

“If symptoms do not improve, it’s important to visit a healthcare provider since misidentifying infections and treating them incorrectly can lead to persistent or recurrent infections.”ĭefinitely see your doc if you're unsure whether the symptoms you're experiencing may be related to a yeast infection. “Because symptoms of a yeast infection overlap with those of some STIs and other infections like bacterial vaginosis, an accurate diagnosis is critical,” he says. And while you can start with an OTC antifungal cream for fast relief, you should see a doctor if symptoms persist for more than a few days so you can get prescription meds to clear it up. $10 at Amazon $14 at Walmart $15 at Ĭommon symptoms of a yeast infection include a white, cottage cheese-like discharge, vaginal itchiness or irritation, and even pain during urination or sex, per Dr. Keep in mind that you can also get a yeast infection in your vulva-and there are creams for that too.

Still, if you’ve had a yeast infection before and you know that’s what you’re dealing with, an OTC yeast infection medication should help.

Try a yeast infection cream.Ī lot of women assume they have a yeast infection whenever they get a vaginal itch, but it’s not always the case, Dr.
#Hydrocortisone cream for vulvar itching skin
While petroleum jelly can make a yeast infection worse (if you have one), Aquaphor is more breathable for the skin while still creating a barrier down there, she says. If you’ve been itchy, it may also burn when you pee, so add a little Aquaphor to the area, clean with water after you go, and be gentle with the wiping, Dr. Use this for any itchiness you suspect may be caused by antibiotics or discharge. It works by forming a protective barrier over your skin to make it feel better and save you from developing more irritation. Vagisil cream is designed to help fight vaginal itch and can soothe things down there, Dr. Your vulva is a sensitive area, and some soaps, especially ones that contain delicious-smelling fragrances, can make you itchy down there, says Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an ob-gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Kyle Bukowski, MD, is an ob-gyn and the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of Maryland. Alyssa Dweck, MD, is an ob-gyn based in Westchester County, New York. Lyndsey Harper, MD, is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine and the CEO and founder of Rosy. Meet the experts: Lauren Streicher, MD, is an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. But if it's ongoing or you spot other concerning symptoms like blisters or a rash, you should get it checked out so you can get an accurate diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment, notes Kyle Bukowski, MD, an ob-gyn and the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of Maryland.īut don’t worry, because if you’ve already checked-in with a healthcare provider and are just dealing with the occasional itchiness, there are plenty of doctor-approved home remedies that can successfully calm your itch. So vaginal itchiness is rarely a sign of a serious underlying issue. In addition to infections (yeast or bacterial) or STIs, an allergy or skin condition might be to blame, and the vagina (the inside canal) and/or the vulva (everything on the outside) might be involved, adds Alyssa Dweck, MD, an ob-gyn based in Westchester County, New York. “When estrogen is low, the bacterial makeup of the vagina changes and the skin becomes thinner and more easily irritated which can lead to varying degrees of discomfort and itching.” The most common culprits are irritants such as bubble baths or fragranced soaps, yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, and hormonal changes due to lack of estrogen (often caused by lactation or menopause), according to Lyndsey Harper, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine and the CEO and founder of Rosy. “Vaginal itchiness is extremely common, but there’s a big difference between having a little itch and being up all night thinking you can’t stand this,” says Lauren Streicher, MD, an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. This may not be all that comforting when you're in the thick of it, but you're hardly the only person who gets stuck with this problem.
#Hydrocortisone cream for vulvar itching how to
It's not surprising that when it strikes, you likely rush to your phone to look up how to stop itching down there ASAP. There are few things more uncomfortable than developing an itch in your vagina.
