7 Common Causes of Rashes Near Your Vagina
Any time you notice something unusual about your vagina, it’s normal to feel worried —especially if it’s something unsightly and unpleasant, like a rash. It’s good to be concerned, and aware of what’s normal and what’s not with your body, but don’t panic. There are plenty of benign reasons that you might have a rash in the area around your vagina, and there are things you can do to get rid of the problem and help prevent it from occurring again.
“A vaginal rash can pop up on the outer portion of the vulva, in between or on the labia minora (inner lips) and labia majorum (outer lips), or even around the anus,” says Susan S. Khalil, M.D., a gynecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The rash may look reddish, feel painful, have a burning or itchy sensation or have no sensation at all, and it may also appear scaley or plaque-like, or be accompanied by bumps or patchy areas.
Even if a vaginal rash is caused by something as ordinary as using a new soap or wearing a new type of fabric underwear, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure it’s nothing more serious that needs specific treatment to eradicate. “When it comes to vaginal health, it's important to pay attention to its color and consistency for signs of anything abnormal. If you start to experience any abnormalities or discomfort, such as itching, rashes, discharge or pain, it’s important to consult with a trusted healthcare provider,” says Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an OB-GYN, women’s health expert, and founder of Sanctum Wellness in Dallas, Texas.
Check out these common causes of a vaginal rash, plus what to do to find some relief.
If it’s irritated or itchy, but you don’t have discharge, it could be contact dermatitis.
This is essentially your body’s adverse reaction to coming in contact with some sort of irritant. So just like your lips may become irritated after using a new type of chapstick or lipstick that doesn’t agree with you, the same thing can happen in your vaginal area when you wear scented pads, use a cleansing wipe, shave with shaving products like soap, body wash or shaving cream, or even use a new laundry detergent to wash your underwear. It can also arise if you sweat while wearing tight clothes, or try out a new type of lubricant during sex. “Many substances can cause irritation of the vagina, from body fluids and sweat, to hygiene and personal care products,” says Dr. Shepherd.
Treatment: Try eliminating any products that are newer to your regimen to see if it helps your rash subside and stay away.
Recently shaved? That could be the culprit.
Your personal grooming preferences are your business, but if you do shave or touch up your bikini line and beyond, that could cause folliculitis, a type of skin irritation that may appear as a rash, be itchy and is frequently accompanied by pimple-like spots or bumps. And think about whether or not you’ve recently tried a new body wash, shaving cream or razor to facilitate a smoother shave — that could also cause skin irritation or a contact dermatitis rash.
Treatment: Removing bath and body products that you suspect may be irritating, swapping out your razor for a sharper or more efficient one, or quitting shaving altogether may help.
When discharge or a smell that you know isn’t normal accompanies a vaginal rash, it might be a bacterial infection.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal condition to afflict women ages 15 to 44, and it happens when the bacterial makeup of your vaginal microbiome becomes disrupted and unbalanced. Besides a rash and itching, you may also notice a foul fishy smell, as well as gray, white or green discharge, and it sometimes burns when you pee.
Treatment: This is one case where you're going to want to check with your doctor ASAP, who may provide antibiotics or a cream to treat symptoms.
An itchy, painful rash on the vulva that keeps coming back could be vulvar dermatoses.
“Vulvar dermatoses are a group of inflammatory skin conditions of the vulva, or the outside portion that’s external to the vagina,” explains Dr. Khalil. The rash or legions may also be accompanied by vulvar pain, depending on the specific condition causing it, and it’s most common in postmenopausal women, though younger women can also experience it.
Treatment: Your doctor can diagnose you and help you figure out which type of vulvar dermatoses you have, in order to get you the right treatment (which usually includes topical, oral or injectable steroids to alleviate inflammation and eliminate the rash).
If a rash appears after you’ve had unprotected sex, you might have an STI.
A rash can be a symptom of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), many of which cause you to develop other symptoms down the line, such as ulcers. Genital herpes and syphilis are common STIs that present this way, says Dr. Khalil, but other infections such as scabies or pubic lice can cause a rash or extreme itchiness without ulcers.
Treatment: It’s crucial to see your doctor in order to prevent it from worsening, and so you can get advice about how to avoid spreading it to others, as well as proper treatment.
A rash that’s accompanied by itching or burning inside your vagina may signal a yeast infection.
A yeast infection won’t always cause a rash, but sometimes it does, and it may also produce cottage cheese-like discharge. Even if a rash isn’t present, experiencing vaginal soreness or itching or burning inside the vagina while doing nothing, peeing or having sex are telltale yeast infection symptoms. It’s caused by an overgrowth of yeast, which may be triggered by using antibiotics, being pregnant, having low estrogen levels, poorly controlled diabetes, oral birth control and having a suppressed immune system.
Treatment: “If you’ve had a yeast infection in the past, you can use over-the-counter yeast infection products,” says Dr. Khalil, but it’s always a good idea to contact your doctor, especially if you’ve never had a yeast infection before, to be sure you’re using the right treatment that will knock out the fungal infection, and to get a proper diagnosis.
A scaly, plaque-like vaginal rash could be caused by psoriasis.
Systemic conditions like psoriasis sometimes cause a rash in the vaginal region, often characterized by a rash that looks particularly scaly or has dry raised plaque patches, says Dr. Khalil. Psoriasis rarely affects only the genitals, so you’ll likely already have encountered a similar-looking rash on other parts of your body — but up to two thirds of people with psoriasis will experience genital psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Besides the vaginal region, the rash may also appear on your inner upper thighs, the pubic skin right above your vagina or around the buttocks or anus.
Treatment: See a dermatologist, who can help devise the right psoriasis treatment plan for you.
What to know about treatment and prevention of vaginal rashes:
As long as a vaginal rash isn’t caused by something that needs treatment prescribed by your doctor, such as an STI or yeast infection, you can often prevent, tame or get rid of a vaginal rash on your own. One of the best strategies is a hands-off approach — that means avoiding topical relief products that could possibly make things worse, and instead keeping the area dry, clean and able to breathe in order to allow it time to clear up.
Assess your personal care routine and the products you use, and consider removing products or steps that seem to trigger irritation, such as swapping or ditching your razor, or steering clear of soaps, scented feminine products, lubricants, spermicides or detergents that make a rash pop up, says Dr. Shepherd. And if you’re prone to a vaginal rash, try to avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing, which may cause irritating friction, prevent air flow and trap moisture — all common causes of vaginal rash.
But, when in doubt, always check in with your doctor.
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