In recent years wet wipes (also called intimate wipes or wet toilet paper) have become fashionable. There are many varieties on the market: natural, with neutral soap, aloe vera, perfume….
In my opinion, this option for personal hygiene after bowel movements should be used only sporadically, as they are not good for the anal skin in the long term. In fact, many patients who come to our practice for itching, perianal dermatitis or anal itching use them on a regular basis.
What is in the wipes?
All wet wipes contain soap and cosmetics, so when they are used, the area is not rinsed afterwards. Unlike what happens when we wash our hands, we first wet them and then rinse them thoroughly with water. It would be, for example, as if we were drying our hands with soap suds. Doing it once would be fine, but if we did it continuously we would end up with irritations, itching, dermatitis and other complications.
So, the best cleaning after bowel movements is water, alone, without soap. This is not easy to do, especially outside the home, but if we are at home or in a place with a proper bathroom, I advise not to use these wipes. Our skin will thank us for it.