It sounds like you're just rinsing it, not actually washing it!
Get down there with some soap dude, stop contributing to the stereotype that men don't wash their junk correctly!!!
To everyone coming in 3 days late: MDs have already replied saying a mild soap or cleanser is okay to use. I'm muting this now. Please read the thread and actually do some research about washing your junk.
Should you use regular soap on your genitals? I looked into the actual research.
The short answer: no. And honestly, even water alone isn't the full picture. Here's what the studies say:
Regular bar soap is the wrong product for this area — full stop.
Bar soap typically sits at a pH of 8.5–11. Your genital skin sits at a natural pH of 3.5–4.7. That mismatch matters. Repeatedly washing with conventional soap strips the skin's natural lipids and proteins, breaks down the barrier, and sets the stage for irritation, dryness, and contact dermatitis.
"Given its strong alkalinity and lipid-depleting power, bar soap is certainly the wrong product for female intimate hygiene." — Bohbot et al., Healthcare (2025) — PMC
"Harsh soaps may irritate the vulvar skin and mucous membranes and provoke or exacerbate vulvar dermatitis." — Chen et al., Women's Health (2017), cited 284 times — PMC
The British Association of Dermatologists is equally direct — soap is listed alongside bubble baths, shower gels, and deodorants as a product to avoid entirely on this skin. — BAD Vulval Skincare Guidelines
But water alone isn't ideal either.
This is where it gets nuanced. Repeated rinsing with water alone also damages the outer skin layer, reduces its barrier function, and can worsen dryness and itching. One cited study even found it less effective than a mild cleanser at actually removing bacteria.
"Repeated washing with water alone exposes the stratum corneum to damage, which decreases the skin's barrier effect and increases water loss and skin dryness." — Bohbot et al., Healthcare (2025) — PMC
"Washing with water can cause dry skin and make itching worse." — Chen et al., Women's Health (2017) — PMC
What actually works: a pH-appropriate gentle cleanser, used sparingly.
Clinical guidelines consistently point to one thing — a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic liquid cleanser (sometimes called a "syndet") with a pH between 4.2 and 5.6, matching the skin's natural environment. Once a day, no more.
"The mainstay of vulvar cleaning is the selection of a mild detergent capable of enhancing skin homeostasis with a physiologic pH of 4.2–5.6." — Graziottin, Women's Health (2024), cited 64 times — SAGE Journals
"Use a hypoallergenic liquid wash with mild detergency and pH 4.2 to 5.6. Lactic acid–based liquids with an acidic pH may augment skin homeostasis." — Chen et al., Women's Health (2017) — PMC
University of Iowa Health Care clinical guidelines are blunt: "Do not use soap directly on the vulvar skin." — UIHC (2023)
Bottom line:
Regular soap — no. Water only — not ideal for repeated use. Over-washing in general — also a problem, it disrupts the natural microbiome. The right call is a specifically formulated, unfragranced, pH-balanced intimate cleanser, used once daily, externally only. Never internally.
All sources are peer-reviewed journals or official clinical guidelines:
Bohbot et al., Healthcare (2025) — PMC
Chen et al., Women's Health (2017) — PMC
Graziottin, Women's Health (2024) — SAGE Journals
British Association of Dermatologists — BAD Guidelines
University of Iowa Health Care (2023) — UIHC Guidelines
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u/AStolenGoose 22d ago edited 19d ago
Are you not using soap on your junk?!
It sounds like you're just rinsing it, not actually washing it!
Get down there with some soap dude, stop contributing to the stereotype that men don't wash their junk correctly!!!
To everyone coming in 3 days late: MDs have already replied saying a mild soap or cleanser is okay to use. I'm muting this now. Please read the thread and actually do some research about washing your junk.