Sitz baths - Gentle care for the intimate area

Sitz baths are a traditional method to care for and support the intimate area. People have long struggled to treat every small skin fold in the intimate area with certain plant extracts or active ingredients. Those who want to apply cream to the intimate area almost never manage to do so completely. A sitz bath is the optimal way to fully treat the intimate area externally.

 

A sitz bath is usually enriched with plant extracts that are meant to have a soothing effect on your intimate area. Sitz baths treat both the anal and genital areas equally. Sitz baths belong to balneotherapy (bath therapy). 

Usually, women take sitz baths, but men can do so as well. A sitz bath is a special tub that places the lower abdomen and thighs in water while leaving the rest of the legs out. Afterwards, an extract or tea-like infusion from medicinal plants is added to the bathwater. These additives are intended to serve therapeutic purposes.

If no sitz bath tub is available, a bathtub or the basin of a shower can also be used, for example. However, for the best benefit, special sitz bath tubs are recommended.

 

There are different types of sitz baths, which differ in water temperature. The most popular is the warm sitz bath, where the water temperature is 37 °C and the bathing time is about 15 minutes. Additionally, there is the temperature-increasing sitz bath. Here, you start with a water temperature of 36 °C and gradually increase it to 40 °C. Cold sitz baths are hardly ever used nowadays. However, you can cool off briefly with cold water after a sitz bath.

The warm sitz bath is recommended for the following complaints:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures in skin or mucous membrane
• Itching in the intimate area
• Inflammations in the intimate area
• Bladder infections 
• psoriasis (scaly skin)

In contrast, the temperature-increasing sitz bath can help in the following cases:

• anal fissures
• constipation
• irritable bladder
• kidney and intestinal colic
• tailbone pain
• muscle tension in the area
• menstrual complaints
• recurrent inflammations of the bladder and prostate

A sitz bath is characterized by the chosen additive. Mostly plant extracts are used, whose gentle properties are intended to be beneficial. We would like to briefly present the most common bath additives for sitz baths:

• Chamomile flowers: Chamomile is the best-known herbal remedy against inflammation, which can also have antibacterial and wound-healing promoting effects. It is especially used for sore spots, menstrual complaints, or inflammations. You can read more about it in our article on chamomile sitz baths .
• Oak bark: Contains tannins that can have an astringent effect. They cause pores to contract. An oak bark sitz bath can be beneficial for mild inflammations as well as burning and itching skin, such as with hemorrhoids.
• Witch hazel: It can have astringent and anti-inflammatory effects and is therefore often used for hemorrhoids. 
• Hay flowers: Hay flower sitz baths are mostly done before birth as part of birth preparation. They are intended to help make the perineal area more stretchable and softer to prevent injuries. 
• Potassium permanganate: A non-herbal additive that can relieve itching and disinfect the skin. It is usually used after medical consultation, especially for dermatitis. 

Attention: Please discuss a sitz bath with your doctor. Herbal additives could cause allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. Additionally, a sitz bath can be stressful for the circulatory system. 

 

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common reasons for using sitz baths. Typical complaints such as pain or itching can be alleviated by them. Although hemorrhoids do not go away, the patient can experience relief. Feel free to take a sitz bath with witch hazel and warm water. Alternatively, clear water alone often helps with hemorrhoids, without any additives.

A sitz bath is often used after vaginal deliveries to support the healing of perineal and vaginal injuries. Soothing ingredients like chamomile are well suited, together with a warm sitz bath. They can also help with disinfection. Before pregnancy, sitz baths with hay flowers can be helpful. So treat yourself to relaxation through sitz baths during pregnancy.

When small cracks occur in the anal area, these are called anal fissures, which can be extremely painful. Sitz baths can relieve this pain and keep the wound clean. Witch hazel and chamomile flowers are typical additives.

 

The effectiveness of sitz baths has not really been explored in studies so far. As is typical for home remedies, hardly any investigations have been conducted. Therefore, clear evidence explaining and proving the possible effects of sitz baths is lacking. Nevertheless, sitz baths are also recommended by medical professionals. 

Sitz baths can definitely be worthwhile. The warm water stimulates blood circulation and is often perceived as pleasant, especially since it relaxes the muscles. Maintaining good hygiene in the injured intimate area can be problematic, which is why sitz baths are convincing again. 

However, there are also risks. Too many sitz baths could inhibit wound healing. Allergic reactions could also cause side effects in sensitive people. Those with an already compromised cardiovascular system may be overstrained by a sitz bath. It is definitely worth consulting a doctor about a sitz bath.

 

For a sitz bath, a special bowl is filled with water, which may contain additives like chamomile blossom extract. You then place your intimate area in this bowl, with the thighs only partially submerged. You stay in this for about 15 minutes. 

First, you need a bowl for sitz baths. Fill it with warm water (37 °C for a warm sitz bath). Add the additive, such as chamomile blossoms, witch hazel, or similar. Then sit with your bare intimate area in the sitz bath bowl for 10 - 15 minutes. Afterwards, gently pat dry, and optionally cool briefly with cold water.

A sitz bath should not last longer than 15 minutes. As a guideline, 10 - 15 minutes apply. Please also note not to take sitz baths too frequently.

You primarily need more water and additives. Fill the bathtub so that your intimate area is completely covered. Now bend your legs so that as much as possible sticks out of the water. You can use a stool for this if necessary. Also note that about twice as much water is needed and accordingly twice as much of the additives.