Patient's question:
I am 21 years old and have not had sexual activity, but I often experience vulvar itching, irregular menstruation, and menstrual cramps every 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 my menstrual period. However, when I went to the hospital for tests, they found no illness. What could be the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Hello! First of all, I wish you a speedy recovery! Let me talk to you about "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 vaginal malnutrition, drug allergies or chemical irritation, poor hygiene habits, and skin diseases. Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, jaundice, leukemia, vitamin A deficiency, and vitamin B deficiency often experience vaginal itching. Some patients may have no obvious local or systemic factors or causes, which may be related to psychological or emotional factors. Those suffering from 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 vulvovaginitis and trichomoniasis are the most common causes of vaginal itching. Pubic lice, scabies, and pinworms can also cause itching.
2. Lichen planus of the vulva
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 allergies, leading to symptoms such as vaginal itching.
4. Poor hygiene habits
Neglecting vulvar hygiene, prolonged irritation from sebum, sweat, menstrual blood, or vaginal discharge, or saturation from urine or feces can cause vaginal itching. During menstruation, using sanitary pads and wearing tight, non-breathable synthetic underwear can lead to itching due to prolonged dampness and heat.
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 effects 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 the area regularly.
2. Keep the vulva clean and dry. Avoid hot water baths or washing with soap.
3. Avoid using or misusing medications, scratching, or rubbing the area.
4. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods. Do not eat 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 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. See a doctor to check for Candida or trichomoniasis. If present, seek treatment promptly instead of using over-the-counter "itch relief" products.
8. If the condition does not improve after treatment, have your blood sugar checked.
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 crush 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 remove the solids. Pour the liquid into a basin. The patient should sit over the basin to steam the vulva first, then wait until the water is at a comfortable temperature and soak for 10–15 minutes. Do this 1–2 times a day. Soaking for 3 days in a row can cure the condition. During treatment and for the next half month, avoid spicy, fried, or greasy foods. Strictly avoid alcohol and sexual activity.
2. (Also applicable for male external genital itching) Boil 50 grams of scallion stalks with roots and 50 peppercorns in 500 milliliters of water. Use the water to rinse the vulva 2 times a day for 3 days to cure the itching.
3. Take 500 grams of fresh peach leaves and boil them in water to steam and wash the affected area. Do this 2 times a day. Alternatively, pound fresh peach leaves, wrap them in gauze, and insert them into the vagina. Change them 2 times a day for a 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, then remove the solids to extract the liquid. Steam and wash the vulva. Do this 3 times a day for 30 minutes each time. Use for 5–10 days for noticeable improvement or complete recovery.
5. Take 15 grams 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 remove the solids (save the residue for the second boil; one batch of medicine can be used twice). Steam 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 for 3–6 days, 1–2 times a day. Change underwear immediately after each wash.
6. Use 30 grams each of white peony root, Phellodendron amurense, Cnidium monnieri, Deutziania scabra, and Sophora flavescens, 15 grams each of Atractylodes rhizome, Euphorbia alkaloid, and Terminalia chebula, 10 grams each of Zanthoxylum bungeanum and alum, and 4 grams of realgar. Boil, remove the solids, and steam and wash the vulva. During washing, use sterile gauze dipped in the liquid to clean the vulva, or rinse the vagina with the liquid. Use both methods together. Symptoms will improve or disappear within 3 days, but continue steaming and washing for a period.
7. Take 6 grams each of Gentiana scabra and Gardenia jasminoides, 10 grams each of and Plantago asiatica (wrapped in gauze), 10 grams of Smilax glabra, 12 grams of Alisma orientale, and 9 grams of Atractylodes rhizome. Boil once a day and divide into 2 doses.
8. Use a vaginal hygiene care liquid (preferably "Fuyin Jie" over "Fuyan Jie") to rinse, then insert a gynecological.
Love Tip: Please consult a local traditional Chinese medicine hospital to choose the appropriate method based on your physiological characteristics and specific pathological changes.
If you find this answer helpful, please do not disappoint me by not selecting it as the "accepted answer."