Vaginal itching, burning, and inflammation are typical symptoms of vaginitis. These symptoms are typical of vaginal yeast infections. Sometimes these symptoms can occur in bacterial vaginosis, but not in all cases. If you experience vaginal itching / burning accompanied by a white to grayish vaginal discharge that smells fishy, ​​it could be bacterial vaginosis (BV).

The standard treatment for bacterial vaginosis is with antibiotics, either in the form of an oral pill or vaginal cream / gel. Treatment will help kill the bacteria that cause BV and thus stop the symptoms of vaginal itching, discharge, and a bad odor. However, symptoms may appear intermittently before BV clears up. If this is the case, you can try some over-the-counter (OTC) solutions and natural remedies to reduce the severity, if not completely stop, vaginal itching / burning.

OTC solutions

Have a vaginal anti-itch cream on hand. Unwanted itching at the most inappropriate time. Vagisil, for example, contains an anesthetic to suppress itching and is safe to use in the vaginal area. This will save you from the intense urge to scratch. Other vaginal anti-itch creams available include Equate, Vagi-gard, and Summers Eve.

Most vaginal anti-itch creams also contain pain relievers and antipruritics. You may want to go for a cream that also contains vitamins A, D, and E; they are able to soothe irritated vaginal skin.

Don’t let these anti-itch creams just stop mild itching. They do not have the power to kill germs. Using anti-itch creams may only provide temporary relief from your symptoms, but it will not cure BV if no other treatment is used to attack the cause of the problem. It is necessary to seek the appropriate medical treatment. Alternatively, you can use natural remedies to treat bacterial vaginosis at its root causes.

Lifestyle tips

* Do not scratch, otherwise it will further irritate the affected area.

* Avoid sexual intercourse until symptoms disappear.

* Keep the vaginal area cool and dry by wearing cotton underwear, which absorbs moisture and sweat better than other types of fabric.

* Put something cold in the vaginal area to reduce irritation. You can do this by first placing a wet flannel in the freezer for several minutes and then placing the cold flannel on the vaginal area.

* Stop using colored or scented toilet paper. Chemicals can cause further skin irritation.

There are also ways to stop vaginal itching with home remedies, making use of common ingredients like garlic, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar.