persistent itching of labia, with treatment; REMAINS!!!!!!

I know this is an old topic but I have the same problem as you all. It started over 2 years ago, it's just an EXTREMELY itchy inner vulva and clitoris and also sometimes vaginal opening. Inner labia has swollen at least 3 times its normal size but I literally can not help but scratch. If anything at all touches the area I am immediately hit with a severe itch. I noticed it flares up when I am spotting or having a period, but I have no idea if that is the cause or not. I went to several different doctors and they did tests for near everything I suppose and could not find the cause. After being humiliated twice by gynos I just gave up on trying to find out what it was. I haven't had the problem for quite some time but it has come back with a vengeance! It's severe and I suspect it is lichen sclerosis because that is the only thing I can think of and it fits the criteria. One thing I suggest to relieve the itching temporarily is Sarna lotion. (DO NOT put this on when skin is raw or cut. It will burn.) Just as you feel an itch come on, put this on. It contains menthol and it's about 10 dollars a bottle at Walmart. It will help greatly but like I said do not apply if the skin is already severely scratched. It's also not made for the vagina so don't over use or put INSIDE the vagina. That would not be good.( If you have eczema Sarna will help that too.) Also the Equate vagicaine is good at numbing area for a bit.Also try not wearing any underwear with loose sweat pants. And cold compresses help too. I don't know how I will ever work or anything when my problem is so severe. I mean what am I supposed to tell my manager? "My vagina is so itchy and swollen that I can't even out on pants let allow come to work." Ugh. Good luck everyone.

Hi,

Not sure if you have found a solution but I heard that severe itch during or after periods could be caused by a lack in iron. Maybe you could try taking iron supplement and see if it works.

There is no one fix-all solution as I believe everyone who suffers from itchy vulva suffers them for a variety of different reasons.

However, based on your description, I believe it is iron-deficiency for you. Maybe you can check that out?

Hi, I have had an ongoing problem with vulval itching and have found that hypercal cream has cleared it up well. It is a natural remedy which is a blend of hypericum and calendular herbs.  Hope that helps someone else out there as well.

Where do you get the hypercal cream?

janeI just bought it from a health shop here in NZ. Weleda is the brand but I am sure others make it too.

Thought I should share this info since I see there are quite a few women suffering from the same issue I did for quite some time. After countless visits to the doctor (which never helped), I was always told I had a yeast infection or prescribed some topical cream that provided brief relief but never solved anything, I realized I had to take a good look at what might be causing it. I was overweight, I was stressed and my diet sucked. There are quite a few foods we eat on a regular basis that cause a lot of inflammation in our bodies. I started working out and I eliminated the inflammatory foods, GLUTEN, dairy and sugar. I didn't realize how many things were laced with gluten that you would never expect...soups, salad dressings, etc. I can say after successfully losing 90 lbs and eliminating the inflammatory foods the vaginal itching went away completely after battling with it for years...using no drugs or creams. Recently I slipped off the bandwagon for a couple months, eating whatever I wanted, dairy, bread, pasta...all things gluten...and guess what returned! The itching...ugh!! I have narrowed it down to a gluten sensitivity. I don't get bloating or pain or any of the other intolerant gluten celiac suffers get, but I definitely have a sensitivity which quite a few people unknowingly suffer from, which I learned from a world class dietician & nutritionist, especially if you're from British and other Caucasian decent. There's a lot to be said about this Paleo lifestyle that some of you may have heard about, it's not a fad. Do your research. Anyway, I'm back off the gluten, which might I add takes four months to completely leave your system so keep that in mind, even one slip can ruin months of hard work. I encourage you to try this if you're at your wits end because chances are it is the cause and nothing else has worked. It's not an allergy to soaps, perfumes, or clothes being too tight, it's an allergy coming from within and what we put into our mouths everyday. I hope this info helps.

I have finally cured this problem and I wanted to come back here and write about it in the hopes that it may help someone else suffering from this insane itching! I cured it by changing the ph of my body. The cause is an acidic ph.  Research foods that are alkaline forming and get your ph up so you are alkaline. Eat lots of fruits and vegs and lay off the meat and cheese and grains. Once you get your ph up you can have something once in awhile. I made the mistake of binging on vacation on all acidic forming foods and the problem returned. I took me about a week to get back to normal again. Also use Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. And you can get ph drops to add to your water at the health food store. Good luck. 

This makes sense to me; I have been using 'candida' pellets x 3 3x day for itch...will get back to cider vinegar...I am also eating massive 'sauerkruat' that's supposed help, too

TRY coconut oil; it helps! amazing

COCONUT oil is amazing; my dentist says my SMILE is brilliant (toothpaste half coconut oil+half baking soda...use it as face cream & also body 'butter'...as for yeast, it's a temporary fix lasting only about an hr...does relieve itch TEMPORARILY!

I am not saying this will work for everyone but, think about it. When your skin is itchy what sometimes helps?? Lotion. You can't put lotion on your vulva so you buy KY or organic coconut oil and every time you feel you are getting itchy go apply it. Apply a good amount and I just apply it with my freshly washed fingertip. Problem solved. If you have been checked for STI's and everything and looked at by a doctor and everything comes back fine than it's your vulva saying "I'm dry, I need moisture!!!" Give it some. :)

What you wrote is very helpful. I realized for me, it was the gluten and before my period was the worst. Unbearable !!! I stopped gluten and now will itch only a little one out of 2-3 premenstral cycles. If I don't scratch and leave it alone it goes away. I read somewhere that it's a symptom of low estrogen before period and some women have been prescribed estrogen creams which say helped them. I can tolerate now since I cut off gluten so diet plays the biggest part in unbalancing your body and hormones.

I suffered for years with an itchy anus. Drove me crazy! Finally, told a doc who could help. She gave me a prescription for Desonide 0.05. Ask for the small tube - its all you need and any larger amount will be very expensive. This is the only thing that worked. If I ever have a flare up for whatever reason (wiping too aggressively??) I put a dab on and its gone. It will save your sanity. I just looked up Desonide (how I found this site) for a new problem - a constant tiny itch on my labia majora (outer). It works for that but it was stressed not to get any inside the vagina. Will be trying it.

If you're suffering from lichen sclerosis or in fact any autoimmune disease, I have found, through doing a lot of research, that the root cause is inflammation. I also suspect vaccinations may effect the way our immune systems are programmed by over stimulation at such a young age, having had numerous vaccinations from birth, however i am not anti vaccination as i believe they are necessary for the greater good.

Please read up on INFLAMMATION and the association with auto immune diseases and you will realise straight away what your problem and solution is.
Think about all the food we buy from the supermarket today, everything contains gluten, soy, corn or grains. Extremely harmful inflammatory products that are driving our immune systems crazy. Even the eggs, dairy, poultry and meat we buy contain these products due to the diet of the animals.

I have eczema (since childhood), vitiligo (since 5 years ago) and have just discovered from my gyno that i have lichen sclerosus, unfortunately i am pregnant so cant get a biopsy done or have any steroid treatment so my only hope was to research the root cause and do something about it.
My next step is going to a dietician to request every allergy and intolerance test under the sun to pinpoint exactly what my body is allergic or intolerant to and what is causing inflammation in my body so severe that i have developed these auto immune diseases.
Then i will try a strict elimination diet and hopefully i can reverse these disorders for good.
Changing our diets is always such a drastic thing to do but its worth it if it makes me healthy and free of inflammation and disease.
Good luck to the rest of you and i hope my post has been helpful.

It could be lichens sclerosus. You can find out about this incurable chronic skin cindition by researcing on interner but be sure to visit your OB-GYN for an accurate diagnosis.