The holidays can be a big source of vulvovaginal imbalance.  All of those sweet treats, glasses of chardonnay, and emotional stressors can wreak havoc with your hoohoo.  Not to mention, we’re dressing warmer with tight synthetic layers and dancing like we own the floor (aka, sweating).  All of this holiday fun will ultimately take a toll on the mucosal microflora make-up of your vagina and the tissues of the labia majora and labia minora.

Thank goodness for January and all things detox! Time to give your body some TLC and and let her recover. Our top tips for hitting the reset button in January:

1. Cut the sugar and carbs. 

From cookies, to coffee & tea cubes, to even Chardonnay, it's important to start cutting out the sugar and carbs, especially if you partied a little hard over the holiday. ;) "When there's too much sugar in the body, the immune system becomes suppressed and unable to ward off any bad bacteria; that can lead to an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina," explained Dr. Jessica Shepherd to health.com, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of minimally invasive gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. When there's an overgrowth of yeast, that's when you can develop a yeast or bacterial infection. 

2. Give your emotions a rest. 

Stress can cause hormones to run wild, ultimately affecting vulvovaginal health. What’s a girl to do? Try slowing everything up and breathing mindfully. Take stock of your thoughts and emotions, and allow them to pass-by. Turn it up a notch by adding yoga and meditation. When we experience any anxiety, we breathe deep; check out our blog post on breathing deep.

3. Rebalance both your gut and vaginal microflora. 

Add a daily probiotic to your routine. Not only will your second brain (your intestines) thank you, but you’ll be repopulating the vaginal lining with super power lactobacilli – which protect the vagina from infection. 

4. Time to hydrate. 

Yes, even your vagina can get dehydrated. Drink up buttercup to keep the skin on the outside bits (vulva) and the inside bits (vagina) soft and lubricated. Check out our blog on Hoohoo's, Health and Hydration for tips on how to increase hydration levels.

5. Make vaginal health a priority. 

Vaginal health is health. Period. What better time of year than now to start incorporating new healthy routines? Show your v some TLC by keeping her happy and healthy. How can we do that? By being cognizant about what we expose her to on a daily basis. Ask yourself: Is my vaginal health routine healthy? Check out our blog on our top 10 tips to keep your hoohoo happy and healthy.

As with everything that flies out of our finger tips, please consult your lovely OBGYN if you suspect you’re experiencing more than a slight imbalance. If your holidays gave you an unwanted present of pain, itching, redness or abnormal discharge, make the call to see a medical professional.