These Love Island bikini mistakes could harm your intimate health

The summer of love has kicked off at the villa, and like in previous years, swimwear trends influenced by the Islanders are set to be big this year.

But while it seems like it could be fun to lounge around the pool for hours a day, there can be some downsides. Intimate Health Expert and Founder of Kegel8, Stephanie Taylor, offers her advice on the swimwear mistakes to avoid this summer to ensure you aren’t causing any damage down there.

Soggy bottoms

Sitting in wet swimwear for long periods of time is likely to disturb the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina and lead to infection.

Damp, warm bottoms are a hotbed for bacteria and can allow yeast and other bacteria to thrive. So, rather than staying in it – you should change out of swimwear fairly soon after leaving the water.

Not only does it cause issues with infection, but you may end up with an uncomfortable, itchy rash, flatteringly known as ‘jock itch’. Like bacterial infections, this rash thrives in damp environments and is caused by similar bacteria to Athlete’s Foot.

If you’re out by the sea or the pool all day, pack two swimwear pieces:– one for getting wet, and one for relaxing that stays dry. Be sure to dry off properly and avoid wearing tight underwear or tights that can irritate your skin.

The risk of infection is exacerbated by thong bikinis, as harmful bacteria (e-coli) can spread from the anus to your vagina and cause further infection.

Sharing isn’t caring

We’ve seen the girls in Love Island quite often sharing swimwear – especially in season seven where girls were often spotted in the same swimsuits.

It’s not uncommon on holiday to swap outfits with your friends, especially if you’ve been forced to pack light. However, you should ignore outfit envy when it comes to bikinis. As we know, bottoms are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and some of the resulting infections can be contagious.

Even if the infection isn’t transmittable, the bacteria can still sit on the surface after, which may put you at risk of a similar contraction, so it’s better not to take any chances. Be particularly pedantic about not sharing bikinis of the wrong size, which is fairly likely to happen when you borrow from a friend – as it can irritate the skin and cause rashes around your intimate area.

To bush or not to bush

In the last season of Love Island, contestants shared the extreme measures they were willing to go through to remove hair in their intimate areas, including shaving every day.

Constantly going to these lengths to get rid of pubic hair frequently is not ideal as it can often result in uncomfortable, visible razor bumps, also known as folliculitis.

Former islander Megan Barton Hanson even revealed that she would share razors with other contestants, which can come with its own health risks. Even the best razor can cause tiny nicks on the skin, which makes it easy for germs and viruses to pass from one person to another.

The best thing to do is leave your hair au-natural, as pubic hair protects your intimate health from several infections. However, many people don’t feel comfortable showing theirs off in a swimsuit.

Make sure you research the best method of hair removal for you. Experts recommend trimming or tweezing to keep some pubic hair naturally protecting your intimate area. All methods are safe enough when practised correctly – it is all about education and personal preference.

Wash before use

This year, Love Island announced a partnership with eBay to use pre-loved items on the show. While it can be exciting to find a great deal on an item, it’s important to remember to give everything a wash before you wear it.

Whether your swimwear is brand new or previously loved, clothing can pick up fungus and bacteria when being handled by other people.

Alternatively, new clothes are often washed in harsh chemicals that irritate your intimate areas. Be sure to give your swimsuit a wash in some warm water and gentle detergent and rinse immediately – as a bonus, regularly washing your bathing suits like this will help maintain their colour and shape.