🙈 Why I'm begging you to stop using wet wipes! 🙈
Wet wipes may be the San Pellegrino of butt-cleansing tools: They feel like a fancier, grown-up version of toilet paper.
Besides the posh factor, people who swear by them for their post-bowel-movement wipe believe the method is more thorough and leaves the buttocks cleaner than it would otherwise be. While I hear you considering the argument at hand, don't rush to the store just yet. After being in practice for 20+ years, I’m here to tell you that it's time to officially ditch those personal hygiene wipes for toilet paper.
People think if they can use a wet wipe on their baby, they can use it on themselves. But while wet wipes make you think you're getting your bum cleaner; they can actually cause myriad complications that you likely don't want to deal with in the long run. Apart from being a major environmental concern - which is a big deal - wet wipes aren't the best option for the health of your anal region.
Before I share some very personal advice, if you missed last week’s blog on “Foot pain 👣😱👣”, you can use this link, Here.
OK, let’s talk about your private area. Bum to be exact….
🙈 🧻 😤 🚽 🙈
First, what are wet wipes made of?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wipes can be made of materials like polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood, pulp, or rayon fibers formed into sheets. Most are moistened with water and other cleansing and moisturizing agents. Some may even have certain ingredients to help prevent mold and bacteria growth.
While most wet wipes (like baby wipes, for example) contain water as the main ingredient, antibacterial wipes will often have alcohol and other chemicals that kill bacteria. Products may also be labeled scented, unscented, or fragrance-free, per the FDA, depending on whether certain perfumes or essential oils are added.
The benefits of wet wipes? Most obviously, the convenience factor and a cleaner feel. But there are some downsides to using them (more on this below).
Wet wipes can mess with your skin microbiome
You may be wondering: "Are wet wipes bad for you?" Well, kind of. Just like the skin on your face, your anus and its surrounding skin is covered in good and bad bacteria, which work together to find homeostasis and keep your tush in tip-top condition. This is important, so when you start to augment your microbiome with wet wipes, what happens is that you're wiping away the good bacteria and the balance becomes a problem.
When there's an imbalance, you can wind up with irritation, rashes, or fungal or bacterial infections. With the homeostasis in the biome altered, bad bacteria start to populate fungus or irritation, which I see all of the time. A standout sign of this is redness and overall discomfort. And, BTW: Even the best wet wipes that are "chemical-free" will do this.
Another big risk with using wet wipes is the moisture factor. People tend to use wet wipes and then pull up their pants, so what happens is that the moisture sits there. The moisture just festers, and it causes a change in bacteria and leads to irritation. If this continually happens, people can feel as though they have fissures or hemorrhoids when really, it's just a buildup of irritation and bad bacteria. If you get something like this, make an appointment with your me to see what's going on.
Wet wipes are also bad for the environment
What's more, wet wipes can cause major problems for the health of your plumbing, too. They often get clogged in the plumbing systems, and wind up in rivers and streams, which becomes a major issue. Flushable wipes and other waste (like grease) can accumulate in our sewer system, creating massive "fatbergs" that clog pipes and damage wastewater infrastructure. While some wipes are advertised as "flushable" or "septic safe," environmental groups argue that none of them truly are safe for our sewage systems.
The problem has gotten so bad that in 2021, Congress introduced a bill that would create a standard for labeling non-flushable wipes. Some states have already enacted this by adding "do not flush" wording and images to certain product labels.
The maker of Dude Wipes agreed to a $9 million settlement in a case alleging that advertising claims that the wipes are flushable are untrue.
Wet wipes themselves also contain plastics that don't degrade over time, which has serious consequences for the health of our planet. A September 2021 study found that wet wipes are a major contributor to marine microplastic pollution when improperly disposed (aka, flushed) - which affects the safety of our water supply as well as the health of ocean ecosystems. Another July 2022 study found that plastic waste in sewage (like wet wipes) brings harmful, antibiotic-resistant bacteria like E.coli directly to beaches and ocean habitats.
What should I use to wipe my butt instead?
Wet wipes should never, ever be used. Even moist towelettes are a no-go. Instead, your options are toilet paper and bidets.
Why? Well, toilet paper, while designed to break down (and thus not a major contributor to fatbergs), are still not great for the environment. A 2019 report found that demand for toilet paper in the U.S. contributes to industrial logging that claims more than a million acres of forest every single year. And less natural forest equals less carbon capture from trees and greater disruption to native species and ecosystems.
Meanwhile, bidets - a staple in many countries outside the U.S. - can be an effective way to reduce paper consumption and get your booty truly clean. I very often recommend bidets for my patients with recurrent UTIs. I feel it helps to evacuate the stool completely, decrease the bacteria in the area and, in turn, decrease the risk for infection. There are even portable bidets so you can keep your booty clean on the go. To look at some products I have found, you can use this link, HERE.
However, bidets aren't necessarily cheap, and do require installation—something that might not be possible for everyone (especially renters). And while some bidets offer dryers that can dry you in a few seconds, traditional bidets require you to sit and air dry your backside. This might not be a viable option when you're on the run, like after pooping in the morning. In that case, toilet paper is fine, especially if you opt for some of the more eco-friendly toilet paper options.
But whatever you do, please, please ditch those wet wipes -even biodegradable wet wipes - for your butt's sake as well as the planet's.
The best way to wipe
If a bidet is not necessarily in your near future, there are some steps to wipe with toilet paper that can leave you feeling clean. Here are some tips:
Fold or crumple a couple tissue pieces.
Reach behind you and between your legs (if you can't reach, you can go between your legs from the front instead).
Wipe from your perineum (the space between your genitals and anus) toward and past your anus. This will help ensure you get the most sanitary wipe.
Repeat the process until your toilet paper comes up clean.
Do not excessively wipe. This can cause rectum redness, itching, and irritation.
THE BOTTOM LINE (no pun intended 🤣)
“Did you know, the type of skin on your lips is the same skin you can find at your anus?”
"Your anus is a gateway between your insides and the outside. This gives it an important role in your health. It opens to let food waste come out at the end of its journey through your digestive tract. It also closes to keep infections out."
“When you talk about your anus, you're using the formal, scientific word.”
The benefits of wet wipes? Most obviously, the convenience factor and a cleaner feel. But there are some downsides to using them.
Yes, they are bad! Just like the skin on your face, your anus and its surrounding skin is covered in good and bad bacteria, which work together to find homeostasis and keep your tush in tip-top condition. When you start to augment your microbiome with wet wipes, what happens is that you're wiping away the good bacteria and the balance becomes a problem.
When there's an imbalance, you can wind up with irritation, rashes, or fungal or bacterial infections. With the homeostasis in the biome altered, bad bacteria starts to populate fungus or irritation, which I see all of the time. A standout sign of this is redness and overall discomfort.
Another big risk with using wet wipes is the moisture factor. People tend to use wet wipes and then pull up their pants, so what happens is that the moisture sits there. The moisture just festers, and it causes a change in bacteria and leads to irritation. If this continually happens, people can feel as though they have fissures or hemorrhoids when really it's just a buildup of irritation and bad bacteria. If you get something like this, make an appointment with your me to see what's going on.
Wet wipes should never, ever be used. Even moist towelettes are a no-go. Instead, your options are toilet paper and bidets.
As always, if you’d like to talk more about anal issues, techniques or concerns, make an appointment with me using the link: HERE.
Or, you can give me a call at (973) 210-3838
I want to hear from you! What questions or insights do you have about using wet wipes after pooping? Did you find this newsletter helpful?
Share your thoughts in the comments on our
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