It doesn’t happen to everyone, but walking around with itchy privates is more common than you think. As you can imagine, even mild symptoms can be bothersome enough to drive people to their doctor for treatment. The reasons why can range from worrisome (STIs, skin conditions or harmful allergies among other things) or something much more benign, like your underwear.
Why is my underwear making me itch?
Any kind of fiber can bring on a rash, but you’re more likely to get textile dermatitis, an itchy skin rash, from clothes made with synthetics such as polyester, rayon, nylon and spandex, i.e. typical materials used for panties and other types of underwear. They don’t breathe as well as natural fibers and they make your body produce more sweat quicker.
The source of the itchiness is often the synthetic dyes or other chemicals in the underwear. According to the National Library of Medicine, formaldehyde resins used to make garments wrinkle-free or dirt-repellent can cause real skin problems.
READ: Should Women Skip Panties In The Summer? Some Doctors Think So
That’s why it’s best to look for natural fibers when choosing underwear. Wama Underwear, for instance, is a sustainable clothing brand that produces undies made of hemp. It is a great option when looking for a way to cut down on skin irritation. Hemp fabric has many benefits like being naturally anti-bacterial, soft and breathable.
Hemp fibers have also been proven to:
- protect your skin by naturally filtering UV light.
- resist bacterial growth and breathe excellently, preventing odors.
- have four times the strength of cotton; It won't weaken when washed.
- retain natural color better than any other fabric
This is especially important because wearing the wrong underwear can cause some pretty bothersome conditions that if not treated, can lead to itchiness and even pain.
They include:
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Yeast infections
These infections are so common that three-fourths of women will get one at some point. The hallmark symptom is extreme itchiness, along with an odorless thick, white discharge.
It’s suggested you call your doctor to discuss symptoms rather than going to the drugstore to buy an OTC treatment.
If you randomly self-treat and it’s not a yeast infection, the problem could be exacerbated.
Irritation
General genital irritation is one of the most common causes of itching down there and is ultimately cured by good vulva hygiene. That includes not wearing scented panty liners (and not wearing panty liners too much overall), avoiding scented soaps for down-there cleaning, and absolutely never douching or using scented feminine sprays or powders.
These can kickstart the problem; then, scratching can lead to infection, making things more painful. These activities can shift the vaginal pH balance, opening up the possibility of contracting a bacterial vaginosis infection (BV).
READ: 3 Important Health Reasons Why Your Breasts Itch
Bacterial Vaginosis
As stated above, the vagina needs ample time to breathe. Suffocating it with synthetic underwear traps moisture against your skin, which can be highly irritating.
Bacterial vaginosis can sometimes be a result of not getting enough air get down there, which fosters a buildup of bacteria. This can cause some itching, but more often than not BV can cause a foul-smelling discharge.
We hope this will help you make your vagina happier as things get a bit more tricky downtown!
