The Dos and Don'ts of Going Commando Going without underwear is comfy — but is it safe?
Whether you're running low on clean laundry, trying to avoid visible panty lines, or just enjoy feeling the breeze sometimes, chances are you've gone sans panties at some point in your life. It's really not as risqué as it might seem — even in ancient times, loin cloths were mostly optional.
Underwear does double duty, protecting your clothes from discharge and shielding your sensitive areas from chafing — but that doesn't mean it's mandatory. Here's what you need to know if you want to air things out down there.
DO test-drive it at night.
There are a few potential benefits to giving your ladybits a little breathing room, even if you only do it occasionally. "Yeast and bacteria tend to thrive in dark, moist places," says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester County, NY, and the co-author of V is for Vagina. "For girls with irritation or a yeast infection, it's not a bad idea to spend some portion of their day with nothing on." If you feel weird about going commando in public, try it while you sleep.
DON'T stress too much about discharge.
"Apparently the new trend on the block is that nobody should have any vaginal secretions whatsoever," jokes Dr. Dweck. Obviously this isn't true — discharge is totally normal. But if you're wearing light-colored fabric, consider protecting your clothing (and your ego) by wearing an adhesive patch designed to protect your fabric from getting discolored. Bonus: The patches can also keep thick seams from chafing your vaginal area, especially when you're wearing stiff fabrics like denim.
DO consider it as a thong alternative.
Thongs can eliminate panty lines when you're wearing leggings and prevent your briefs from peeking out of short-shorts. But they're not always an ideal undergarment. "Girls who wear thongs may have the potential for bacteria from the rectal area to be dragged up towards the vagina or the urethra, increasing the chance of infection," Dr. Dweck says. Bare skin doesn't cause VPLs either, so going commando can be a good alternative to wearing a tight thong.
DON'T go laundry-crazy.
You may think that without the protective barrier of your briefs, your clothes need to be absolutely spotless. But an overzealous laundry regimen can mess with the sensitive skin down there, so opt for gentle detergents—whether you wear undies or not. "Some girls may benefit from a baby detergent or something hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dye-free," Dr. Dweck says. "All of those things can be irritating on whatever garments are touching their bottoms."
DO give your skin a break.
It's not just about your vagina. Going commando can also give the surrounding area a break from tight elastic that can irritate your skin, especially if you're prone to getting razor burn. If you've just shaved or waxed, Dr. Dweck suggests "cotton or nothing"—in other words, rock a breathable fabric or just go without until your skin calms down.
DON'T hang out in damp clothes.
It's totally okay to go commando under your workout clothes, but the usual rules about damp fabrics apply. "Get out of your wet clothes as soon as you're done working out, and change into something dry," Dr. Dweck says. "Some girls can walk around in the same yoga pants after they've worked out and have no problem whatsoever, and others need to treat the area with kid gloves." Your mileage may vary, but if you tend to fall into the latter category, make sure you pack dry bottoms when you head to the gym.
DO use common sense.
There are certain times where going commando doesn't make sense. If you have a heavy flow and would be hella embarrassed to leak, you may want that extra layer of protection when you have your period. If you're wearing a short skirt, worrying about wardrobe malfunctions all day can get annoying fast. And consider where you'll be hanging out: "I'm not sure I'd sit on the train or bus with a gauze skirt and nothing else," Dr. Dweck says. In the end, it all comes down to what you're most comfortable wearing—or not wearing.
Underwear does double duty, protecting your clothes from discharge and shielding your sensitive areas from chafing — but that doesn't mean it's mandatory. Here's what you need to know if you want to air things out down there.
DO test-drive it at night.
There are a few potential benefits to giving your ladybits a little breathing room, even if you only do it occasionally. "Yeast and bacteria tend to thrive in dark, moist places," says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester County, NY, and the co-author of V is for Vagina. "For girls with irritation or a yeast infection, it's not a bad idea to spend some portion of their day with nothing on." If you feel weird about going commando in public, try it while you sleep.
DON'T stress too much about discharge.
"Apparently the new trend on the block is that nobody should have any vaginal secretions whatsoever," jokes Dr. Dweck. Obviously this isn't true — discharge is totally normal. But if you're wearing light-colored fabric, consider protecting your clothing (and your ego) by wearing an adhesive patch designed to protect your fabric from getting discolored. Bonus: The patches can also keep thick seams from chafing your vaginal area, especially when you're wearing stiff fabrics like denim.
DO consider it as a thong alternative.
Thongs can eliminate panty lines when you're wearing leggings and prevent your briefs from peeking out of short-shorts. But they're not always an ideal undergarment. "Girls who wear thongs may have the potential for bacteria from the rectal area to be dragged up towards the vagina or the urethra, increasing the chance of infection," Dr. Dweck says. Bare skin doesn't cause VPLs either, so going commando can be a good alternative to wearing a tight thong.
DON'T go laundry-crazy.
You may think that without the protective barrier of your briefs, your clothes need to be absolutely spotless. But an overzealous laundry regimen can mess with the sensitive skin down there, so opt for gentle detergents—whether you wear undies or not. "Some girls may benefit from a baby detergent or something hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dye-free," Dr. Dweck says. "All of those things can be irritating on whatever garments are touching their bottoms."
DO give your skin a break.
It's not just about your vagina. Going commando can also give the surrounding area a break from tight elastic that can irritate your skin, especially if you're prone to getting razor burn. If you've just shaved or waxed, Dr. Dweck suggests "cotton or nothing"—in other words, rock a breathable fabric or just go without until your skin calms down.
DON'T hang out in damp clothes.
It's totally okay to go commando under your workout clothes, but the usual rules about damp fabrics apply. "Get out of your wet clothes as soon as you're done working out, and change into something dry," Dr. Dweck says. "Some girls can walk around in the same yoga pants after they've worked out and have no problem whatsoever, and others need to treat the area with kid gloves." Your mileage may vary, but if you tend to fall into the latter category, make sure you pack dry bottoms when you head to the gym.
DO use common sense.
There are certain times where going commando doesn't make sense. If you have a heavy flow and would be hella embarrassed to leak, you may want that extra layer of protection when you have your period. If you're wearing a short skirt, worrying about wardrobe malfunctions all day can get annoying fast. And consider where you'll be hanging out: "I'm not sure I'd sit on the train or bus with a gauze skirt and nothing else," Dr. Dweck says. In the end, it all comes down to what you're most comfortable wearing—or not wearing.
