Lume Deodorant | Outrageously Effective Whole Body Deodorant

What is a Douche?

Unless you’re speaking French (shower), or using modern slang to call someone a jerk, a douche is generally referring to a vaginal douche which is an outdated cleansing practice.

Douching involves washing the inside of the vagina with water or a mixture of liquids. Most douches today are sold in stores as prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The mixtures usually come in a bottle or bag. You squirt the douche upward through a tube or nozzle into your vagina. The water mixture then comes back out through your vagina.

It's important to note that in recent years, there has been a shift in understanding within the medical community regarding the risks associated with douching. The practice is now widely discouraged by healthcare professionals, as it can lead to a range of health issues.

The vagina is self cleaning - meaning that our bodies produce mucous that cleans the vagina of blood, discharge, and semen without disturbing the environment. In other words, this girl can take care of herself - step back, and let the lady do her many jobs.

Historically, Why Have Women Considered Vaginal Douching?

The roots of this practice lie in a web of misinformation. Women have been influenced by hygiene misconceptions, societal pressures, pervasive marketing tactics, menstrual taboos, and sometimes outdated medical advice. These factors have collectively perpetuated the belief in its necessity, despite mounting evidence against its effectiveness and potential risks.

Reasons include:

• Odor concerns (wrong source of odor, see below)
• Cleanse the vagina after menstruation or intercourse (unnecessary)
• Avoid STIs (may actually contribute)
• Birth control (doesn’t work)

Six Possible Risks of Intimate Douching

1 - Disrupts Natural Flora

The vagina is a self cleaning organ that maintains a delicate balance of bacteria and pH levels. Douching can disrupt this balance by washing away beneficial bacteria and altering the natural acidity of the vagina, making it more susceptible to infections.

2 - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

The pressure from douching pushes bacteria up into reproductive organs so it can also increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the female reproductive organs. PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

3 - Increases Risk of Infection

Douching has been linked to an increased risk of various vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). By disturbing the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina, douching creates an environment where harmful bacteria and fungi can thrive.

4 - Vaginal dryness and irritation

Some douching products contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, or additives that can cause allergic reactions or irritation in the vaginal tissues. This can lead to discomfort, inflammation, and increased susceptibility to infections.

5 - Pregnancy Complications

Douching during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of complications, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage. The chemicals in douching solutions can irritate the cervix and disrupt the protective mucus plug, potentially leading to infections or premature labor.

6 - Increased Risk of HIV and STIs

Ironically, douching has been associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections (the very reason some women have practiced douching). The disruption of vaginal flora and the protective mucous layer may make it easier for pathogens to enter the body during sexual activity.

Benefits of Douching

We’ve got nothing. Just don’t do it.

Why are douches still sold if women’s health professionals think they are unhealthy? Good question. The feminine hygiene industry keeps selling douches, and Lume is going to keep busting myths about where odor comes from.

What To Do Instead Of Douching?

If you - like many women - have ever had concerns of odor below the belt, Lume Whole Body Deodorant has a safe and science based solution developed by an OB/GYN.

Understanding the source of private part odor will make a difference in how you understand and manage that odor.

The vagina (internal) is NOT responsible for day to day private part odor (external).

Odor on the outside of our body forms when bacteria living on our skin digest bodily fluids like sweat, blood, urine, and semen, and emit odor. It’s the same odor reaction that happens in our armpits, and it’s exactly the same odor reaction for men. Odor is odor.

If You Have A Butt, Chances Are You Have Odor

It’s OK, we all do. Odor below the belt happens when bacteria from our GI tract migrate from our butt crack to nearby neighborhood parts and come into contact with bodily fluids. It’s as normal and expected as underarm odor.

If you are concerned about odor below the belt, try an external solution like Lume Whole Body Deodorant or Whole Body Deodorant Plus Sweat Control. It’s powered by Mandelic Acid, so it works by safely acidifying skin to stop the odor reactions before they even begin.

The Cream Tube is ideal for Whole Body application - just use a pea sized amount and apply to thigh folds and between butt cheeks; it rubs in like a lotion, leaving zero residue.

If odor persists after several days, particularly if it is accompanied by other symptoms of BV like a change in vaginal discharge, consider consulting your healthcare professional for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Get That Whole Body Synergy

At Lume, we go beyond deodorant in providing the best possible odor control in the entire history of body odor.

Our Deodorant, Washes, and Wipes are designed for Whole Body use and are clinically proven to control odor. They all work outrageously well on their own, but even better as a team.

Lume Acidiifed Body Wash and Acidified Cleansing Bar are OB/GYN developed, and clinically proven to control odor for 24 hours - so you’ll smell better everywhere right out of the shower. Both products deliver the same spectacular results because they are pH optimized to control odor.

You’re probably familiar with the term pH balanced, but Lume goes one step further with a safe pH for Whole Body use, and that is what we mean by pH optimized.

In addition to controlling odor, the low pH of our Acidified Washes provide the bonus benefits of skin brightening, evening skin tone, and visually reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

That’s the power of pH! If you haven’t tried our Body Wash or Cleansing Bar, let this be your sign.

Lume Acidified Deodorant Wipes are also clinically proven to control odor for 24 hours, so they are no ordinary wipe. Keep a stash where you need them most, and enjoy a quick touch up in between showers.

Dr. Shannon Klingman has paved a better way for women and men to understand and manage body odor, and we can’t wait for you to experience the Lume difference!

Did you Lume today?