Q

A

Washing with soapy water is an excellent method for keeping the outer skin surfaces clean, but soap is not good for inner surfaces, such as the vagina. The skin of the vagina is thin and easily irratated. In additon, soap inside the vagina can remove the protective mucus lining allowing infections to occur.

If odors are a problem, use a very mild soap or simply wash with plain water the inner vulva. If any soap is used, make sure you rinse the area well to avoid irritation. However, the vagina itself does not need to be washed. Wash from front to back to avoid introducing germs from the rectum into the folds of the vulva.

Q

Gee (age 23)

I usually have a painful sore on my vagina each month before my period. Could that be a sign of a STD?

A

It is a sign of an infection, but whether that disease was sexually transmitted or not depends on whether you have been having sex and whether the people you had sex with were carriers of that disease. But you can get sores from diseases that are not sexually transmitted.

Your immune system is not as strong just before your period because of your changing hormones. So an on-going infection is more likely to flare up at that time of the month.

Whether it is an STD or not, you need to get this checked out by a doctor, such as a gynecologist. You shouldn't ignore a disease because often times the symptoms you notice are some of the least damaging things a disease is causing to your body.

Q

(age 12)

Is it a  good idea for children my age to go on a diet? and if its not (or if it is) then what something I can do to lose weight. And when is the best age for a young woman to go on a diet?

A

The best time to diet, if it is needed, is after you finish growing. Most diets being used do not just limit calories, they also limit the variety of foods that you eat. As you grow, your body needs calories to fuel that growth. It needs a lot of nutrients to put together a solid structure for your adult life.

People in the United States tend to eat too much rich foods. If you are concerned about your weight, switch to what I affectionately call a health-food nut's diet. Cut out the stuff made with sugar and white flour. "Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit" (Proverbs 25:16). "It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one's own glory is not glory" (Proverbs 25:27). Limit the amount of fried foods you eat. Eat lots of vegetables. In fact, make it a rule that you consume more vegetables than meat. So if you want a second helping of chicken, you have to eat seconds of the vegetables as well. Also make sure you eat a wide variety of foods. Don't get stuck in a rut.

What you will find is that the basic foods are more filling. You will have a harder time overeating, yet with a variety of foods, you will have plenty for a growing body. Only after you finished growing should you consider a calorie restrictive diet.

Q

I have like little peices of skin that are on the outside of my vagina that can be seen. They don't hurt or itch. They look like little skin balls, maybe moles or something. I don't know if I should be worried or not. They don't seem to be irritated or anything, but I don't know what they are.

A

It sounds like you are describing skin tags. They can vary in size, color and shape, so yours may not look exactly like the ones shown in this image.

Skin tags can appear anywhere on the body, though they are often seen under the arm. because the skin can get abraded by your arm swinging or by the clothing you wear. You will also find skin tags frequently near where your blouse collar rubs your skin. Obese people will have them develop between the folds of their skin, where the skin rubs together. You can also get them around your trunk where your waistband rubs the skin.

Skin tags, like common warts, are believed to be caused by a virus, though no one has found the precise one. The virus gets into the surface of the skin and causes the skin to grow rapidly. They can be removed, but should be done by a doctor. He will either clip the growth out, or use liquid nitrogen to freeze the surface of the skin in that area. Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop new tags from continuing to form. Some people are more susceptible to getting skin tags, such as people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Q

Caitlyn (age 10)

How old should you be to shave your legs?

A

Old enough that it is necessary.

Q

Dausha

I noticed these bumps on my vagina. I am worried that it my be genital herpes, but I also think it could be an alergic reaction to a soap or lotion, or caused by ridding my bike in tight jeans in humid weather. The first time I noticed them, they were red spots and then they started pussing and turned a lighter red as in the pictures I attached. I have looked at many pictures on the Internet that show genital herpes, but they don't look the same as what I have. Everything I have read leads me to think I have do have herpes. Can you help me?

A

In order to have herpes, you would have to be having sex with someone who has herpes. The bumps that comes with herpes show up about two weeks after the infection and then disappear, which leads the person to think that they are "cured." That is how herpes is spread so widely. This is one the many reason you should not have sex with someone to whom you are not married.

It appears that you have picked up some type of skin infection, most likely an infection in the hair follicles, but it is impossible to tell from here.

You need to go and see your doctor who can figure out exactly what kind of infection you picked up and give you medication to clear it up.