Are you suffering from an irritated vagina?
Irritated vagina is a common problem amongst women. It can indicate other conditions, like a bacterial infection or yeast infection, but usually vaginal irritation exists on its own. Read on to learn how to soothe irritation and have a healthy vagina again.
Chemical causes
You might be surprised to know that even products meant to be used on or around the vagina may contain chemicals that cause an irritated vagina. If you’ve been using colored toilet paper, scented tampons or pads, or soap with a lot of additives before noticing an irritated vagina, that’s probably the reason. The fragrances and dyes used in things like feminine hygiene products aren’t really gentle enough to be used on the vagina, even though they’re marketed that way. Likewise, soap and laundry detergent is often safe to use on regular skin, but can be too harsh for the vaginal area.
The easiest way thing to do in this case is eliminate items in your household that can cause this kind of irritation. Replace dyed and scented products with plain white, unscented ones. Use a gentle soap without additives. As far as laundry detergent goes, you can try using a detergent made specifically for baby clothes on your undergarments. Eliminating possible chemical causes of irritated vagina should help a lot.
If it is an infection…
With vaginal infections, irritation will not be the only symptoms. The most prominent symptoms of an infection are a smelly vagina and a change in discharge. This can mean more or less discharge, a difference in consistency, or a change in color. You may also experience soreness or redness around the vaginal opening. None of these symptoms are pleasant, but the good news is, it’s pretty easy to treat a vaginal infection that causes irritated vagina.
There are both prescription and at-home remedies for a vaginal infection. If you choose a home treatment, it’s still important to see a doctor to approve your treatment ideas. Sometimes natural remedies are actually better than prescriptions because they tend to have a lower rate of recurrence. You know your body better than anyone, so you’ll know what kind of medication you respond to best.
Preventing irritation
You can prevent an irritated vagina by continuing to use products that don’t contain chemicals, and by avoiding activities that could cause a vaginal infection. These include unprotected sex, excessive douching, and anything else that could throw off the delicate balance of the vagina.
Keeping your vagina free of irritation makes you feel better, inside and out.