Kristin’s question: I know this isn’t actually a beauty question, but I can’t seem to find any good information on this topic. It turns out I can’t use “personal lubricants” with glycerin because they give me yeast infections. I’d prefer to stay away from parabens as well, just as a precaution. One option appears to be an aloe vera gel based lubricant. I believe aloe is mostly water, so it seems safe on that count. But is there any other reason why it might be unsafe to use?
Sarah Bellum says:
Before I answer your question, Kristen, I have a question of my own for Lefty and Righty: Why do I always get stuck answering questions like this??? First it was intimate shaving and Go Commando panty-free patches, then it was enhancement creams, now it’s personal lubricants. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find appropriate pictures for these posts?? And meanwhile, Righty gets to blog about goat poop! It’s not fair!! Ok, now that I’ve got that out of my system, I’ll continue..
Why did you single out glycerin as the problem? As far as I can tell, there’s nothing unique about glycerin that would make it promote yeast infections. Maybe a better question to ask is: what does cause yeast infections?
Causes of yeast infections
There are many factors that contribute to candidiasis including:
- Antibiotic treatments
- Oral contraceptives
- Hot weather or non-ventilating clothing, which increase moisture and warmth, fostering fungal growth
- Repeated intercourse over a short period of time
- Stress
- Suppressed immune system (including HIV)
- High carbohydrate intake, especially refined sugars and alcohol
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Irritants such as soaps, powders, new detergents and other products
Could it be that you’ve been using a glycerine based product that contains another ingredient that’s upsetting your system? Maybe a preservative? You could try another glycerin based lube with different ingredients. Or, try a silicone based product that’s free of glycerin. That way you could tell for sure if glycerin is causing the problem. To help you in your quest, we present the carousel of love lubricants. Click at your own risk.
Not so pure aloe vera
If you do insist on looking for an aloe based product, make sure you know what you’re getting into. Most of the 100% pure products I’ve seen have other ingredients. Here are a few quick examples:
Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel
Aloe Vera Gel, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer 940, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea
GNC Aloe Vera SKin Gel
Water, Glycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Jason Natural Cosmetics Aloe Vera 98%, Moisturizing Gel
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Gel (Aloe Vera), Aqua (Purified Water), Glycerin (Vege), Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Potassium Carbomer, Arginine, Menthol (Natural), Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Essential Oil Blend
Aubrey Organics 100% Aloe Vera
Organic Aloe Vera, Aloe Vera Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).
So chose your aloe carefully!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Before you jump to aloe products that aren’t designed for intimate use, you should be sure that glycerin is causing the problem. And in conclusion I say that Lefty has to answer the next “intimate” question we get!
What do YOU think? Any nightmare stories about yeast infections to share with the rest of the Beauty Brains community. Or any lubricant tips for Kristin? Or better yet, any “intimate” questions for Lefty?
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I was under the impression that silicone based lubricants were not so healthy to use “down there” either
My doctor suggested using crisco- yes the crisco in a can or bottle!- as a personal lubricant. It works amazing and won’t interrupt your bacterial balance- which creates infections and irritation. Another great solution for frequent yeast infections is to visit your local health food store and buy some Probiotics- good bacteria that prevents vaginal infection and irritation. High quality ones can be pricey, but are worth every penny!!!! They saved me!!!!
K:
I’ve never really understood how probiotics would help an infection in the vagina. If I assumed that the bacteria could survive the trip through the digestive tract, I could see how it maybe could help with gastrointestinal problems, but how would the “good” bacteria get to the vagina? Is it like, a suppository for the vagina (what would that be called)?
Kristen,
I’m allergic to Glycerin as well as Latex, so sex has been tricky for my husband and I. I cannot use KY, or any glycerine based soap like vegetable soaps or Pears, I can’t even use Jergens…
I’ve switched to a different brand of lube called “Love Jelly” contains no glycerin, but it’s from Japan so I have to order it… The Silicone lubes feel WEIRD, and I cannot adjust to the dry, yet silky feel… Good luck, I hope you find something. Maybe try a personal vaginal moisture replacement such as vagisil?
Just a thought.
best, Serena K.
left brain,
I see you did your research on what causes yeast infections, but Glycerin is highly irritating, and is Painful when you’re allergic to it. Causing burning of the facial skin, and delicate folds near and around the vagina, errupting the balance of friendly bacteria.
It’s terrible being allergic to Glycerin because it’s in SO many products.
one thing that I also wanted to say about Aloe is that it can tend to become very sticky and dry, and end up like dried rubber cement, rolling up into little balls… it’s happened by just putting on skin after sunburns…
Have you tried a product called “Pre Seed?” formulated to be sperm friendly [but if you're using condoms or the pill you should be ok..] It’s a gentle formula not sure if it contains glycerin or not though.
Look it up on google… Pre-seed lubricant
SK
I had a lot of trouble with glycerine-containing lubes as well. Let’s just say they exacerbated the problem. Do not buy any lubes from the drug store! They’re poor quality for something you’re going to be rather intimate with. Some of them even contain honey! You really have to read the labels. My suggestion would be for you to go to your local sex shop, where they’ve got a good selection and you can read all the labels and talk to the shop assistants. I don’t know where you are, but if you’re anywhere near Portland, OR, there are lots of places to choose from.
I use a product called Sylk it is a personal lubricant made from extract of the kiwi fruit, i find it is the best, non irritating and nice and slippery, not sticky. It is made in New Zealand, so I am not sure if it available in America.
Good Question Non Ame!
Probiotics are most commonly found in pill form. I don’t know exactly how probiotic bacteria taken orally “gets into” the vagina. Probiotics support the growth of healthy bacteria in the body. I suffered for 6 MONTHS with vaginal bacterial infections, yeast infections and bladder infections constantly and tried all sorts of antibiotics and meds. NOTHING WORKED- and I wasn’t sexually active!! I bought probiotics from my health food store and have been problem free since! It just works!!! They have different formulas for different purposes, like intestinal health, vaginal support, immune support etc.. They have cured my mother of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
As far as your idea of a suppository, I know from experience that if you take plain, Activa yogurt, soak a tampon with it, and sleep with it in for two nights- it will cure any yeast infection or irritation, and you feel relief immediately. The good bacteria in the yogurt combats the yeast overgrowth, and the cooling effect relieves itching.
Douching and using anti-bacterial soaps near your vagina can also throw off your bacterial balance and create irritation.
These are what I take:
http://www.pearlslife.com/go/Pearls/productDetail.aspx?alias=Pearls&tabalias=productDetail&partcode=04314
Having bacterial imbalances are incredibly common because of our highly-processed foods, all the prescription drugs we take, the the chemicals in our water.
I’ve sometimes punctured a good Vitamin E capsule (I trust Solgar) and used it as a lubricant just for my own comfort. I imagine it would work well for sex, too.
I looked into the ingredients for Pre-seed and it contains absolutely No glycerine…We use it often with no irritation or Y.I. at all…
good luck
I have a terrible time using any intimate products that include propylene glycol. It took me YEARS to figure out why I always, without fail, ended up with a whopping case of vaginitis whenever I used lube, spermicide, and even the creams used to treat yeast infections! I finally winnowed the possible culprit down to propylene glycol. Since ceasing to use any products that contain it, I have not had a single bout of vaginitis. Not one. I bet I am not the only woman out there to have this kind of sensitivity.
vegitable glycerin IS a carbohydrate which is a form of sugar and if it is going directly in your private area that’s why it can promote yeast.. which could turn into a yeast infection.. check out this website i just found this lube, it sounds good, it has aloe in it.. i have not tryed it yet, but if anyone does let me know how it is: http://www.organiclubricant.com/firefly
i’ve used Nature’s Finest Skin Oil with Vitamin E with Aloe Vera and it works brilliant. No irratation at all, and that’s saying something for someone whose skin is as sensitive as mine!
it also has absolutley no glycerine in it as far as i know.
ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract.
you can get it at wallgreens
Hi, I know this post is kind of old, but I had to comment. You’re not alone, and glycerine definitely can contribute to Yeast Infections. I developed a glycerine sensitivity (not quite an allergy…) from using Astroglide for about a year and a half after I switched BC brands, which dried me out.
I found a great alternative. Wet brand lubricant makes a new line called “Wet Naturals,” specifically for the glycerine free crowd. It comes in water-based (blue cap), silicone based (lavender cap), and even strawberry flavoured (pink cap). I don’t like flavoured lubes, but I have tried the other two and my chronic YIs cleared right up. I just buy mine at CVS. Good luck!
I had a lot of problems with regular lubricants found in stores. Since reading Gorgeously Green, I tried jojoba oil (or you can try sesame or almond), it’s very oily but it works wonders and I have no irritations whatsoever! But it’s mandatory the oil is organic. Sex is just much more fun with this natural, easy alternative! If you want something that is more creamy, try egyptian magic cream (it’s an all purpose but is perfect for sex) http://www.egyptianmagic.com.
I have had a time finding a lubricant that doesn’t break me out, or cause some kind of infection. The propolyene glycol, and numerous other ingredients in just don’t work for me. I ‘ve found some natural lubricants in health food store’s that work, but the supply is limited and some of them also have glycerin that can contribute to yeast infections. There was an organic one I loved but the company went out of business. I recently found another company Yes,Yes,Yes, that also makes an organic lubricant, water and oil based. They have all kind of scientific information to read on their product. It works good. One draw back is you have to order it out of the UK, and you have to order it before it runs out because it takes a few days to get here, and the shipping cost is high. I would also like to know who makes up those over the counter lubricants- a man or a woman? I tend to think the first one. Obviously whoever they are they have never delt with yeast infections.
It’s strange, I started using that Yes product just mentioned, and at first it seemed good, but after having a baby, when my husband and I started doing the deed again, it seems to give me an almost instantaneous yeast infection. I have a theory that because it has no preservatives, and the expiration date they give seems to make it last only three months, maybe if it is expired (which ours was due to the baby hiatus) then it causes infection. Or maybe my chemistry is just different since the baby. Weird, but thanks to the other comments I think I’m going to try some of the alternatives mentioned.
I should add that probiotics have not noticeably helped me with the problem of frequent yeast infections.
If you’re looking for a good Aloe Vera lubricant. Try AloeLife.com’s (Personal Gel Lubricant). I love it.
Hi ladies–
Coconut oil is an amazing lubricant, and it actually gently combats yeast!
I wonder if any has tried using plain honey? or over ripe bananas?