5 Body Parts to NEVER Put Lotion
5 Body Parts to NEVER Put Lotion
Keeping your skin supple and moisturized is important and most lotions can be rubbed on much of the body and used safely and effectively with no side effects. However, burning, stinging, redness, irritation or even worse may occur if you put lotion on some body parts that lotion was never intended to be.
Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of skin infection like oozing, heat, swelling, redness, or pain.
- Bleeding that is not normal from the affected part.
- Fever.
If you use lotion on a daily basis, according to our good friend Dr. Jen, here are five places on your body that you should never put lotion:
1. Your Arpmits
You don’t want to put lotion on your armpits or under your armpits because this is an area that you want to keep dry and fresh.
That goes for if you sweat a lot too. A damp underarm not only makes your body odor smell bad, it can also cause infection underneath the skin. Top dermatologists recommend you drink PLENTY of water. Water is not only great for staying healthy, it is great for reducing sweat too! Water helps to keep your inner body temperature lower, therefore limiting the need for your body to produce sweat.
2. Your Genital Area and Your Butt
Lotions and other skin products contain chemicals and natural ingredients not found inside the vagina or around the head of the penis. As the vagina stays healthy by keeping a delicate acidic pH, putting a sheet mask on or in your vagina could disrupt the balance and result in a yeast infection or bacterial infection. The skin around the vulva is sensitive, and putting harsh chemicals in that area to exfoliate or prevent aging can be very irritating to the area.
3. Your Face
Now, this is said with a lot of caution because we think lotion on our face is okay. But in reality, it’s not. When we run out of our regular face cream, body lotion often becomes the go-to product for the face. However, it should not be used on delicate facial skin. As body lotion is thicker in density and greasier, its oily texture can clog facial skin pores and cause an acne breakout. Also, body lotions tend to have artificial fragrances. These may lead to an allergic reaction.
4. Between Your Toes
The American Diabetes Association says that you should avoid putting lotion between your toes for a number of reasons.
People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Even ordinary problems can get worse and lead to serious complications. So they say to moisturize your feet, but avoid moisturizing between your toes in order to keep infections from growing and causing even more problems.
The also caution to keep your toenails trim, and use an emery board to file down sharp edges. Check your feet for sores, cuts, blisters, corns, or redness daily. Let your doctor know if you find any of these.
5. Your Belly Button
If you have an inward belly button, avoid putting lotion in your belly button at all costs. Lotion in your belly button can further promote bacterial organisms in that area. Now, if you were to look at your belly button, Dr. Jen says it’s like a cave; it’s dark and full of moisture which means its ripe for nasty infections.
All in all, keep your body soft and healthy by knowing where to put (and where not to put) lotion.