Greetings, Pinkies! We are thrilled to jump into our countdown to the launch of Dr. Lissa Rankin's book What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend that will hit shelves THIS MONTH - September 28 (preorder here)! We're going to start featuring questions here from Lissa's medical blog, based on the book. If you have a question you'd like Dr. Lissa Rankin to answer in her blog, please join the What's Up Down There posse in our Owning Pink community, and be sure to check the book tour page and Team Pink headquarters for all the deets on Lissa's upcoming travels...

Q: I’m 49 years old and every month, I’m itchy, red and sore down there for a few days after my period. Why?

Oh no! As if menstrual cycles aren’t bothersome enough. It sounds like you might be suffering from contact dermatitis, a condition that occurs when an irritant inflames the sensitive tissues of the vulva. Chances are good that your sanitary products are to blame. According to The American Academy of Dermatology, certain panty-liners contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives such as imidazolidinyl urea, which can irritate delicate genital skin. And chemically-bleached tampons may be laced with chlorine and its byproduct Dioxin. Feminine hygiene sprays are another frequent offender. You may even notice that you become more sensitive to products like these as you age. Waning levels of estrogen leave sensitive genital skin more susceptible to chemical irritation.

As you’ve noticed, contact dermatitis symptoms tend to abate within a week after exposure to the irritant stops, but your best bet is eliminating the offending irritant in the first place. Consider using chemical-free pads or tampons. Stay far, far away from deodorants sprays, bubble baths, perfume, or scented bath gel (it’s supposed to smell like vagina, not like rain or rose petals!).

If you’re uncomfortable in the meantime, lay a cold washcloth across the affected area for 10 minutes 2-3 times a day or as needed. This will cause blood vessels in the vulva to constrict and reduce swelling. To soothe itchiness, fill your bathtub with 2-3 inches of water and 4 tablespoons of anti-inflammatory baking soda, and soak in a sitz bath for 20 minutes once or twice a day.

Hope this helps, love!

Gettin' rid of those irritants, one chemical at a time,

Dr. Lissa