Patient's question:
I am 21 years old and have never had sexual activity, but I often experience vulvar itching, irregular menstruation, and severe menstrual cramps each time. After each menstrual period, there is usually a short period of bleeding, almost black-brown discharge with a foul odor, lasting for perhaps two or three days, occasionally with blood. My complexion is yellow, and I often get pimples and eczema on my face, especially during menstruation. However, when I went to the hospital for tests, they found nothing wrong. What could be the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Hello! First of all, I wish you a speedy recovery! I will discuss with you the topic of "vaginal itching."Vaginal itching is a symptom that can be caused by various factors or underlying conditions. Local factors or causes include special infections, chronic vulvar dystrophy, drug allergies or chemical irritation, poor hygiene habits, and skin diseases. Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, jaundice, leukemia, vitamin A deficiency, vitamin B deficiency, and others often experience vaginal itching. In some cases, there are no obvious local or systemic factors or causes, and it may be related to psychological or emotional factors. Patients with this condition should identify the underlying cause and treat it accordingly.
1) Local factors or causes that can lead to vaginal itching include the following:
1. Special infections
Candida vaginitis and trichomoniasis are the most common causes of vaginal itching. Pubic lice, scabies, and pinworms can also cause itching.
2. Vulvar squamous hyperplasia
The main symptom is severe itching, accompanied by white patches on the vulvar skin.
3. Drug allergies or chemical irritation
Soaps, condoms, and benzalkonium chloride can cause contact or allergic dermatitis due to direct irritation or allergic reactions, leading to symptoms such as vaginal itching.
4. Poor hygiene habits
Lack of vulvar cleanliness, prolonged stimulation from sebum, sweat, menstrual blood, or vaginal discharge, or saturation from urine and feces can cause vaginal itching. Wearing tight, non-breathable synthetic underwear during menstruation can also lead to itching due to prolonged dampness and heat buildup.
5. Other skin conditions
Scratches, warts, herpes, and tumors can all cause vaginal itching.
6. Systemic factors that can cause vaginal itching:
① Diabetes: Due to the irritating effect of diabetes on the vulvar skin, especially when accompanied by vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal itching becomes particularly severe.
② Patients with chronic conditions such as jaundice, vitamin A or B deficiency, anemia, or leukemia may experience systemic itching, which often includes vaginal itching.
2) General treatment
1. Pay attention to menstrual hygiene, change menstrual pads frequently during menstruation, and clean them regularly.
2. Keep the vulva clean and dry. Avoid using hot water or soaps for washing.
3. Avoid using or overusing medications, scratching, or friction.
4. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods, and do not consume seafood or medications that may cause allergies.
5. Do not wear tight undergarments. Underwear should be loose, breathable, and preferably made of cotton.
6. If there are any wounds or infections in the vulvar area, use a 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution (add a small amount of potassium permanganate powder to warm water until it turns light red, but do not make it too concentrated) for soaking. Do this twice a day for 20–30 minutes each time.
7. Seek medical examination to check for Candida or trichomoniasis. If present, treat them promptly rather than using over-the-counter "itch relief" solutions.
8. For persistent cases, undergo blood sugar testing.
3) Below are several successful dietary, home remedies, and proven methods for treating "vaginal itching":
1. Take 120 grams of fresh ginger, wash it, and pound it with the skin. Add 90 grams of mugwort (or 200–250 grams of fresh mugwort) and 1,500 milliliters of water. Boil in a pot for 20 minutes, then strain the liquid. Pour it into a basin. The patient should sit over the basin, allowing the steam to first the vulvar area. Once the water reaches a comfortable temperature, soak for 10–15 minutes. Do this 1–2 times a day. Three days of continuous soaking can cure the condition. During treatment and for the next half month, avoid spicy, fried, or stir-fried foods. Strictly avoid alcohol and sexual activity.
2. (Includes male external genital itching) Boil 50 grams of scallion stalks with roots and 50 peppercorns in 500 milliliters of water. Use the solution to wash the vulvar area twice a day. Three days of continuous washing can cure the condition.
3. Take 500 grams of fresh peach leaves and boil them in water. Use the decoction to soak the affected area twice a day. Alternatively, pound fresh peach leaves, wrap them in gauze, and insert them into the vagina. Change them twice a day for one week.
4. Use 90 grams each of Polygonum aviculare, Poria cocos, and Sophora flavescens, 45 grams each of Phellodendron amurense and Rheum palmatum, 30 grams each of Gentiana scabra and Smilax glabra, and 15 grams of. Boil once a day, strain the liquid, and use it to and wash the vulva. Do this three times a day for 30 minutes each time. Continuous use for 5–10 days can show significant improvement or cure.
5. Take 15 grams each of Stemona japonica and Zanthoxylum bungeanum, 30 grams each of Polygonum multiflorum, Cnidium monnieri, Paeonia lactiflora, and Poria cocos. Boil in 3,000 milliliters of water for 5–10 minutes, then strain (save the residue for the second decoction, one dose can be used twice). First, then wash for 15–20 minutes. When soaking, keep the legs apart. Married women can use a clean finger wrapped in gauze to insert into the vagina and clean the anterior, posterior, and lateral fornices. Use this for 3–6 days, 1–2 times a day. Change underwear after each wash.
6. Use 30 grams each of white peony root, Phellodendron amurense, Cnidium monnieri, Debraea burmannii, and Polygonum multiflorum, 15 grams each of Atractylodes rhizome, Euphorbia lathyris, and Terminalia chebula, 10 grams each of Zanthoxylum bungeanum and alum, and 4 grams of realgar. Boil, strain, and use the liquid to and wash the vulva. During washing, you can use sterile gauze dipped in the solution to clean the vulva or rinse the vagina with the liquid. Use both methods together. Symptoms will improve or disappear after three days, but continue to and wash for a period.
7. Take 6 grams each of Gentiana scabra and Gardenia jasminoides, 10 grams each of and Plantago asiatica (wrapped in cloth), 10 grams of Smilax glabra, 12 grams of Alisma orientale, and 9 grams of Atractylodes rhizome. Boil once a day, and divide the dose into two for oral administration.
8. Use a "cleaning" (better than "feminine hygiene liquid") to rinse, and then apply a gynecological.
Note: The above remedies must be used after consulting a local licensed traditional Chinese medicine hospital. Choose the appropriate method based on your physiological characteristics and specific pathological changes.
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