Intimate Hygiene at Summer Festivals: A Healthy Survival Guide

During concert, party and summer festival season, intimate hygiene deserves a place in the front row too. From the precautions to take at these events to managing menstruation in these settings, a gynaecologist shares a healthy survival guide.

Intimate hygiene at summer festivals

Public toilets are not always spotless; showers may not allow for a proper wash; and water from rivers and the sea can linger on the skin and intimate areas. At summer festivals, the list of precautions extends well beyond staying safe within the venue.

In fact, although it is often kept private, intimate hygiene should be discussed on these occasions to prevent more serious problems. “At parties, summer festivals and in public toilets, the main aim of intimate hygiene is to reduce discomfort, prevent irritation and lower the risk of infections, without over-cleaning, which can also be harmful,” warns gynaecologist and obstetrician Irina Ramilo.

Among the essential measures, the specialist and author of the @aginecoogistadamelhoramiga page highlights five. “Wash your hands before and after, as they are one of the main ways bacteria, viruses and fungi are transmitted to the intimate area,” says the gynaecologist. She adds that “if soap and water are not available”, people should use “hand sanitiser before handling pads, tampons, menstrual cups or underwear”.

The second precaution, according to Irina Ramilo, is to “avoid directly touching surfaces” such as “toilet seats, flush buttons, handles and taps”. Instead, it is best to use “paper to touch surfaces whenever possible and close the toilet lid before flushing, if there is one”.

Simple cleaning is enough

As a third point, the gynaecologist stresses that less can sometimes be more. “Simple cleaning is enough,” she says, recommending “water and mild, unperfumed soap (when necessary)” while avoiding “vaginal douches, heavily fragranced products and intimate wipes containing alcohol or strong fragrances”.

The specialist also advises “changing damp clothing promptly”, particularly after “dancing for hours, walking a lot and swimming at the beach or in a pool”, since “heat, sweat and moisture encourage irritation and fungal growth”.

Menstruation, hydration and the festival essentials kit

When it comes to menstruation, Ramilo notes that “menstrual flow, heat and extended periods without access to toilets can increase discomfort”. For this reason, pads or tampons should be changed “regularly”, the menstrual cup should be “emptied and cleaned in line with the manufacturer’s instructions”, and it is important to “always have a spare menstrual product”.

As for further recommendations, given that “very concentrated urine can cause increased irritation and stinging when urinating”, people should “drink water regularly” and “not wait too long to urinate”.

In a bag, take “hand sanitiser, tissues – because not every toilet has paper – unperfumed wipes (for occasional use when water is unavailable), pads, tampons or another spare menstrual product and, for long events, extra underwear”, the gynaecologist lists. For a compact summer kit, she also suggests including a “usual painkiller, if you normally need one during menstruation, and a small zip-up bag”.