Vaginal irritation refers to various uncomfortable sensations affecting the vagina and surrounding area. Symptoms like pain, itching, burning, and dryness can develop due to infections, reactions, or other medical conditions.
Depending on the underlying cause of the vaginal irritation, several treatment options exist to help provide immediate and long-term relief.
This article discusses vaginal irritation and its causes, outlining treatment methods to relieve discomfort.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1156949001-a25aad21574a4ed48760a58f30074063.jpg "Vaginal Irritation Relief: Inside, on Vulva, or Lips (1)")
Describing Vaginal Irritation
Vaginal irritation can include many symptoms that can impact the internal or external parts of the vagina, from pain, burning, and dryness to itchiness, inflammation, and discharge.
Vulva Pain
Pain or soreness often impacts the vulva, the external or outer part of the vagina. More specifically, this pain can affect the labia (lips of the vagina), clitoris, or vaginal opening.
In addition to being generally uncomfortable or painful, this symptom is sometimes described as feeling sharp, stabbing, or burning.
What Causes Clitoris Itching?
Burning Inside or Outside
Some types of vaginal irritation can also cause a burning feeling in the vaginal area, either internally or externally.
Dysuria is a burning sensation inside the vagina that can develop due to vaginal or bladder infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or menopause.
A burning or stinging sensation on the outside of the vagina can happen when an allergen or product irritates the external skin in that area.
Dryness
A dip in estrogen levels around menopause often causes vaginal dryness that is uncomfortable, irritating, and painful. Other hormone-related events like childbirth, breastfeeding, or estrogen-based medications can also prompt this.
Certain types of medications and health conditions may also cause vaginal dryness.
Itching
An uncomfortable, itchy feeling can happen when the skin in the vaginal area becomes irritated, which can be due to such factors as an infection, an allergic reaction, health conditions, or menopause. It's commonly concentrated around the labia or the vaginal opening and may come with other symptoms like swelling or discoloration.
With or Without Discharge
Vaginal irritation symptoms can develop with or without discharge, a natural fluid produced by the vagina.
Normal discharge is clear, white, off-white, or pale yellow and has a characteristic scent. But the abnormal discharge that may develop due to vaginal irritation (like an infection) could be described as chunky, discolored, or foul-smelling.
How to Relieve Vaginal Irritation (Based on Its Cause)
Many different treatment options can help relieve vaginal irritation. However, the best treatment option will depend on the underlying cause of the irritation, which will likely require a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.
Menopause
After menstruation stops (usually around age 50), there is a substantial dip in hormone levels, which can lead to vaginal irritation and symptoms like dryness and itching. This is primarily because a lack of estrogen leads to less natural vaginal moisture.
For vaginal irritation during sexual activity, experts often recommend external moisturizers made for the vulva area or lubricants for internal use. Hormonal therapies involving estrogen can come in a topical or oral format but require a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia describes pain in the vulva that lasts three months or longer and isn’t caused by an infection or other skin or medical condition.
There are several treatment routes that healthcare providers often prescribe to relieve the irritation and discomfort. These can include estrogen cream, pain-relieving topical anesthetics, certain antidepressant or anti-seizure medications, or in-office procedures like ultrasound.
Yeast Infections
Yeast infections (candidiasis) result when there's an overgrowth of naturally occurring fungus in the vaginal area. They're the most common types of vaginal infections that cause vaginal irritation.
To relieve the itchiness and irritation in the vulval area, yeast infections are usually treated by a medicated suppository placed inside the vagina or a prescription oral medication to clear the fungal infection.
While over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can be effective, experts recommend checking with a healthcare provider to ensure the underlying cause is a yeast infection.
Vulvar Dermatitis
Vulvar dermatitis is an inflammation of the external skin surrounding the vagina. It often causes itching, irritation, a rash, and discoloration or redness.
Depending on the severity of a particular vulvar dermatitis case, a healthcare provider might recommend a treatment plan that involves topical prescription medications, like a corticosteroid cream or tacrolimus ointment.
At-home care tips like taking an OTC oral antihistamine, avoiding contact with irritants, and wearing loose-fitting cotton clothing may also help ease irritation and discomfort.
Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a condition that causes patchy, discolored skin on the vulva along with itching, soreness, pain, and easy bruising and bleeding. The cause of lichen sclerosus is unknown but is thought to be due to a combination of genetics, an overactive immune system, and previous skin damage or irritation. Postmenopausal females are most frequently affected.
Vulvar lichen sclerosus is typically treated with topical steroids like clobetasol (sold under the brand names Dermovate, ClobaDerm, Etrivex, and others). Symptoms tend to resolve after several weeks with twice-daily application. Thereafter, the condition can be controlled with twice-weekly application (which also reduces the risk of steroid side effects, like skin thinning).
Another option is a topical calcineurin inhibitor called Protopic (tacrolimus). Protopic comes in two strengths, 0.1% and 0.03%, and can be used to treat and prevent flare-ups.Protopic may be used in combination with topical steroids or as an alternative to topical steroids.
Trichomoniasis
One of the most common STIs is trichomoniasis. This STI often causes vaginal discharge, irritation, itchiness, discomfort, and pain while urinating.
Treatment options for clearing trichomoniasis include oral prescription medications like metronidazole or tinidazole. It can take up to a week after completing the course of treatment to get relief from the irritation.
Living With Chronic Vaginal Irritation
For some people, vaginal irritation can be occasional, either clearing up on its own or with a short course of treatment. But chronic vaginal irritation that lasts for three months or more can take a toll on your daily life.
The first step is seeking treatment for the cause of the irritation. If that's still not bringing relief, or if the issue is recurring, a healthcare provider may suggest the following:
- Avoiding physical irritants like materials or ingredients
- Using OTC oral or topical pain relieving medications to help ease discomfort
- Trying pelvic floor therapy for bladder or sexual function-related issues
- Looking into nerve block injections or neurotherapy to help numb the pain from vulvodynia
It may help to known that vaginal irritation is quite common. One study found that half of postmenopausal people experienced vaginal discomfort, with 80% of those participants reporting that the vaginal irritation has negatively impacted their lives.
Other research estimates that more than half of all people with a vagina older than 24 will have at least one experience with vaginal irritation or discomfort.
Hygiene Steps to Prevent or Minimize Vaginal Irritation
Vaginal irritation isn't always preventable. However, there are some general steps that experts recommend taking to help avoid or minimize the discomfort. These include:
- Using water and unscented mild soap to clean the area
- Avoiding douching
- Wearing breathable cotton underwear
- Avoiding irritating ingredients in products like perfumes or body wash
- Keeping the site dry and changing out of bathing suits or damp clothing as soon as possible
- Using cool compresses to reduce irritation
- Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the area to protect the skin after showering
Summary
Vaginal irritation can include pain, a burning sensation, dryness, itching, and discharge that's experienced in the internal or external parts of the vagina. Infections, health conditions, reactions, STIs, and menopause can cause it.
Depending on the underlying cause of vaginal irritation, treatment options to relieve the discomfort may include prescription medication from a healthcare provider. At-home remedies like keeping the area dry, avoiding irritating products, and applying cool compresses are also recommended.
