Don't Use Nivea Men's "Cool" Body Wash On Your Junk
Reader Keith wrote to us with a cautionary tale regarding Nivea men's "cool" body wash. To Keith's surprise, the product contains menthol which had an adverse effect when he used it on his body, specifically, his genitals. Much like the old Icy Hot in the the jock strap trick, it made his boys burn. To dispel any doubters, Keith says, "And no I do not have an STD, this is Nivea body wash related." His letter, inside...
Im a big reader of the blog. And I get a lot of info off of your site. It's fucking awesome to say the least. You tell the good and the bad. Well unfortunately, I am here to warn people about the new mens body wash line by Nivea. There is a cooling body wash and another one. I have experience with the cooling body wash as of 10 minutes ago. It has menthol in it for cooling you down so they say.
But they forgot that if you put a menthol like product on the most sensitive part of the male anatomy, then it creates immense irritation down there. Much like putting Ben Gay or Icy Hot down there. So yea I'm suffering now because Nivea decided to make a cooling body wash and I bought and tried it. Please post a warning for other males that read The Consumerist. This is a horrible product that obviously was not tested on actual people because they would have pulled it right off when the tester's penises started to burn. And no I do not have an STD, this is Nivea body wash related. Thanks.
Ouch! We're sorry to hear that Keith. We agree that a product that proclaims to be "body wash" should have some type of warning to help protect their customers' packages. At least, you are now wide awake and don't have to spend $4.50 on that Sturbuck's Frappuccino.
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Comments:
Why is this guy washing his genitals in the first place? Just leave 'em be.
What was the product designer thinking?!
@MeSoHornsby: @LikwidFlux: I would assume that he was washing his genitals while taking a shower. That strikes me as a pretty normal thing to do.
I once ran out of toilet paper and only had those kleenex with the menthol in them, ahem, available. I feel your pain. I know longer by anything with menthol in it...
Some people might like that kinda thing
I wiped my mouth off with some of the lotion kleenex and it made my lips numb for a good 15 minutes.
Watch out, don't sprinkle any Bold Bond powder on your sensitive bits as well then!
I always thought the icy hot was slightly pleasant...
@Meisterjager: Does that also go for people who enjoy having cigarettes extinguished on their genitals? Would it make a difference if it were a menthol cigarette?
Hey, since the death of the late, great George Carlin, SOMEBODY needs to pick up the slack and think about this!
Not to steal anyone's thunder here, but is there a "don't use this product on your genitals" warning on the packaging? 'Cause if there is, it's too small - the OP didn't see it. It should be right on the front:
"Nivea DO NOT WASH YOUR GENITALS WITH THIS body wash."
Oh, the giggle monster is here to stay! *giggle*
i would think that "body wash" means it can be used on the entire body - the story and the pic is priceless though
Thats nothing. Now denorex on the nuts hurts...
@azgirl:
I will see your kleenex, and raise you an armor-all leather wipe.
Don't ask why armor-all leather wipes were in the bathroom...
Beer is a hell of a drug...
Guess what? Menthol burns your nuts. MOVE ALONG. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
Oddly enough the minty lubes out there create quite the pleasurable effect. Too bad it doesn't apply in this situation.
I'm not a guy and I even feel his pain. Sorry guy.
Even with a disclaimer how is a body wash product supposed to be used without it coming into contact with genitals? Soaping up and rinsing will wash the product to that area--it's a gravity thing and all. Granted, flowing across the genitals is not the same as being rubbed in, but I doubt much pressure is exerted when washing that particular body part anyway. But again, I am not a guy so I really wouldn't know.
It seems to me if a body wash is too irritating to comfortably wash the genitals, it has no business being a marketed as a body wash at all. It's like a shampoo with a disclaimer, "May cause irritation to skin upon contact." It would be mighty difficult to use a shampoo that can only touch your hair not your skin.
@PHX602: Wow, I first hear about George Carlin here... Don't wash your genitals for too long, or else you'll just have to start over. I started washing mine, and after scrubbing for a while, I realized I need more soap than I previously thought. You'll be missed, George.
reporting in legendary post, i.e. everyone seems to agree that this time, for once, it's not the consumer's fault.
Once I got Biofreeze on my nuts. It's a topical analgesic like Icy Hot containing menthol and camphor. The moments immediately following were an electrifying experience.
Rubbing some Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap all over your package will make you forget you ever even heard about Nivea's product.
this guy must have really sensitive junk..ive been using nivea for men bodywash (now called Cool bodywash) off and on for over 5 years and my boys feel just fine
@wring: I disagree. Some people LIKE that menthol -> junk feeling. Like hewhoroams and Meisterjager. It's really the OP's fault for A) not reading the damn bottle and B) Not being open minded to new experiences...
I appreciate the extreme candor and honesty you fellows are showing about scrubbing the nads with mentholated goo.
Be assured that the ladies also know whereof you speak. I wore pantyhose way too long on a hot day when I was in college, and my inner thighs looked like a bad sunburn. Thinking that mentholated aloe gel worked well on sunburn, I applied it liberally to the hurty spots. "OW OW OW OW OW OW," I said (not without a certain amount of fervor and emphasis), shot straight up off the bed about two feet, and ran, not walked, to the shower. (Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for handheld shower heads.)
I always watch out for menthol in any body products. I can't stand this "cooling" anywhere on my body. That sucks, dude!
The "Fresh" Pert Plus is the same stuff, makes my scalp burn.
This thread is just chocked full of entirely TMI.
did it ever occur to any of you guys/gals that the OP just couldn't "handle" it?
Maybe he "manscapes" down there. That could certainly be a bad combo.
The only thing to ever cause me any kind of genital discomfort was when I used regular, no-frills shaving cream during deforestation. Nothing else bothers me.
As for the product itself, you have to agree that's not very well thought out, since it flows DOWN.
Geez, fellahs, MAN UP!
Tip: the letter-writer should avoid Nivea's other product, Nivia Hot Dripping Candlewax Skin Conditioner.
Pics or it didn't happen
I don't remember if it's from Nivea, but there's currently a bottle of body wash in our linen closet my husband ceased to use for that very reason. I'm going to have to go home and check if it has menthol...
Why AREN'T you washing your genitals... kinda part of the daily routine, like washing arms, legs, body, face etc.
Also thanks for the heads up, really took one for the team.
Why AREN'T you washing your genitals...
Man, if I had a nickel for every time someone asked me that...
@juniper: Not to steal anyone's thunder here, but is there a "don't use this product on your genitals" warning on the packaging?
No, but there is a warning that says in bold stop use if irritation develops.
This brings me to another point: everyone is different. It's really hard to formulate an effective product for millions of people and not have any adverse reactions. So if your mouthwash turns your teeth brown, then call Crest, get your free cleaning, and move on.
Just don't assume that everyone would have the same problems you do and that it points to an inherent product flaw.
Tinky, might I suggest an electric razor first? That will reduce the drag on your shaving razor...
This thread is pretty entertaining, but on a serious note, I have to point out that all these "body wash" products and other personal care items like "lotion kleenex" are really unhealthy.
The manufacturers use petro-chemical byproducts in them to save $$ and they pretend like it's a "bonus." There are also estrogenic chemicals such as parabens and soya in products like this.
It's much better for you to use castille soaps like Dr. Bronner's, or vegetable derived products like those made by Aubrey. (Even a lot of the "organic" products contain these bad ingredients.)
His burning genitals were worth the pairing of the story and the photograph. Great work on that.
@orielbean: Know what's funny? Electric razors give me more trouble than a disposable one. Body wash and an Extreme 3 and I'm done in a minute or so. I nick myself maybe once or twice a year.
I'm pretty sure I've never used Nivea before. I might pick a little up and see if I get any irritation down there as someone who's shaved for the better part of a decade.
For SCIENCE!
haha, the Burning Man pic is priceless.