An occasional vaginal itch here and there is normal. But if it's consistent or gets worse, it can be a sign of something more serious. That's why it's important to take note if your vaginal itching is starting after a change in routine — like using certain menstrual products — or if it came out of the blue.
Genital Itching. Itchy genitals that interfere with your quality of life should be addressed by your healthcare provider. You could have a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, an infection such as a yeast infection or maybe a sexually transmitted infection such as trichomoniasis.
In most cases, vaginal itching isn't serious and is likely from a treatable infection or even a reaction to a product. In rare cases though, vaginal itching is a sign of vulvar cancer, so seeing someone as soon as possible is important—even if just to get some relief from that itching!
After identifying the cause, the next step is to avoid the substance. Then, the symptoms should go away within a few days or weeks. A person can also apply anti-itch creams such as topical corticosteroids to the skin of the vulva to ease itching.
If you do not have an infection, the vaginal itching may go away on its own.
Applying a mild (low-strength) corticosteroid cream such as hydrocortisone to the genital area may provide temporary relief. The cream should not be put into the vagina and should be used for only a short period of time. For severe itching, an antihistamine taken by mouth may help temporarily.
Common causes include rash burn, contact dermatitis, jock itch, pubic lice, scabies, yeast infection, psoriasis, eczema, and folliculitis. See a healthcare provider if the itching is severe, painful, persistent, or worsening.
Itching on the whole body might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems and certain cancers. Nerve disorders. Examples include multiple sclerosis, pinched nerves and shingles (herpes zoster). Psychiatric conditions.
Call Your Doctor If:
Home treatment doesn't help or the itch lasts more than a couple of weeks. The itch comes on suddenly and is all over your body. You could have an allergic reaction or an illness like thyroid problems or liver disease. You also have a fever or feel tired.
If your itching lasts for more than two weeks and is not getting better, it's time to see a doctor.
The length of time you'll have pruritus depends on the cause of your itchy skin. Some diagnoses are long term and you'll experience symptoms that come and go throughout your life. For others, your condition could be a temporary irritant that could go away within a couple of days.
You might develop a grayish-white, foul-smelling discharge. The odor, often described as a fishy odor, might be more obvious after sex. Yeast infection. The main symptom is itching, but you might have a thick white discharge that resembles cottage cheese.
Some people with liver disease experience skin itching all over their body or in specific areas, like the feet or arms. Itchiness is not a symptom of liver disease on its own, though. Liver disease is a condition affecting your liver's ability to function.
Itching may be a symptom of an infection, like: chickenpox or another viral infection. athlete's foot – a fungal infection that causes itching in between the toes. ringworm – a fungal infection that causes a ring-like red rash to develop on the skin and can cause an itchy scalp.
Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep. The itching is lower in intensity just after dialysis as the blood urea levels will be lower. However, it increases in intensity two days after dialysis.