
Now don’t run to the bathroom and flush your bath bombs down the toilet, as exciting as those fireworks may be to watch in the small porcelain bowl, it is not really that bad.
I’m just giving you lots of different scenarios that COULD cause a problem to illustrate my main point, that bath bombs are probably not the sole criminal here, if a criminal at all.
Most healthy women will probably never notice a problem when using a bath bomb.
If a woman should develop an itch or irritation after bathing with a bath bomb, it still may NOT have been caused by the bath bomb. Yeast infections typically don’t come on that fast. Most women only notice it 1 to 3 days later as this is the average time it takes for a yeast infection to manifest.
So why then does Cornstarch get the blame?
There are many women blaming cornstarch as the ingredient in bath bombs that are the cause of yeast infections. The actual reason that cornstarch is thought to be an contributing factor is that when it is in a hydrous (wet) state, as a corn product, it is a starch and can become the perfect food for yeast. However that thought also assumes that the starch is pure and in ample quantities, not to mention that the pH of the environment must be high enough for the bacteria to consume it and multiply. The amount of cornstarch in a bath bomb, when diluted in a tub of bath water is no where near enough food to grow a thriving colony of bacteria in the short amount of time you spend in the bath.
On the other hand…
In an anhydrous (dry) powder form corn starch used around the exterior labia is soft and comfortable and it absorbs moisture and can thereby help keep the vaginal pH very close to if not normal.
Cornstarch baby powder§ is common and even preferred over plain baby powder± and while babies have very sensitive pH skin, cornstarch typically doesn’t exacerbate or alter their dermal (skin) pH at all.
It’s all about dryness that allows the body to maintain healthy pH.
Let’s calculate how much cornstarch is really put into your bath water from an average bath bomb?
Most bath bomb recipes call for about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per batch of 8 regular sized bath bombs (2.5″ in diameter). Using the higher 1/2 cup measurement means that each or the 8 bath bombs have 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch.
Now, that 1 Tablespoon will be diluted into your entire bath water.
The average bath tub can hold about 80 gallons of water when full.
Lets say you only fill yours 1/2 way, so that would be about 40 gallons.
There are 256 tablespoons in one gallon of liquid so the dilution ratio for your 1/2 tub of bath water to cornstarch would be approx. 1:(256×40), (1:10,240) or 1 to 10,240….. or in English, 1 part cornstarch to 10,240 parts water.
I won’t go into the parts per million calculations of cornstarch in your bath water, or of how much cornstarch you could possibly get into your vagina at this low rate, but it is infinitesimally small.
Granted, there is always the possibility that an infinitesimally small amount of cornstarch could enter the vagina and remain there as food for bacteria, but this hypothesis is highly unlikely to be an issue without some other factor compromising the vaginal pH and thereby making the environment suitable for bacteria to feed on that cornstarch in the first place. Even after that, it sill takes 24-36 hours (1-3 days) for a bacteria colony to form and manifest symptoms.
So, the question of the day:
Are Bath Bombs Safe?
In general, research confirms bath bombs are typically safe and present few if any problems for adult women when used in moderation.
Long soaking baths may not agree with one woman’s pH while another woman may never have a problem with it in her lifetime.
If you are still concerned after all of the hype on the Internet, that cornstarch may be the issue for you, you may want to err on the side of caution and just don’t use bath bombs with cornstarch altogether.
Bath Bombs are fun and relaxing
Yes, bath bombs are so fun to watch, smell and bathe in, that some women, not all, may use multiple bombs per day, day after day.
If you do use bath bomb(s) frequently or even multiple times a day, and you develop any discomfort in the southern pass, you may want to consider giving your vagina a break and shower for a while.
CURES AND PREVENTION
Question:
What should I do if I notice a storm is brewing in the southern pass?
If you are having a little discomfort and you’ve “been there done that before” with a yeast infection, it may be nothing new and you already possess the knowledge of what you need to do to stop or prevent it. For younger women who are not sure of what to do, if you’re timid about visiting with your doctor, there are of course your close friends, sisters and maybe even your mother, grandmother, or aunties for instant experience and advice. However use caution when asking someone who does not possess the knowledge of the situation as they may give you false information or a wives tale or just bad advise. Oh, they’ll be serious about it, but if they can’t explain to you in scientific biological terms what is happening and what you need to do, be ware of their advice.
While we’re here…DANGER, DANGER
Should you notice any of the above listed symptoms, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible before self diagnosis and/or self treatment. In this case, waiting it out will not cure the problem. The symptoms of yeast infections can easily be confused with other more serious and possibly dangerous vaginal conditions like STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) or Bacterial Vaginosis (an even more serious overgrowth of bad bacteria in the vagina). If it is a Yeast infection the cure is usually fast with modern medications, typically one pill and its done.
Shower – Don’t Bathe
If you begin to notice that the southern pass is clouding up and it looks like a storm is brewing. Deal with the potential or oncoming vaginal interruption/infection immediately and appropriately by consulting your doctor.
It’s probably a good idea to shower, don’t bathe until it is resolved.
If the problem continues when you bathe, consider the factors we’ve talked about: time in the tub, chemicals present, what you ate, what you were wearing, hormones, were you in a different area with water you may not be used to, etc.
Now if yeast infections seem to follow you like an evil shadow, and you feel it may be from taking baths with or without the use of a bath bomb, you might also consider taking a rinse shower after a bath. In that case you might also consider using a pure, unscented and uncolored soap* in your after bath shower to make sure any bacteria or fungi on the outside is dead and gone and then rinse the exterior of the southern pass well with clear water afterward. I know some women don’t have a shower but only a tub, in that case you can rinse off squatting in in the tub after the bath water is drained.
As always, when in doubt always consult with your OB-GYN or family doctor.
*Our pure colorant free, scent free soap is KUPONO. A natural castile soap, Unscented, Uncolored very pure, very mild.
Dryness is the key
After the shower and throughout the day dryness around the southern pass is a big key to prevention of bacterial and fungal maladies.
Over The Counter (OTC) Yeast Infection remedies
There are over the counter products for yeast infection relief. A very common ointment is miconazol‡ “azole fungicidal” antifungal cream which comes in vaginal creams or suppositories (brand name: Monistat®‡) NOTE: Yeast infections are nothing to trifle with and other more serious vaginal conditions can look like a yeast infection. They can be very serious and compromise your health. There are safety risks with any medication so read the instructions and warnings, use your best judgement and consult your physician. If you have frequent yeast infections, your doctor may advise you to keep azole fungicidal products on hand. If ever in doubt, call or go see your doctor immediately. You doctor can see in a microscope if it is a yeast infection or something else. Better SAFE than Sorry.
NOTE: You should be aware that some yeast infection medications can weaken condoms or even diaphragms. This makes it easier for you to accidentally get pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted disease. Be sure to read instructions and warnings before using yeast infection medications.
Boric Acid
Interestingly enough, boric acid has been used for centuries to cure vaginitis but unless your doctor is an OD vs MD he or she may not be allowed to tell you this little tip. An Ob-Gyn friend pointed out to me that the main ingredient in the most popular vaginal yeast infection medication is… yes… you guessed it… Boric Acid.
He said; there simply isn’t anything stronger or more effective.
He said that the old way that is still used over the counter today with tremendous success is a 600mg capsule of 100% pure Boric Acid.
He said:
“It usually takes about 10 days of treatment (one 600 mg suppository capsule inserted in the morning and another in the evening) to wipe out the infection.
If the problem returns, a repeated course of treatment of two to three days might be needed. Treatment for current yeast infections with boric acid suppositories requires that one capsule be inserted as deeply as possible into the vagina in the morning and evening for about five to ten days; women who suffer from recurrent yeast infections may use one capsule vaginally at bedtime twice weekly for prevention beginning one week after menstruation.”
♀♦References Below.
Use Your Best Judgement
As always, if the weather just doesn’t feel happy down there or if anything new starts or continues to worsen, see a physician so he or she can determine and treat it. If you’re prone to yeast infections, keep a journal of what you eat, wear, stresses in your life, intimacy, bathing habits, etc. so you and your doctor can pinpoint the continuing cause of your discomfort. It might lead back to bath bomb usage, but in my professional opinion, I doubt it.
BABIES, YOUNG CHILDREN
– AND BATH BOMBS
Baby’s and small children should generally not use bath bombs, and bubble baths are even discouraged by many pediatricians. Babies and young children’s urinary tracts are still developing and they can be very sensitive to the slightest pH changes.
The ingredients in adult bath products can cause unwanted rashes, itches, irritations and even in extreme cases infections.
We advise that if you choose to use bubble bath and bath bombs with your babies and small children, make sure you rinse your children well in a quick after bath clear water rinse or shower.
Best advice for babies and small children
Unless specifically made for babies and small children, don’t use adult bubble bath products or bath bombs. Save the fun and glory for yourself.
If you do chose use adult bubble bath products or bath bombs…Rinse all of their skin creases, skin folds and especially the genital area well with clear tap water to remove any leftover chemical residues that could cause unwanted rashes, itches and possibly even infections. You may even consider giving them a quick soap washing before their clear rinse using a natural, non-scented, non colored soap. Our pure castile soap for this is KUPONO.
References
† https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-vaginal-yeast-infection-basics#1
‡ Miconazole, sold under the brand name Monistat among others, is an antifungal medication used to treat ringworm, pityriasis versicolor, and yeast infections of the skin or vagina.[1] It is used for ringworm of the body, groin (jock itch), and feet (athlete’s foot).[1] It is applied to the skin or vagina as a cream or ointment.[1] From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miconazole
§ Commercial cornstarch baby powder can be a blend of: A) Zea Mays (corn) starch and tricalcium phosphate [a calcium salt of phosphoric acid found in vertebrate teeth, bones and mammalian milk] and fragrance, or the older versions were B) Standard talcum powder2 blended with cornstarch and fragrance.
± Standard baby powder is made from talc, a soft mineral comprised of magnesium-silicate.
♀♦ 1. Eschenbach DA (2008). Vaginitis section of Pelvic infections and sexually transmitted diseases. In RS Gibbs et al., eds., Danforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp. 608-612. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
2. Kessel KV, et al. (2003). Common complementary and alternative therapies for yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis: A systematic review.
Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 58(5): 351-358. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1998; 6(4): 191–194.
Boric acid is available over the counter and is considered safe to use vaginally.
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/can-boric-acid-help-treat-bacterial-vaginosis
Boric acid vaginal suppositories: a brief review. S M Prutting and J D Cerveny
J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2008 Jan;30(1):55-8 Recalcitrant Trichomonas vaginalis infections successfully treated with vaginal acidification.
J Infect. 2007 Oct;55(4):374-7 Prolonged (3-month) mycological cure rate after boric acid suppositories in diabetic women with vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Diabetes Care. 2007 Feb;30(2):312-7 Prevalence of Candida glabrata and its response to boric acid vaginal suppositories in comparison with oral fluconazole in patients with diabetes and vulvovaginal candidiasis.
J Reprod Med. 1991 Aug;36(8):593-597 Antifungal agents vs. boric acid for treating chronic mycotic vulvovaginitis.
Am J Ob Gyn. 1981 Sep 15;141(2):145-148 Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with boric acid powder.
Clin Infect Dis. 1997 Apr;24(4): 649-652 Treatment of Torulopsis glabrata vaginitis: retrospective review of boric acid therapy.
Am J Ob Gyn. 1995 Sep;173(3 Pt 1):820-823 Chronic fungal vaginitis: the value of cultures.
This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition and is for illustrative and educational use. Representations regarding the efficacy and safety of any product or chemical referenced herein are for educational purposes only. As with any illness, disease, itch, rash, infection or other malady, you should consult a physician for consultation, examination and perhaps treatment.
Brad Wardle is chief chemist and co-owner of KauaiGirlSoap. Retired from California State University, Fresno. He holds a Bachelors in Computer Science, Masters in Biology, PhD in Behavioral Psychology and is a professional consultant to Medical, Dental and Holistic professionals.
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