vaginal itching, dryness,and swollen labia,iextreme itching on labia

I have been searching for an answer to the same issue.  I have tried many yeast infection medications, tea tree oil, Benadryl, and changing all my fragrances.   Finally, the cure!   It was simple.   Cortisone-10 for extreme itching!   I applied it for several nights before bed.  It stopped.   No thrush, no std, no yeast infection - just a little cortisone and it was over after months of extreme itching.  Give it a try.

I was first diagnosed with BV in 2008 at age 40. I suffered for a long time from a horrible smell which worsened after intercourse. The smell wasn't as bad if my husband released on the outside. I just really thought that was the cause of the smell. Then one day at my regular annual visit, I just knew I had to mention it to the Dr. (I was so embarrassed)! Turns out it was BV & I was treated. There were no other signs, no itching or burning, just a fishy smell. Fast forward July 2012, I get this little tingle, a couple days later its bad itch with a slight discharge, no smell. I'm scratching like crazy, I get swollen, inflamed, raw & have an itch that makes you want to have it cut out/off!!! Literally!!! I call the Dr.'s nurse, booked can't see me for a week, I srlf treat for a yeast infection. What the hell that must be what it is right? I've never been with anyone else, I've had it before that must be what it is. Right? Well it clears up, couple of days later, it's back with a vengeance! I start to think OMG, has my husband been with someone but I don't lose my cool. I ask he says no, I get to the Dr. & I'm diagnosed with BV once again. I'm treated & fine. Fast forward 6 months, I've had it three times since July, two of times this month! My Dr. is always booked-once I went to the Nurse Practitioner tested & probed, tested pos for BV. Next time I called my primary, new Dr. who calls in scrip for same med NP prescribed (Flagyl), third primary prescribes a different med (Clindamyacin), it worked but came back. So I started reading about this BV to find out what causes it, the NP said not to take baths but shower, don't use any floral soap or bath bubbles, where cotton underwear. Did all that, so as I read, I discover one trigger could be stress; which I have been under. Grad school (finally finushed-graduation is in May), looking to quit my good paying job to open a daycare & was taking classes for that at the same time as grad school & studying to get a license to sell insurance (passed test; yeah!) because I'm afraid to leave my good paying job & then just balancing everyday life with kids & husband & other family. Doin my reading, I discovered diff things to try & self medicate with this last time til I get to the Dr. I go with the cortisone cream & wow ladies when I tell you relief, whew you wouldn't believe it. It hurt like the dickens when my husband first put it on, I could stand the feel of a feather gently touching. He put it on at bedtime & in the morning for two days & I feel almost like new (the tingle is still there & that's because the bacteria is still there & needs to be treated but the itching is gone, hallelujah!!! I let him insert inside in the second time & it burned but only a few seconds. Those few seconds of burn were nothing compared to the days of unstoppable itching. I'm on my way to the Dr. next week to get on a preventative treatment plan until, I can destress. I will also be looking at my washing detergent & fabric sheets because I did make changes to those that could also be aiding my stress trigger. I hope this helps you until you can seek treatment from your Dr. Good luck!

I, also, have had this for years...no yeast infection, no STD, no excess hormones.  What I discovered is:

1) Allergy to ANYTHING scented that touches my skin "down there", including: shampoo, shaving creme, soaps, lotions, even creams like vagisil, etc.  I use 2x weekly estrogen inserts for dryness and even those have a "delicate" scent and it bothers me.   If I shower in the morning and wash or shave, then I will be itching for a full 24 hours.  Per my ob/gyn she told me to use only oil--almond or coconut or olive, whatever--to shave with.  No fragrances or drying soaps, nothin on the outside! [ The internal vagina is self cleansing]

2) Vitamin D levels are waaay too low--others have said the same on this forum.  I got tested for Vit D and my level was 17, should be about 50, at least.  If you are not spending at least 20 min in the sun 3x a week, you are probably deficient.  My female ob/gyn says this is very common cause of vaginal itch.  You need at least 2000 mg a day, more if you are deficient.  Get tested.   BTW I live in Florida and still am deficient.  

3) Do you have a copper IUD?  If so, copper is an allergy-causing metal, and when it mixes with body fluids it can create a chemical reaction that throws off the ph in the area, create a topical (surface) allergy. 

4) Possible yeast infection, but if the area is dry, it's not likely.

5) High sugar diet can be a contributor. 

It's easy to try #1, above, so start there, and move onwards down the list.  Good luck, gals.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

went through menopause very early from thyroid disorder, early 30's. Had sever itching many years later, found a very good gyno doc after seeing several others with no diagnosis. First visit to new doc, thought I had licen sclherosis, did biopsy and yes he diagnosed correctly. Prescribed clorbetasol cream and it has helped immensely. Practically no more problems! Find a good gyno and ask about this rare skin condition.

I have had this problem for almost 15 years, and I have finally found out that it is genital psoriasis. Doctors can prescribe a cream for it, but it can only be used sparingly as it can cause thinning for the skin. I have learned that diet can DRAMATICALLY change it. Read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr Furhman.

Well ladies I am yet another woman who has been suffering from this miserable condition for going on 3 years. I do have HPV so naturally all the scary risk factors came to mind. VIN...BV...cancer...pre-cancer etc. None of my docs have offered or done a biopsy of the area. Paps are neg accept for "mild" yeast.Took diflucan and it turns out I AM ALLERGIC! Broke out in a rash from head to toe and now I have dermatitis on several areas of my body! PERFECT! Visual exam they see nothing other than irritated skin...DUH!  It all started on 1 spot on my labia majora (outside lips) and is pretty much isolated to that 1 spot but does occasionally spread to my anus but then returns to "home base" I have been trying everything I can think of and nothing brings permanent relief! The doctors are no help, I have had many appts. After reading the forum here I can tell you I am more angry than ever that so many are suffering. Having sex does not make it worse or better but because of this itch and discomfort I do not have much of a sex life! I have been with the same man for 15 yrs. I have made my bf wash before we engage. he is not great about hygiene and I have to remind him. I know I know but he has no symptoms of anything.  He has not been to a doctor for 20 yrs but I have tested neg for all STD except the HPV (diagnosed 20yrs ago) .

VOLCANO BATH...As I sit here and weep with frustration and an itch that is excruciating, I am beginning to realize I am on my own as are many woman here so.... I took a few of the more promising ideas and came up with one to try right now... I just washed with a solution of 1part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar with 2 tblsp of baking soda. I mixed it in a large cereal bowl...(fizzy like the science volcano)  and used my washcloth to wash (and scratch :() ) with the solution. It burned briefly but... OMG! I have no itch right now! I know it cannot be cured that quickly but I cannot feel any itch at this very moment! I will continue to try this all natural low risk/no risk solution for the usual month time and see what happens. I have little cuts and sore areas from the scratching so I think that is why it burned a little. Compared to what I have been experiencing it was tolerable! 

I will also start a vitamin D therapy, I understand that low vitamin D can cause hormonal stress and some women found relief of the symptoms after a high dose therapy. I also read something about medications that suppress nerve endings that are normally prescribed as anti-depressants but are often used in cases of puritus sp? (severe itch). I am not interested in anything like that but maybe someone else would benefit?  

I have used almost every natural remedy including aloe vera, echinacea salve, tea tree oil, athletes foot spray and powder, diaper rash cream, zinc cream, egg whites, noxema(soothing) as well as a steroid cream (like i need thin skin!) . I have taken baths... Salt baths, peroxide, even tried bleach on the advice if doc! (id**t! thought i had scabies and gave me permitherin! )... 

I had tried vinegar by itself, and a  baking soda bath, but have never used the 2 as a wash...oh I do hope this helps! Give it a try and I hope you get the same results! I have yet ANOTHER Dr appt. on April 30th..no expectations...

My next thought is to soak the lil gal in Gasoline and light her up! Just kidding! I will let you all know how the "volcano bath" works! Give it a try and let me know! so sorry we are dealing with this...bless you all and your lil gal...she deserves better huh? 

Have your doctor check for BV (Bacterial Vaginosis). It's a pH imbalance in the vagina that causes all the symptoms you describe.

I have been tested at the std clinic as well as the hosp. The only thing that showed up was a slight yeast. I was prescribed diflucan and found out I was allergic. Ty for your input.

In my research I found Lichen sclerosis to be a possibility also. When I mentioned it to my gyno she dismissed the idea because it was not white.She proceeded to show me pictures of the disease and I asked her if that is "advanced" stage or immediate...she could not answer that question affirmatively. She diagnosed dermatitis condition and recommended no soap...change detergents, diaper rash cream (made it worse) etc. I had already been doing all of these things but she said just keep doing it...ugh. I really am quite frustrated with Doctors at this point. They do not seem to understand the severity of this itch or the psychological toll it is taking on me. I am tired of being dismissed. My concern is as an HPV carrier I am extremely vulnerable to VIN (pre-cancerous) as well as other disorders and yet that never seems to come into play with exams and such. I wonder just how much they really know? I am uninsured and unemployed so I cannot afford to go to a specialist at this time. Glad you were helped and lucky to find a good doc! Ty for your input.

I am going to start a vit D therapy as soon as I have the money. After reading this forum as well as others I definitely see a pattern. I priced enough for 3 mos and it will cost over 60 dollars...I consult my Natural Healing book and it also gives vit D super foods like white button mushrooms, egg yolks, tuna in oil...I have all of them in the house most of the time so that is easy! I will increase those as well. As for the sun I will increase that also but I try to limit skin exposure because I have alot of "sun freckles" and my older brother is being treated for skin cancer now. I am 46...tubal-ligation...no birth control. I will take your advice and try the oil for shaving. I use olive oil for cooking so again its easy! I have already been eliminating scents and soaps for 2+ years. The volcano bath has brought alot of relief but this last spell was a doozy and it will take many days to heal so it will also remain to be seen if it works. You gals are all wonderful for helping. Ty so much.

Stress is definitely a problem for me. I am working on that also! Congrats on your wonderful achievements! I have tried the cortizone also but it only lasts a few days and its back with ferocity! All the treatments I have tried seem to have the same limitations...temporary. I have spent hundreds of dollars (cannot afford) on itch creams and other options. The most helpful have been Aloe, Noxema, or vicks, Vit E oil, herbal salves, lanolin and ice packs and now Volcano baths. I just switch it up when they stop working and eventually come back to it. I have been using the prescription ointment Nystatin Triamcinolone Acetonide over the past 2+ years and it does help (never gets rid of it) but I really think I have to stop because of the risk of thinning skin (can you imagine what that would become?!!!!) I really think the vit D therapy will be a good step to take next...I will let you all know what happens. I am also taking female herbs that are helping other issues like appetite suppression and energy levels.

I had this problem two years agi- went to the Doc, got a prescription for Clotrimaderm, it eased the itching and swelling but once I stopped the medication it came back with a vengence. I was tested for STD's, BV, yeast all negative. Clothing was irritating and I spent a weekend in my bath robe- with no underwear the swelling and burning itch subsided - then i looked at my laundry soap - the brand I used had changed to a concentrated formula. I tripple rinsed all my undergarments and the swelling and itch went away. I tried various laundry soaps and some brought back the itch faster than others- even concentrated Ivory Snow made me itchy. So now I use a mild detergent on anything that comes in contact with my vaginal area and these garments are sent through the rince cycle three times. I also do not use dryer sheets because they leave a film on your clothes to keep them fresh for weeks - that chemical is in contact with the sensitive skin of ones vagina.

I hope this helps.

Thank god I found this! 

I am only 14 years old and I have had this for over a year now I am a virgin haven't started my period these are my simtoms

- white discharge

- swallen vagina 

- every month or so it will go very itchy and red

 

I suffered from extreme itching of the vagina for years, always thinking it was a form of yeast infection even though there was no discharge nor odor. I was burning! My gyno did all the tests and put me on diflucan pills for 6 months all to no avail. I could not wear clothes and had to stay at home, burning and getting crazy. Finally a new gyno took one look at me and told me that I had vaginal dryness, which was not uncommon in a woman in her early 40's! He put me on Replens and that cured me!!! It is an over the counter vaginal lubricant (not for intercourse) which restores the vagina's moisture. It is used every 3-4 days. When I went back to see him I started to cry when I thanked him for helping me as I had been in tremendous pain for years!!!

We tend to think that everything is yeast related, but sometimes it is something else.

Another related issue is itchy labia and vulva---go to see a dermatologist!!! These Drs are trained on skin problems all over the body, including the male and female privates!!! Don't be afraid! I went and was helped immediately and again I had suffered for a year with this problem! I had Lichensis Simplex Chronicus. A special creme and some changes in my soaps and detergents and I am much improved!

Don't suffer for nothing! Go and get the help you need! Good luck!!

Wow, I'm not the only one! I have had the same issue for many years now. I'm almost 27 and I've had this for pretty much all of my twenties. I have severe itching on bikini line area, lip area, clitoris, vulva, u name it. Sometimes my skin is so dry and flaky that it peels, leaving me sore and sometimes bleeding. It's so hard to tell if it's ever a yeast infection cus I have had this so long I can't tell the difference anymore. Needless to say sex is not fun or are periods, as it is worst then. I can't use tampons anymore because of it and pads rubbing against it just drives the skin crazy! I've used I don't kno how many tubes of hydrocortisone cream, cold wash clothes, changing detergent, not using any soap wen I bathe down there. Nothing works! I've gone to the gyno many times for it and they always say oh it's just a vaginitis. I need medication that I can take orally like an antihistamine that will cure this cus Im sick of topical creams. I heard hydrocortisone is not good for our skin down there as it thins the sbin...yikes! I don't kno what to do but it's been an issue for a lifet