1 Summer Discomfort is Environmental Stress, Not Physical Weakness

In summer, we sweat a lot. Humidity is also high. Underwear, sanitary pads, absorbent shorts, and tight clothing can become stuffy. We also tend to sit for long periods, travel, or move around more.

While the air conditioning cools the body, stepping outside makes us sweat. Sweat, sebum, menstrual blood, discharge, urine, friction. Many things tend to accumulate during the summer season.

That's why I view summer discomfort not as "my body is weak," but as "a state where environmental stress is simply increasing."

2 The Day I First Learned About "Intimate Wash"

That was the first time I learned about the existence of such a wash. I must have walked past drugstore and supermarket shelves almost every day, but I hadn't seen it.

I didn't know about its existence, its use, or that it was part of someone's daily life.

But in his family, caring for intimate areas was so integrated into daily life that his son could be asked to buy it. I don't know if that was London culture or French family culture. But I was very surprised.

3 When What Was Unseen Becomes Visible

From that experience, I started to feel one thing:

Humans don't see what they don't recognize, even if it's right in front of them.

In Japan, intimate care products are gradually increasing. I believe this is because the vague discomforts we each held – "somewhat uncomfortable," "but hard to talk about" – are slowly being put into words and becoming visible.

Perhaps the increase in products means that small discomforts someone had are finally being articulated.

4 What is the Intimate Area?

The term "intimate area" is actually used quite vaguely. Here, we will proceed by defining it as the entire area covered by underwear, such as the vulva and groin, which tends to get stuffy.

5 Don't Overwash, But Don't Neglect. Summer Washing Method

Care doesn't mean doing anything special.

• Wash the outer vulva and groin area
• Do not wash inside the vagina
• Wash gently with lukewarm water
• If using a product, choose one designed for intimate areas, such as low-irritation, fragrance-free, and mildly acidic
• Do not scrub vigorously
• Do not overwash
• After washing, gently pat dry without rubbing

I view this care not as a way to eliminate odor, but as a way to reduce discomfort caused by sweat, stuffiness, friction, and irritation.

It's not about pushing yourself to "be clean," but about supporting your daily comfort.

6 What to Choose? How to Select Intimate Care Items

Here are the points I prioritize when choosing:

• Not too strongly fragranced
• Low irritation
• Easy to continue daily
• Suits my skin
• Doesn't overly exploit anxieties with phrases like "feminine scent"
• Gently supports cleanliness and comfort
• In summer, portability and ease of use when traveling are also important

And if you feel it doesn't suit your skin, please stop using it without hesitation. There isn't one right answer; it's okay to start by learning about your options.

7 A Realization: It Wasn't Just About Women

Apparently, when hot days continue, men can also develop bumps or pimples around their intimate areas, or experience itchiness. He told me that he felt the discomfort eased after he started using it. This is purely his personal experience.

At that time, I wasn't fully aware that men also had such a need. At the same time, I realized that having care items that can be used across genders, without overly separating them into "for women" and "for men," allows people to share and empathize with each other's physical discomforts.

Sweat, stuffiness, friction, and discomfort can happen to anyone. Physical worries are not entirely divided by gender.

That's why having care options can even be a small conversation starter with family or partners. I believe there is value in being able to articulate one's physical discomfort, transcending gender.

8 Self-Care You'll Want in Your Summer Pouch

There's no need to aim for a perfect routine. I think it's enough to think of it as "preparing a little before problems arise."

• Carry spare underwear or liners
• Change clothes as soon as possible after sweating
• Set aside days to avoid wearing tight clothing
• During menstruation, choose sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, menstrual discs, or absorbent shorts according to your plans for the day
• Create a small care pouch for travel or outings
• Don't forget hydration, air conditioning対策, and securing a place to rest a little

Hydration, protection from air conditioning, and securing a place to rest are also important self-care practices.

9 fermata's Summer Self-Care Sets

I often hear people say, "I don't know where to start or what to get."

At the fermata store, we offer bundle sets that can be chosen by purpose, such as for summer outings, travel, menstrual care, intimate care, and pelvic floor muscle care.

If it's difficult to choose individual items, I hope these sets can serve as an entry point for finding options that suit you.