The condition when a girl itches in her intimate area and really wants to scratch between her legs endlessly is familiar to almost everyone. But the burning and itching in the perineum and genital area is especially unbearable. And it’s not just about the rules of decency, which do not allow a person to ease the situation even for a while. The part of the body “below the waist” is very rich in nerve endings, and itching in the groin brings incomparable suffering. Women, encountering these sensations for the first time, almost always experience stress, as they are associated with something indecent, primarily with sexually transmitted infections...
Until now, medical science cannot clearly explain what intimate itching is. In women, apparently, this sensation appears due to very weak irritation of the nerve endings, which cannot cause “full” pain. And, oddly enough, quite serious ailments can be hidden behind this “trifling” ailment.
1.General information
Itching is an extremely unpleasant skin reaction; if it “itches”, it is impossible to concentrate on something else, it is impossible to be distracted, to hide, to work, to take a forced position, to wait, to sleep. Only with the utmost effort of will can you restrain the persistent movement of your fingers in the direction of the itchy area, and sometimes this fails, and then the “combed” area itches even more, and you have to again...
The problem is greatly aggravated if the skin itches - and itches unbearably - in a place that cannot be declassified under any circumstances in the presence of other people. For example, in the perineum. And all that remains is to feign deep attention to the words of the interlocutor, but in reality make imperceptible movements on the chair, or shift from foot to foot, or sneak a glance at the watch: this torture must someday end.
Itching in the perineum, in principle, cannot be “normal,” “common,” or unimportant. This is a desperate attempt by the body to attract attention to the problem. Whatever the reasons (and there is no such thing as causeless itching), they are always pathological and always require a response, and the most appropriate response in this case is to see a doctor.
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2. Reasons
The first thing that comes to mind is basic hygiene. However, we are not just talking about uncomfortable sensations or the need for cleanliness, but about a painful, imperative (imperative) or compulsive (irresistible) urge to itch, and even if you do not visit the bathroom for years, it is hardly possible to bring yourself to such a state.
Itching is caused by moderate or weak, but continuous irritation of the nerve endings. This specific effect can be caused by a variety of physical, chemical, biological and even mental factors.
In particular, the skin can be irritated by accidentally falling small sharp particles (dust, sand, fiberglass, microscopic plant thorns, etc.), friction from synthetic, too tight or other poorly purchased underwear, and thermal damage.
Equally aggressive towards the skin nerve endings are certain groups of chemical compounds, including those contained in the saliva of stinging or blood-sucking insects (it is no coincidence that one of the intradermal mites that can parasitize on the human body is called “itchy itch”), as well as in caustic sap of some plants.
In addition, intense itching is a typical symptom of many dermatological and endocrine diseases (eczema, lichen, psoriasis, diabetes, autoimmune-allergic disorders, all kinds of dermatitis, etc.).
Paresthesia (false sensations of “pins and needles”, “crawling insects” and, in particular, scabies or itching) are found in the clinical picture of a number of mental disorders and psychopathological reactions, as well as organic lesions of the central nervous system.
Finally, one of the most common causes is infection of the perineal skin (especially if there are abrasions or microcracks) with bacterial, viral or fungal cultures.
Itching in the perineum in men and women, despite all the anatomical and physiological differences, has no fundamental etiopathogenetic specificity; it is caused by the factors listed above, as well as STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. The likelihood of an allergic reaction to household chemicals and personal hygiene products, medications, herbs, latex, etc. does not depend on gender. As for “itchy” infectious and inflammatory processes, sexual dimorphism corrects only the localization of the lesion (vaginal dysbiosis, balanitis, adnexitis, prostatitis, etc.), while the mechanisms of biotoxic damage to nerve endings and irradiation of itching to the perineal area are universal .
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Causes of intimate itching in women
1. Itching in the groin in the genital area is only a symptom, and it can have many causes, and “bad diseases” are not always to blame. It may be behind pathological conditions not only of the urinary and genital tracts, but also, for example, of the intestines. Discomfort in the intimate organs in girls often appears as the first symptom of diseases such as diabetes, liver dysfunction (even hepatitis or cirrhosis), and allergic reactions.
2. Sometimes itching in the perineum appears due to neglect of the most basic hygiene rules. Alas, gynecologists often have to remind women that underwear needs to be changed every day and to give preference to products made from natural materials that absorb all secretions well.
3. Regarding daily washing. It is not at all necessary to boil water or add disinfectant solutions to it for this purpose. Regular tap water is fine. Intimate hygiene products (gels, soaps, etc.), like traditional soap, are also not necessary - this is a matter of habit and does not significantly affect cleanliness. You should not try to use soap or other hygiene products to “kill” the burning and itching in the intimate area due to “bad” vaginal discharge: they only dry out the skin and mucous membranes, and this can only make the problem worse. Vaginal deodorants in the form of foam or spray are now available for sale. They cannot be considered hygiene products; they disrupt the normal microflora of the vagina too much, increasing the risk of developing inflammatory diseases. Their deodorizing effect is fleeting and, again, does not eliminate the cause of the symptoms that bother you and the itching between the legs.
4. Quite often, irritation and genital itching without burning or discharge occur against the background of diarrhea (diarrhea) or frequent urination. If a girl’s inner labia are rather large and the tissues near the clitoris (hood and skin folds) are overdeveloped, then trips to the toilet “for minor needs” are always accompanied by splashing and ingress of urine into these structures and the accumulation of its remains in the depths of the skin folds. Even minimal errors in hygiene lead to a woman developing a persistent “urine” odor from the external genitalia, irritation and itching in the intimate area, and tests for infections will not show anything.
5. During menstruation, a woman is recommended to change pads every four to six hours, regardless of the amount of discharge. Menstrual flow is a very suitable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, and the body’s immune defenses are weakened these days. Using pads or tampons is a personal matter, but in some cases (with inflammatory diseases of the genital organs and urinary tract, after childbirth) tampons are “banned.”
What causes itching and odor in the intimate area
Irritation, discharge, redness and itching in the perineum in girls occurs more often with the following diseases:
- Candidiasis;
- Trichomoniasis (trichomoniasis);
- Genital herpes type 2;
- Spreading HPV;
- Fungal skin diseases;
- Skin diseases (neurodermatitis);
- Pediculosis pubis and scabies;
- Violation of intimate hygiene, etc.
Very often, itching between the legs is accompanied by a disruption of the normal composition of the vaginal microflora. Among other troubles, in addition to candidiasis (thrush), gynecologists find bacterial vaginosis (gardnerellosis). Both of these diseases occur against the background of inhibition of the “good” microflora of the genital tract.
There is another diagnosis that can cause itching in the perineum - kraurosis of the vulva. The insidiousness of this disease is that outwardly everything looks fine - no local or general lesions are detected, but even with careful hygiene, itching in an intimate place can be so severe and so exhausting that it often leads to nervous disorders. The addition of an infection to skin scratching can lead to the appearance of a specific odor. Usually occurs in women of pre- and menopausal age.
Why do the labia itch?
Why do women often experience itching of the labia minora and majora, incl.
with redness and discharge. What can provoke a strong or not so strong desire to scratch the external genitalia or the area between them and what to do about it? Find out more details using the links below! assignment_ind
Find out more at the link above
Why do I want to scratch my vagina?
What are the main causes of vaginal itching and severe irritation at the vaginal opening?
Find out about the main 11 risk factors for getting this problem. How to be treated if you have symptoms and a constant strong desire to scratch in the groin - click on the link! assignment_ind
Read more about vaginal itching
3. Symptoms and diagnosis
When visiting a doctor (gynecologist, urologist, dermatologist, andrologist) with complaints of itching in the perineum, the following symptoms are important:
- redness;
- painful irritation;
- changes in the appearance of the skin;
- the presence of pimples or large blisters (in particular, those that appear solely in response to scratching, washing, or blotting with a towel);
- the presence of similar lesions in other areas (or localization only in the perineum);
- dependence on any situations, sex life, food consumed, a certain area, etc.;
- increased or relieved itching in response to mechanical friction.
All these nuances, as well as the dynamics, cyclicity, and duration of itching, are diagnostically informative; they should be monitored in advance and reported to the doctor.
Depending on the results of the examination, study of complaints and anamnesis, laboratory and, if necessary, instrumental studies are prescribed (urine and blood tests, microscopy of smears and sections, iodine and allergy tests, ultrasound, cystoscopy, etc.). In some cases, consultation with specialized specialists (infectious disease specialist, parasitologist, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, proctologist, etc.) is necessary.
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Treatment of intimate itching
If you have discharge, itching and itching in an intimate place inside or outside, or other discomfort, do not delay solving the problem! To establish the cause and get rid of the disease, not much is needed ⇨ it’s to make an appointment with a gynecologist and undergo a full diagnosis. Our doctor will conduct an examination and the necessary examination, based on the results of which effective treatment will be prescribed.
Tests for itching in the intimate area
Tests will help you find out why the intimate part of a woman, a young girl, including a virgin, as well as teenagers and younger girls itches. Depending on the age of the patient, the complaints made and the result of the examination of the genitals on the chair, to clarify the cause of the itching, the gynecologist may prescribe something from the following list of tests:
- Flora smear
- PCR for hidden infections
- Bacterial seeding of discharge
- Florocenosis analysis
- Blood for hormones
- Blood for some infections
- Blood chemistry
- Scraping for oncocytology
4.Treatment
Itching in the perineum is not a disease, but only a symptom, and most often not the only one. Accordingly, desensitizing (reducing the sensitivity of skin receptors), anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs have an auxiliary value and are prescribed symptomatically. The main goal is to find and eliminate the underlying disease, its causes and risk factors. Based on the diagnostic results, a course of etiopathogenetic therapy is prescribed: antiparasitic, antibiotic and/or antimycotic, in some cases psychotherapeutic, hormonal, proctological, etc. If a reliable cause-and-effect relationship is identified between itching in the perineum and the mechanical, chemical, and allergic factors described above, a full therapeutic effect is possible only if contact with such irritants (irritants) is excluded.
Where to find the right doctor?
Regardless of what kind of doctor you need, you can find him using the “Your Doctor” service. It allows its visitors to analyze the offers of various private clinics and select those that are located in the most convenient way and have a suitable specialist on staff.
As an additional service, the site allows visitors to fill out an online form and call a dermatologist at home or make an appointment with a specialist of their choice at a time of interest.
Publication date: 2018-02-03
Methods for diagnosing skin diseases:
- Diagnosis of skin diseases
- Diagnosis of skin diseases at home
- Diagnosis of allergic skin diseases
- Diagnosis of bacterial skin diseases
- Diagnosis of viral skin diseases
- Diagnosis of hair diseases
- Diagnosis of nail diseases
- Diagnosis of skin tumors
- Skin scraping
- Blisters on the skin
- Dermatoscopy
- Demodex tests
- Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections
- Mushroom tests
- Skin scraping
