Menopausal vulvar itching

Menopause is probably a period that every woman does not want to face, because when a woman enters menopause, it means that the woman has entered old age from middle age. In addition, normal menopausal women will also experience a special phenomenon in their bodies, which is amenorrhea. Amenorrhea also indicates that the secretion of female hormones in this woman's body has completely stopped. But what about vulvar itching during menopause?

1. Causes of menopausal vulvar itching: chronic local irritation

The most common cause of vaginitis is excessive discharge. The acidity of secretions decreases, which causes changes in the bacterial flora in the vagina and makes local inflammation more likely to occur. Many people also experience thinning of the vulva skin, disappearance of subcutaneous fat, and atrophic changes that can extend to the entire vulva and anus, manifesting as wrinkled, hardened, and whitening skin, and on this basis, vulvar skin diseases may occur. These changes constantly stimulate the nerve endings in the area, causing unbearable and stubborn vulvar itching, which is difficult to distinguish from skin diseases such as lichen sclerosus and vulvar leukoplakia.

2. Causes of vulvar itching during menopause: varicose veins

It causes skin nutritional disorders and changes in peripheral nerve excitability, resulting in itching; repeated scratching can lead to chronic eczema, simple lichen sclerosis, and even develop into vulvar leukoplakia.

3. Causes of menopausal vulvar itching: allergic reactions

Such as drug rash, urticaria, especially when the vulva is in direct contact with some irritating soaps, vulvar medications, use of contraceptive devices or jelly, can also cause severe vulvar itching and even dermatitis. Therefore, when you have vulvar itching, you must not take medicine at will. It is best to let the doctor find out the cause and then treat it according to the doctor's advice.

4. Skin diseases as the cause of menopausal vulvar itching

Vulvar skin diseases secondary to systemic skin diseases: such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, chronic eczema and lichen planus.

5. Causes of vulvar itching during menopause: stimulation from sweat and anal secretions

For example, high sugar content in the urine of diabetic patients; long-term pyuria and other irritations during urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence; and irritation during defecation caused by long-term use of laxatives can also cause itching of the vulva and perianal area. In obese people, the secretions of sweat glands and sebaceous glands decompose and hide in the wrinkles of vulvar skin, which softens and rubs the skin, and is often the cause of itching.

Nursing for menopausal vulvar itching

1. The clothes you wear on a daily basis should be loose, breathable, comfortable, soft, and moisture-absorbent. It is best to wear underwear made of pure cotton, or underwear made of chemical fibers such as acrylic.

2. The female vulva has a self-cleaning function and only needs to be washed two or three times a week. It can be washed with warm water at other times. It is best not to use soap, salt water or any detergent when cleaning, because the detergents contain alkaline ingredients. Excessive cleaning and disinfection will cause imbalance of vulvar flora, leading to local inflammation and making the itching more severe.

3. At home, you can use a thick, cold towel to wet the vulva. Wash the towel every 3 minutes and do not make it hot. Continue to apply the cold compress until the itching in your vagina stops.

4. When using toilet paper, be sure to use the correct method and try to keep it dry.

5. Sitting bath with Chinese medicine decoction is a commonly used external treatment for vulvar itching, usually for 10 to 15 minutes each time, once a day.

Basic formula: 30 grams of Sophora flavescens, 15 grams of Cnidium monnieri, 15-30 grams of wild chrysanthemum, 10 grams of mint (added later), and 9 grams of Phellodendron chinense. Take a sitz bath with the decoction for 10 to 15 minutes, once a day. By adding or subtracting this basic formula, it can be used to treat itching caused by various diseases.