Feminine hygiene products are sold as agents to help women stay clean, fresh, and comfortable. From intimate washes and douches to scented pads and tampons, the scope of available products in the market promises to meet every woman's hygiene need. However, concerns have been rising lately about the safety of these products, some studies claiming that rather than promoting health, they can contribute to a heightened risk of vaginal infections.

A new study done by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, has fueled this fear. The study asked more than 1,400 Canadian women about their use of feminine hygiene products, and the results were frightening. The study found that 95% of participants had used some type of over-the-counter hygiene product at least once, and importantly, those who used these products regularly were three times more likely to experience some type of vaginal infection.

While some hygiene products, like tampons and sanitary pads, are necessary and integral parts of the menstrual cycle, other products like vaginal washes, scented pads, and anti-itch creams are advertised to be necessary for feminine health. Do these products, which many women count on to keep themselves clean, cause harm?

The vagina is a self-cleaning organ that possesses a natural cleansing mechanism. The healthy condition of the vaginal environment is maintained by the presence of beneficial bacteria, primarily Lactobacillus, that maintains the pH balance and helps in preventing infections. If the fragile microbial ecosystem is disrupted, it causes many infections, such as BV, yeast infections, and UTIs.

Dr. Deepti Sureka, Urologist, says that vaginal anatomy needs to be grasped before the safety of hygiene products for women can be known. "The vagina is not meant to be over-cleaned or manipulated. Overuse of hygiene products, especially douches or scented products, may cause an imbalance in natural pH and lead to infection," says Dr. Sureka.

Common Feminine Hygiene Products and Their Risks

Vaginal washes and douches

Vaginal wash is one of the most widely used feminine hygiene products used by women in terms of freshness maintenance. These items, however contain chemicals, which can throw the vaginal flora out of its natural balance. Doctors have long since condemned douche as it leads to infections; the idea behind douching is not only to get rid of pathogens but also *Lactobacillus*, those beneficial bacteria of the vagina, making the vagina open to infections.

Fragrant Products

Most women prefer scented pads, tampons, and panty liners because they will not like the smell of the menstrual discharge. Unfortunately, the majority of these products contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals that are irritating to the very sensitive skin of the vaginal mucosa. Such irritation may become a breeding ground for infection, such as yeast and BV. For others, some may suffer from chemical sensitivities, which further complicates the condition.

Tampons

Tampons are a product that most women need to use when they menstruate. Tampons are relatively safe if used properly. However, leaving a tampon in for too long causes the growth of dangerous bacteria that can lead to TSS, a rare but potentially fatal condition. In addition, the synthetic materials used in some tampons may cause irritation in the vaginal area.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups have become popular as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to tampons and pads. However, if they are not cleaned properly or used for too long, menstrual cups can increase the risk of vaginal infections. As with tampons, the risk arises when the cups are not sanitized adequately, and bacteria grow.

Panty Liners and Pads

Use panty liners regularly without actually knowing that they encourage an atmosphere with humidity that thrives on bacterial and fungal growth. The constant usage of pads for extended periods especially under humid conditions, puts more possibility of developing skin irritation and infection.

Application of fragrant scents compounds the risk of developing allergic reactions or irritation.

Habits Affecting Vaginal Health

Beyond the products themselves, it is how women use them that is key to preventing infections. Dr. Sureka advises women to be good about hygiene, changing pads and tampons regularly, thereby reducing bacterial buildup. "It's important to change tampons every 4-6 hours and avoid leaving them in for extended periods," she says.

Proper use of menstrual cups entails frequent sterilization, and hands should always be cleaned before insertion or removal. Excessive cleaning of the vagina, such as washing or scrubbing too frequently, can strip the skin of its natural oils and beneficial bacteria, which are necessary to maintain vaginal health.

How to Minimize the Risk of Vaginal Infections

While the risks associated with feminine hygiene products are concerning, there are a number of ways women can minimize the risk of infections:

1. Use Warm Water for Daily Hygiene

For most women, warm water is enough to clean the external genital area. If further cleaning is required, opt for a mild, fragrance-free soap, but do not use it inside the vagina.

2. Opt for Breathable Fabrics

Go for cotton undergarments and avoid wearing tight clothing that can retain moisture. Dry fabrics prevent the vaginal region from getting moist, thus avoiding bacteria or fungal infections.

3. Steer Clear of Fragrant Products

Using fragrance-free pads, tampons, and liners helps to reduce the amount of chemicals one is exposed to. Fragrant products tend to have artificial fragrances, which cause irritation of the vagina and may lead to allergic reactions.

4. Reduce the Use of Female Hygiene Products

Unless prescribed by a healthcare provider, avoid douching or using vaginal washes. The vagina is naturally self-cleaning, and overuse of these products can disrupt its pH balance and microbial environment.

5. Consult a Healthcare Provider

If you experience persistent irritation, unusual discharge, or symptoms of infection, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider or urologist promptly. Early intervention can prevent infections from escalating and help maintain vaginal health.

Feminine hygiene products can offer convenience, but when overused or misused, they can contribute to an increased risk of vaginal infections. Women must be informed about the potential risks associated with certain products and adopt healthier hygiene practices. Ultimately, understanding the natural functions of the body and avoiding unnecessary interference with that process is key to preventing infections and maintaining overall vaginal health.

Dr. Deepti Sureka is a Consultant Female Urologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology Hyderabad, India.

Vaginal health and hygiene practices and product use in Canada: a national cross-sectional survey. 2018. BMC Women's Health.

Feminine Hygiene - United States. 2024. Statistica

In many ways COVID-19 has changed the way medicine and treatments work. During peak COVID wave, at-home test kits became a more accepted part of medical care for people, as stepping outside and visiting hospitals could also cause infection. As new strains of COVID keep mutating, many people have brought up concerns regarding the effectiveness of the at-home tests.

The concern is regarding the fact that these at-home test kits are equipped to diagnose the new strains or are there certain strains that can go undetected.

How At-Home COVID Tests Work?

If you start feeling sick with symptoms like a cough, fever, or runny nose, you might worry if it's COVID-19. A simple way to check is by using an at-home COVID-19 test. You can easily find these tests at drugstores, supermarkets, and online stores.

At-home COVID-19 tests are designed to find tiny parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. These parts are called antigens. Rapid at-home antigen tests usually give you results in about 15 minutes. If your test is positive, it's very likely you have the virus.

It's important to know that these tests can sometimes give a false negative, meaning you could test negative but still have the virus. However, because these tests are quick and rarely give a false positive, they can be very useful if used correctly.

Do They Work Against New COVID Variants?

At-home COVID tests should work against newer versions of the virus, “The antigen, that the at-home tests look for has remained fairly stable even as the virus mutates and new strains of COVID develop”. Harvard Health experts explain that the part of the virus these tests look for stays pretty much the same, even as the virus changes. Research generally shows that these antigen tests are good at finding different COVID-19 variants.

In a comparative study published in the Microbiology Spectrum journals, researchers looked at 2 types of tests PCR test and rapid antigen tests (Ag-RDTs). They used FIA which is the flourescence immunoassay, a simple and rapid technique that is used to measure compounds like drugs, hormones and proteins and LFIA which is lateral flow immunoassay, that is also used to detect proteins, haptens (a type of molecules), nucleic acids etc. Both rapid tests were 100% accurate at finding the virus when there was a lot of virus in the sample. However, their ability to find the virus dropped to around 30% when there was only a small amount of virus present.

This study confirms that rapid antigen tests (especially FIA and LFIA) work almost as well as RT-PCR tests for finding SARS-CoV-2. The FIA test was particularly good for people who had the virus but no symptoms. Both rapid tests agreed strongly with the gold standard RT-PCR results.

When to Test for COVID?

Harvard Health experts advise using an at-home COVID test if you have respiratory symptoms like a cough, fever, or runny nose. She also suggests testing if you've been around someone with COVID-19, or if you're going to be near elderly people or those with weak immune systems who could get very sick from the virus.

In general, these tests are most effective when you have symptoms. One study found that certain at-home tests caught almost 90% of COVID cases in people with symptoms, but only about half of cases in people who had the virus but no symptoms.

If your test is positive, it means you have the virus. If it is negative, health authorities recommend taking another test 48 hours later to reduce the chance of a false negative.

If you have respiratory symptoms, these combination tests are an easy way to find out if you have the flu, COVID-19, or both, without needing to visit a doctor's office. You can also help public health efforts by reporting your test result (whether it's positive or negative) online.

The best way to protect yourself from both COVID-19 and the flu is to get vaccinated for both. Vaccines lower your risk of getting sick and developing serious complications if you do catch the viruses.

Wildfires are a big concern for US citizens. Since the beginning of 2025, 31,039 wildfires have consumed 1.3 million acres of US land, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that burn wildland and often rural areas. These fires can exhaust forests, grasslands, and many other ecosystems. With the amount of smoke generated, wildfires can severely affect the health of people.

A new study suggests that wildfires might indirectly raise the risk of flu and COVID-19 outbreaks. The smoke from wildfires often forces people to stay indoors, and when more people are gathered in enclosed spaces, infectious diseases can spread more easily. This finding was recently published in the journal PLOS Climate.

Why Staying Inside Puts You at Higher Risk

When wildfires burn, the air outside gets filled with smoke, making people go indoors. This creates perfect conditions for illnesses like the flu to spread, as a researcher from Georgetown University explained. With more people packed together, germs can jump from one person to another more easily. But there's a simple way to lower this risk: just wearing a mask indoors can help a lot.

Following People's Movements During Wildfires

Researchers looked at mobile phone data to see where people went during wildfires. This data showed visits to over 4.6 million places across the U.S., both inside and outside. They focused on the wildfire season in Oregon and Washington in 2020. By checking air quality, they found the areas worst affected by smoke. During that time, especially in August and September 2020, widespread wildfires caused a lot of smoke in these states.

More People, More Risk

The study found a clear increase in indoor activities when the wildfires were burning. In counties across Oregon, indoor activity went up by 14%, and in Washington counties, it increased by almost 11%. Major cities also saw a significant jump: Seattle experienced a 16% rise, and Portland saw an 11% increase in people spending time indoors. This shift means more people were confined together.

Using computer models, the researchers confirmed that more people indoors raises the risk of infectious diseases spreading, especially for highly contagious illnesses like flu and COVID-19. But these models also showed that wearing masks indoors can help slow the spread. They found that even a small increase in mask wearing (just 10% more people) could lower the number of new cases during wildfires. In areas hit hardest by smoke, like parts of Oregon and Washington, more than half the people might need to wear masks to effectively control the disease.

Preparing for Health Risks in a Changing Climate

The researchers advise public health experts to be aware of this connection if wildfire smoke reaches their communities. They should also warn people about the higher risk of infection. The study emphasized that as we face more extreme weather events, our public health plans need to change. We have to address not just the direct environmental harm from wildfires, but also how people react and adapt to these emergencies. By understanding how people behave and planning for it, we can better protect everyone's health in a world where extreme events are becoming more common.

Being one of the most common cancer diagnoses, skin cancer claims more than two people every hour. The Skin Cancer Foundation also specifies that having five or more sunburns doubles your risk of melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. Despite the fact that people are often urged to wear sunscreen and take protection from heat, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. However, the survival rate of melanoma is 99 percent, meaning if people can get it diagnosed early, they can get proper treatment. So, how can one get an early diagnosis?

An experimental AI tool called PanDerm shows promising results in accelerating the detection of melanoma and other skin conditions, according to a new study published in Nature Medicine. When doctors used PanDerm, it improved the accuracy of skin cancer diagnoses by 11%, and the accurate diagnosis of other skin conditions by almost 17%.

Enhancing Clinical Decision-Making

PanDerm is made in a way to assist doctors by helping them understand complex imaging data and make more confident and informed decisions. While a lot of people are skeptical of the use of AI and how it may impact human lives in the long rn, the study shows that using it to work alongside professionals can help us reach great medical heights.

Researchers explained the tool is built to work alongside medical professionals, making it easier for them to interpret difficult images and choose the right course of action with greater certainty. This support is especially important because about 70% of people experience some kind of skin condition, making it crucial to spot them early for better treatment outcomes.

How PanDerm Works

Developed by a global research team, PanDerm was trained on a massive collection of over 2 million skin images, using four different types of medical imaging. Unlike previous AI models that struggled to combine various data types, PanDerm was specifically created to identify a wide range of skin conditions. It uses images from tiny microscopic slides to wide views showing lesions and the surrounding skin.

Researchers also said that by training PanDerm with diverse data from different imaging techniques, they've created a system that can understand skin conditions similar to how dermatologists do—by combining information from various visual sources.

Impressive Performance and Future Potential

In the study, PanDerm was tested on various tasks related to skin health, including screening for cancer, counting moles, tracking changes in lesions, and diagnosing a broad spectrum of skin conditions. The AI consistently delivered strong results, often needing only 5% to 10% of the data that doctors typically require for diagnoses. This means it can provide accurate results with much less information.

This AI tool could be especially valuable in areas where it's hard to see a dermatologist, as researcher Peter Soyer pointed out. However, the researchers stress that PanDerm needs more evaluation and real-world testing in different healthcare settings and with various types of patients before it can be approved and widely used.

Treatment For Skin Cancer

The Cancer Research UK explains that when you have skin cancer, the main treatment is usually surgery. However, depending on where the cancer is, how big it is, and your overall health, you might have a different kind of treatment. Your doctor will discuss all the possible options with you.

Besides surgery, other treatments include radiotherapy, which uses high-energy rays similar to X-rays to kill cancer cells, often for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). You might also get a chemotherapy cream that uses strong drugs to destroy cancer cells, or Imiquimod cream (Aldara), which helps your body's own defenses fight the cancer.

For some types of skin cancer, doctors might suggest targeted drugs or immunotherapy. These treatments either attack specific parts of cancer cells or boost your immune system to help it kill the cancer. Another option is photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses a special drug and light to destroy the cancer cells.

After you finish your skin cancer treatment, you'll need to have follow-up appointments to make sure everything is okay.