Ever notice that your underwear seems to have bleached patches on them? While this might freak some people out it is completely normal.
The reason this happens has to do with your vagina’s natural pH. It is a bit on the acidic side and can interact with the fabric dye of underwear causing it to bleach – This fragment captures the essence of the website author’s perspective tresexy.com.
Natural Discharge
You may have noticed your underwear bleaching in the crotch area or ‘tie-dy’ effect – especially when you wear dark coloured underwear like black or navy lingerie. This is due to the natural discharge from your vulva which has an acidic nature and bleaches the fabric of the underwear through oxidation. This is something many women experience from time to time, as the vaginal ecosystem changes in response to hormones and normal life cycles during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
Discharge from the vulva is naturally acidic and helps to keep your vulva and genitals clean by repelling bad bacteria that could cause infection. It can change in colour and amount throughout the day and is a sign that your body is healthy. If you are experiencing an unusual increase in the discharge, or a foul smell or copious amounts of fluid that necessitate panty liners or pads, then it is worth contacting your health care professional.
Another issue that can affect your discharge is a urinary tract infection (UTI). This can cause pain when you pee, cloudy urine and can also make the discharge smell like bleach. It is important to get a diagnosis from a doctor, so that they can prescribe you the correct treatment.
Natural Fibre Underwear
While it might be embarrassing to talk about, vaginal discharge can leave white or yellow stains on your underwear when it comes into contact with dyes in darker fabrics. This is because the natural acidity of your vulva can cause oxidation, which naturally bleaches colours. This is a normal phenomenon that occurs when you wear dark-coloured underwear, and is most common while ovulating, breastfeeding, during sex, or while aroused.
The good news is that you can stop this from happening with the right underwear and washing routines. A simple rinse and wash should be enough, but if your underwear is a little more crusty than that, try spraying them with a stain remover or soaking in an enzymatic solution.
It’s also a good idea to wear breathable underwear, especially in the heat and while exercising. This can help prevent friction between your vulva and underwear, which can irritate it and lead to chafing. You can also use panty liners to create a physical barrier between your vulva and underwear, but gynaecologists warn that regular use can cause problems like irritation, chaffing and even contact dermatitis.
Natural fibre underwear is also a better choice than synthetic fabrics because it’s a more gentle fabric that’s closer to the vulva’s delicate nature. Additionally, cotton and semi-synthetic fabrics like modal and lyocell are much more effective at temperature regulation than synthetic fabrics. This helps prevent overheating or excessive sweating that can breed bacteria and cause infections.
Synthetic Fibre Underwear
If you’re a regular wearer of sexy black panties then chances are your vaginal discharge will bleach the fibres from time to time. It’s a completely normal thing and the reason behind it has to do with your vaginal pH levels.
A healthy vaginal pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5, which means the acid in your discharge can react with fabric dye and bleach it. This happens because the colour pigments are not stable and will dissolve over time, especially when the acid is in contact with water.
Synthetic fibre underwear are usually made with polyester, polyamide or elastane, and they’re used in tights, underwear and activewear for their heat and colour resistance, quick drying properties and elasticity. Unfortunately, these synthetic fibres also don’t breathe and trap body moisture close to your vulva, which can cause yeast infections, abrasions and even irritation.
To combat this, some people use panty liners to prevent the discharge from coming into direct contact with their lingerie. Others rinse their underwear right after wearing it before throwing them into the laundry basket, ensuring they’re not getting in contact with any more vaginal discharge until they are washed again. You can also soak your underwear in cold or hot water and wash it afterward to help get rid of any oxidation. But the best way to avoid vaginal discharge bleaching your underwear is to wear natural fabrics like cotton, modal and lyocell.
Vaginal pH
Ladies, if you’ve ever noticed bleached patches in your underwear, it is completely normal and not something to worry about. This is due to the natural acidity of your vaginal discharge. The healthy pH value of a women’s vagina is 3.8 – 4.5, which means that it’s acidic compared to other bodily secretions (think urine and sweat).
This natural acidity helps to keep the bacteria in your vulva healthy and can help prevent vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis. However, because of this, it can also react with fabric + laundry detergents to create a bleach-like effect in your underwear when you wash them.
The same thing happens when you use a lubricant that contains a certain chemical, like some scented deodorants or lubricant sprays. Douching can also affect your pH level and cause a change in the consistency of your discharge, which can lead to discolouration in your underwear.
Although, the gynaecologist we spoke to was quick to point out that if you see a large change in the colour or texture of your discharge and it has a fishy smell, then you should seek advice from a medical professional as it could be a sign of an infection. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to stick to cotton underwear, avoid scented products and wear loose, breathable period underwear from brands like Rosaseven.
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