Vaginal itches are not only extremely uncomfortable, but they can also be very embarrassing. Causes for vaginal itching vary from trichomoniasis to yeast infections, but sometimes it can be as simple as dryness in your vaginal area or changes in your hormones. Whatever the cause, it’s a condition that significantly reduces the quality of your life. But the good news is that there are many ways you can get rid of the itching sensation at home.

Home Remedies for Vaginal Itch

1. Wear Loose Clothing

Loose clothing is another great way to prevent vaginal itching as it keeps your vagina cool and dry. Be sure to wear 100% cotton underwear so that your skin can breathe. If you have an office job or spend the majority of your time sitting, be sure to get up and walk around every hour at least, to prevent your vagina from getting to warm.

2. Pay Attention to Sexual Life

Delay sexual activity. It’s best to rest your vagina as intercourse can aggravate your symptoms. If necessary, however, be sure to use a lubricant to make it easier on you. Use condoms to avoid catching or transmitting any sexually transmitted diseases.

3. Maintain Proper Hygiene

Proper hygiene is essential in this area on good days. But excessive hygiene is no good either and washing your vagina too often and you are likely to cause more itching.

• When you are suffering from vaginal itch it’s imperative to pay attention and change your underwear daily, as well as taking daily showers or baths.
• The vagina is a self-cleaning organ—that means you don’t need to scrub particularly hard nor do you have to use strong soaps or body washes. It’s best to rub it smoothly when bathing and to also use soap with no fragrances.
• When wiping after using the bathroom or even after a shower, wipe from front to back. That means, start with your vagina and move back to your anus.

4. Combat the Infection

• Take a Sitz Bath. Fill you tub/sitz bath with warm water and add about ½ a cup of salt. Mix the salt with the water until it dissolves and then soak yourself in it for about 15 minutes. During this time, insert a finger inside your vagina so that the warm salty water goes inside. Salty water is very effective against infections and doing this for two or three nights can greatly reduce your itching.
• Apply Ice or Cold Compress. Put ice or a cold compress on your vagina for immediate relief. The itching is most intense at night according to most women, so this is a good tool to have for those sleepless nights.
• Try Yogurt. Eat one cup of yogurt a day. Make sure it’s plain yogurt without any sugar and that it contains acidophilus cultures—this property helps fights against yeast infections and fungus. You can also put some yogurt on a tampon and put it in your body for a couple of hours. Do this once or twice a day for a few days. You can also put some frozen yogurt on your vulva which has an immediate relieving affect against the itching.
• Use Cider Vinegar. Similar to the anti-infection properties of salt, vinegar is also an effective treatment. Mix about 2 tbs of vinegar in 2 cups of warm water and rinse your vagina with it twice a day for about 3 days. Don’t worry if it stings a little, this is common.

5. Things to Avoid

• Scented soaps and perfumed powders and scented/colored toilet paper
• As tempting as it might be to soak yourself in a bubble bath, the bubble bath gel may irritate your vaginal area even more
• Any kind of vaginal hygiene sprays
• Avoid underwear made from synthetic materials and try to only buy 100% cotton underwear
• Avoid scratching for this will only intensify the itching sensation and irritate the skin

When to See a Doctor

If none of your symptoms improve after a couple of days, it may be time to check in with your doctor as you may be suffering from a condition that home remedies cannot cure. If you experience any of the following symptoms in addition to vaginal itching, call your doctor immediately:

• Increased thirst/appetite, sudden weight loss, excessive urination or exhaustion (all of these symptoms may indicate you have diabetes)
• Sudden fevers or pelvic/lower abdominal pains
• An ulcers/blisters anywhere on your vaginal area
• Experience a burning sensation when urinating
• Unusual vaginal swelling or bleeding
• Symptoms do not improve or go away after a week, or worsen at any point