Most of us women know only too well by now that very few things are rarely as embarrassing and uncomfortable as an itchy vagina. Firstly, it makes you feel completely unsexy and can greatly affect the way you feel about yourself and your body. Secondly, it compels you to take frequent loo breaks, which can be very annoying, especially when you’re in the middle of something. Then there’s that bit about having to discreetly adjust your pants or your underwear in social gatherings when your vagina starts begging for a good little scratch.
There is good news, however. There are a number of easy, inexpensive DIY home remedies that involve all-natural ingredients to help you treat that itch. Before we get to that, however, it is important we try and understand the importance of vaginal pH and how it can affect the health of your vagina.
Vaginal pH Levels, Infection, And Itchiness
Any healthy vagina will have a pH level leaning slightly towards the acidic side. This is ideally somewhere between 3.8 and 4.5 and is maintained with the help of a continuous supply of vaginal secretions and good bacteria. These also serve to lubricate the canal and cleanse the insides of your vagina every day. This pH plays a very crucial role in safeguarding the vagina against bacterial and yeast infections, most of which need a basic pH of 7 to thrive.
An overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast infections are some of the major causes of a stressed out itchy vagina. This is very likely to happen if your vaginal pH levels start leaning towards the basic side of the pH scale.
Before these situations cause your vagina to explode, it is important to treat that itch the moment you notice any discomfort. Fortunately, there are plenty of home remedies you can turn to to help treat a vagina that is too pH basic.
Note: Before trying any of these home remedies, you need to be absolutely sure as to whether your vagina has really turned basic or not. You can find this out by buying yourself an at-home pH test from the local chemist’s, or by visiting the doctor and ask for a vaginal pH evaluation test.
6 DIY Remedies For Treating Vaginal Itch And Restoring pH Balance
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
The high levels of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar are very effective in destroying many bacterial and yeast strains. Because apple cider vinegar is also antibacterial in nature, it further helps to treat bacterial infections that are causing your vagina to itch. Thanks to the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar, you can also reverse elevated pH levels in your vagina that are attracting all those microbes, to begin with. Therefore, with the help of the right methods, you can use apple cider vinegar not only to cure your itchy vagina but also to bring your vagina back to its right pH levels to prevent future infections from occurring.
Method 1: Soak a tampon in a diluted solution of raw apple cider vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Now insert this tampon into your vagina and let it remain inside you for about an hour. This will get rid of the microbes inside your vagina that are causing it to itch. After your hour’s up, pull out the tampon gently and rinse your vaginal area properly with warm water. Dry this area carefully with a towel. Repeat these steps once, every day till your itching stops.
Method 2: Pour 2 cups of raw apple cider vinegar to a tub full of warm water. Sit in it and let your vagina soak in this bath for about 20 minutes. This will help to reduce the inflammation and swelling caused by all that itchiness. Repeat this process every time you take a bath and within a few days, your itch will vanish.
Note: Never apply apple cider vinegar directly on the surface of your skin whether it’s in your vagina, or face or hands for it can cause some severe burns. Therefore, remember to always dilute it with water according to the instructions before application.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids that can soothe the itchy skin in your nether regions. It has some very potent antimicrobial properties that keep bacterial infections at bay. Plus, coconut oil also contains lauric acid which helps inhibit the growth of bad bacteria and helps to nourish dry, irritated, and damaged skin. All these properties, therefore, make coconut oil a highly effective natural remedy for curing a vagina that demands to be scratched a little too much.
Method: Soak a tampon thoroughly in virgin coconut oil (in the liquid form). Insert this tampon into your vagina and let it sit inside for about 8 hours or even overnight if possible. Next, pull out the tampon gently and rinse your vagina with some warm water. Dry yourself thoroughly with a towel. Repeat this process every day to bring down the symptoms of your itchy vagina.
3. Garlic
Garlic is very well known for its antifungal and antimicrobial properties, most of which are because of a compound called allicin. This is why garlic is an excellent way to treat a vagina that is under attack by bacteria and yeast.
Method: Take a freshly peeled relatively large-sized clove of garlic and wash it well. Now make slits carefully along its sides and insert this carefully into your vagina, but not all the way in; leave some length sticking out so that it’s easier for you to pull it out. Leave the garlic inside you overnight. When you wake up, take out the clove carefully and rinse the area well with warm water. Pat dry with a towel till your vaginal area is thoroughly dry. Repeat this process every day till the itching and discomfort stops.
4. Yogurt
Raw yogurt helps to cure an itchy vagina in two ways. Firstly, yogurt has a very soothing effect on inflamed skin and helps bring down the urge to scratch at it all the time, thus preventing the condition from getting worse. Secondly, raw yogurt is rich in probiotics, that help encourage the growth of good bacteria like lactobacillus. This kills the bad bacteria inside your intestines and vagina and also helps restore the natural pH levels to prevent attracting future attacks of bad bacteria.
Method 1: Take a sanitary napkin and spread a good layer of raw, unsweetened yogurt thoroughly on its surface. Stick it into your underwear and wear it around for about 30 minutes after which you can rinse your vagina with warm water. Dry yourself thoroughly before putting your pants back on again. Repeat this process thrice every day till your vagina stops itching.
Method 2: Dip a tampon in raw, unsweetened yogurt and insert it into your vagina. Leave it inside for about 2 to 3 hours before pulling it out. Rinse with warm water and dry yourself thoroughly. Repeat once every day.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a well known natural antiseptic that can help fight off harmful infection-causing microbes. What’s even better, is that unlike other medicated antifungal treatments, this has no side effects.
Method: Make a solution using equal parts of water with 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide. Soak a tampon in this solution and insert it into your vagina. Leave it inside for about 20 to 30 minutes. Pull out the tampon carefully and rinse your genital areas well with warm water. Dry yourself thoroughly. Repeat this method every day until the itching stops.
Note: Always use 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide for any internal use. Remember, however, that at this concentration, hydrogen peroxide is a potent oxidizer. If it’s not diluted before internal use, it can cause some severe physical damages internally, and can even be fatal. Any concentrations that are over 10% can cause harmful neurological reactions and serious damage to your upper gastrointestinal tract.
6. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has been celebrated for its antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These make it a potent anti-itch remedy for your inflamed genitals. Also, tea tree oil has a very pleasant smell and can help fight off the strange smells in your vagina that are caused by infection.
Method 1: Dip a tampon into tea tree oil and insert it into your vagina. Leave it on overnight. The next day, pull it out and rinse yourself properly with warm water. Dry your vagina properly. Repeat this process every day.
Method 2: You can also dilute some tea tree oil in warm water in equal parts and use this solution to rinse your vagina every day. Remember to dry your nether regions properly after you’re done.
