To have a scratch for every itch is satisfaction in itself, and when it comes to vaginal itching, this is no lie. A persistent vaginal itch finds every woman battling out the age-old question, To itch or not to itch? While it’s possible to not give in to the itch every once in awhile, at times it seems simply irresistible.
The gnawing constant itch demands to be felt regardless of the embarrassment you will have to go through should the eye of the public catch you. When the itch grabs you as victim, don’t you think that you’re in this alone, women of all ages across the globe grapple with vaginal itching. The itching is sometimes accompanied by burning or irritation, and anyone who’s ever gone through that can vouch for the fact that this is no pretty feeling. Before we reveal to you the home remedies for vaginal itching, here is what you should know to learn more about the condition.
Causes of Vaginal Itching
The causes for vaginal itching are aplenty, hence targeting it to a single cause is often a tricky task. In most cases, the itching is caused by bacterial infections, yeast infections, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, and other chemical irritants. Vaginal pinworm infections can also be one of the reasons behind vaginal itching, though this condition predominates in children. Stress, alongside a weak immune system, increases the likelihood of suffering from this oh-so-uncomfortable condition.
It would seem like the itching was punishment enough, but that’s not all, the condition gets even worse with burning sensation, redness, and swelling as accompaniment. In more serious cases, vaginal discharge is also experienced and anyone who’s actually had to go through this will tell you that there isn’t anything sweet smelling about this entire ordeal, if you know what I mean!
To end the entire fiasco, you need to buck up in the hygiene department and make sure that everything down south is spick and span. Once you have that check-listed, here are some home remedies for vaginal itching that might come in handy.
Try These Home Remedies for Vaginal Itching for Instant Relief
1. Salt water bath
A nice soak in a salt water bath can ease the itching and in turn control the growth of microbes that are causing the infection in the first place. Salt water works to reduce the itching as well as the other symptoms that are causing you discomfort.
Here are two remedies for you to experiment with:
Remedy I
- To a glass of salt water, add a tablespoon of salt.
- Use this to wash the vaginal area when the itch commences.
- This remedy has been proven to provide instant relief.
Remedy II
- Fill a bathtub with warm water.
- To this add half a cup of salt.
- Sit in this bath as you squat for roughly fifteen minutes.
- Repeat this twice or thrice every day for best results.
Caution: However, if you have any open sores or skin tears, it is best that you stay clear of salt remedies.
Related: 11 home remedies for bacterial vaginosis
2. Garlic
Garlic is antibacterial and antibiotic in nature, making it ideal to kill bacteria and yeast in the areas down south. It also gives your immune system quite the boost, aiding in fending off future body infections. To see garlic making it to the list of home remedies for vaginal itching is probably bizarre, but we bet it will easily become your go-to remedy whenever you feel a vaginal itch come again.
Remedy I
- Dilute a few drops of garlic oil in a teaspoon of vitamin E oil.
- Apply this directly to the affected areas.
- Leave this on for about ten minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
- Repeat this twice every day for a couple of weeks.
Remedy II
- Chew about three cloves of raw garlic on a daily basis. You could also opt for garlic supplements once you consult your doctor that is.
Related: How to get rid of vaginal odor?
3. Yogurt
Plain, unsweetened yogurt in its natural form with active cultures is one of the most effective home remedies for vaginal itching as well as the burning sensation in the areas around the vagina. The active cultures control the infection, preventing it from spreading. It also kills yeast and bad bacteria in the vagina, promoting the growth of good bacteria.
You could either:
- Eat a few cups of plain unsweetened yogurt every day or,
- Dip a tampon in yogurt and insert it into the vagina for two hours, repeat this twice every day until you see an improvement.
Related: Easy home remedies for yeast infection
4. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is yet another effective way to get rid of vaginal itching due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also, it restores the natural pH balance preventing further infections from striking.
Remedy I
- Add a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of raw honey to a glass of warm water.
- Drink this twice a day.
Remedy II
- Add two tablespoons of raw, unfiltered ACV to a glass of warm water.
- Rinse the area down south with this twice a day for a few weeks.
Related: How to get rid of genital warts with home remedies?
5. Cold compress
In order to get instant relief from vaginal itching, use a cold compress. This numbs the area reducing the itching and inflammation in the process.
For this remedy:
- Wrap a few ice cubes in a clean cloth.
- Make a pack out of this and place it on the affected area
- Remove after thirty seconds and repeat.
- Repeat this process until the itching subsides
- Use this as and when required.
- You could also rinse the area with cold water a few times every day.
Related: Symptoms and types of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
6. Honey
Unpasteurized honey is one of the mildest home remedies for vaginal itching that you can find. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties that get rid of any microbial infection that could be causing the problem.
Remedies for you to try out:
- Apply unpasteurized honey as an ointment to the affected areas. Leave it on for about 30 minutes. Follow this with a warm water bath. Repeat this at least twice a day.
- You could also eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of unpasteurized honey with a glass of warm water twice daily.
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Keep in mind that if the symptoms do not improve with time, it is best you consult your doctor. While in most cases, the condition can be treated with these home remedies for vaginal itching, there are chances that you have a severe infection, especially when it is accompanied by excess/ smelly discharge. So make sure that you monitor your progress over the weeks.
