Why is my vulva itchy?

Vulvar itching is a condition that is more common in women, because the skin of the female vulva is particularly sensitive, and this area is easily exposed to a lot of waste and toxins. If it is not cleaned regularly, it may cause vulvar inflammation, resulting in itching, making people feel uncomfortable. Sometimes vulvar itching is also related to the material of women's underwear. So what is the reason for itching on one side of the vulva?

Vulvar itching often occurs in the vagina, on the outside of the labia majora, mons pubis, clitoris, labia minora, and perineum, and can spread to the vicinity of the anus. It is a type of localized pruritus. The itching is often unbearable, often occurring at night. It often worsens during menstruation or after eating spicy food. Vulvar itching often manifests as paroxysmal, but sometimes persistent, often worsening at night. Severe itching causes restlessness. Long-term itching can cause ulceration, redness, swelling, or secondary infection. Due to long-term scratching, local infiltration, hypertrophy and pigmentation may occur. The diagnosis is easy based on the clinical presence of only secondary skin lesions and no primary skin lesions.

Most girls suffering from this disease are ashamed to seek medical treatment and often do not receive timely treatment. As time goes by, the itching becomes stubborn, which affects their mental health and even their study and work in severe cases.

There are many reasons for vulvar itching. In summary, the most common local factors causing this disease are:

①External stimulation. Sometimes birth control pills can also cause itching. Itching can also be caused by tight underwear, friction between underwear, and irritation from menstrual belts. Vulvar itching can be caused by not paying attention to the hygiene of the vulva, irritants from vaginal secretions, vulvar secretions, sweat, moisture, immersion, chemical fiber underwear, unqualified menstrual belts, rough toilet paper, allergies caused by vulvar and vaginal medication, and frequent washing of the vulva with soap. Vulvar itching is often accompanied by anal itching, which is related to irritation from external hemorrhoids, long-term incontinence, anal fistula, anal fissure, anal excrement and fecal residues.

②Local diseases of the vulva. Local diseases of the vulva include gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis, fungal or Trichomonas vaginitis, scabies, pubic lice, ringworm, atrophic keratotic lichen, leukoplakia, enterobiasis, contact dermatitis, cervicitis, etc. Anal itching in female children is often caused by pinworms and often worsens at night. In addition, anal itching often spreads to the vulva and causes itching. Apocrine prurigo and sweat gland follicle keratosis can also cause severe vulva itching.

③Systemic diseases. Systemic diseases mainly include diabetes, anemia, leukemia, polycythemia, skin diseases, hepatobiliary diseases (such as jaundice), kidney diseases, lymphoma, etc. In addition to general itching, vulvar itching is often accompanied. According to statistics, 3.4% of 500 diabetic patients had localized itching, mainly vulvar itching.

④Mental factors. If you are worried, depressed, nervous, or irritable, you will often feel itchy vulva, and the more you scratch, the more itchy it becomes.

⑤Dietary factors. Lack of iron, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin E, fat, etc. in food can cause dryness, flaking and itching of the vulvar skin.

⑥ Idiopathic vulvar pruritus: The cause is unknown and is related to emotional disturbance or certain minor stimuli.

treat:

If vulvar itching occurs, first of all, you should pay attention to the cleanliness of the vulva, do not use soap to wash the vulva; try to restrain scratching and rubbing the affected area; avoid spicy food; be careful to avoid emotional depression and tension. If the symptoms still cannot be relieved, you should go to the hospital to find out the cause of the itching and treat it accordingly.

During treatment, chronic lesions must be removed, so it is necessary to inquire about the medical history in detail, actively look for the causes, and make corresponding external treatments to achieve twice the result with half the effort. For example, if vulvar pruritus is caused by diabetes, the itching can often be relieved by actively controlling diabetes. When female patients have Trichomonas or fungi, in addition to placing corresponding suppositories in the vagina every night, the former can take metronidazole and the latter can be treated with itraconazole one-day therapy. Leucorrhea will be reduced after treatment. If you have pubic lice, you can use 30% Stemona tincture to treat it. If you have gonorrhea, you can use Linbizhi or Junbizhi to treat it. If you have non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, you can use Minocycline or Azithromycin to treat it. After treatment, the amount of leucorrhea will be reduced, and the irritation to the vulva will also be reduced, and the vulvar itching can be relieved. Taking antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine, antalol, ketotifen, etc. has a calming and antipruritic effect. Topical medications include corticosteroid creams and ointments. If only the vulva is itchy and the vulva skin is not thickened, you can use creams such as Conalor or Cialis Cream. If local infiltration and hypertrophy occur after scratching, irritating drugs can be used to avoid contact dermatitis and complicate the condition.