Aunt Vadge: midnight itch

Cuts of unknown origin

TL;DR

Experiencing an itchy and burning sensation in your genital area can be distressing. Aunt Vadge addresses a query about nocturnal itching, suggesting it could be due to conditions like lichenoid, dermatitis, or scleroderma. She advises on checking symptoms against these conditions and offers home remedies like oat baths, applying kefir or yogurt, and keeping detailed health records to manage the situation until a medical consultation is possible.

Hi Aunt Vadge, 

I really don’t know how to describe my problem.  I’m engaged and have only had sex with one man for the past two-and-a-half half years. I’ve been tested and I’m clean. I find my clit will itch then sting and start to burn.

The itch normally happens when I’m half asleep so I end up scratching. I’ve tried wearing underwear to bed so I can’t scratch it but even rubbing it causes this problem. I get yeast infections to but not always at the same time, but I do get them a lot. I’d like to know if I can do anything to help at home till I can see my doctor.

Thanks
Scratchy
_____

Hi Maria,

Thanks for your email. It sounds like you may have a lichenoid condition, dermatitis or perhaps something like scleroderma. These are quite serious conditions, although not life-threatening, and are all characterised by an itch.

The itch is the first sign of these things, and in particular night/sleep itching. The frequent yeast infections also tend to be a feature of these conditions. I would suggest you read through all the articles on these topics to see which symptoms suit so you are forearmed when you get to your appointment. There are some tips inside each of these articles about how to manage the itching, including oat baths to soothe the flesh.

Check them out and see what you think. Itching like that can have a root cause in the itch-scratch cycle. It could also be a fungal infection that has grown roots – so the candida can become pathogenic and cause intense itching, which is of course far less serious and more easily treated – but, same applies – you need to know why this is happening. It could be bad, could be easy fixed. If it is being caused by yeast, you could possibly apply some milk kefir or yoghurt, or even break up a probiotic capsules and sprinkle it around just to add some opposition to the yeast. Take them orally too.

Keep really good records of when everything started, what triggers you can identify and also a brief journal of goings ons, food, and anything you’ve applied like treatments for thrush, and so on. It will help to keep track of things. Take photos of any visible symptoms.

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to ask – this stuff can get tricky, even with a diagnosis.

Write back anytime.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge



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