What are the consequences if vaginal irritation is not treated and prevented?

Maintaining and caring for healthy skin is important. Unfortunately, many women tend to focus more on taking care of their facial skin, hands and feet. In fact, all the skin on the body also needs treatment, including the skin around the vagina. As a result, many women have complaints such as itching, burning, and rashes, signs of vaginal irritation.

If not treated immediately, what will be the effect on health? Then, how do you maintain cleanliness? Come on, find out the answer in the following review.

Why can the skin around the vagina be irritated?

Did you know that the vagina is very sensitive? Yes, the thickness of the protective skin is known as stratum corneum or horny cell much thinner than the rest of the area.

In addition, this area of the skin around the genitals also tends to be more frequently moist. The risk of irritation is even greater with the use of various products that touch the vaginal skin, such as sanitary napkins, cleaning products, the texture of the pants, and also contraceptives like condoms.

This condition can occur at any time, but is more often experienced by women before and during menstruation. Hormonal changes that cause more mucus and pads that are not soft, do not absorb blood properly, and also unbreathable (not allowing air circulation) could be the culprit.

A vaginal area that is too moist can cause friction and fungal growth to become more active. As a result, the vagina will feel itchy, reddish, and cause a rash. This condition definitely makes you uncomfortable doing various activities, right?

This is the impact if vaginal irritation is not treated or prevented?

The earliest symptom of irritation is the appearance of redness which is sometimes accompanied by itching. Unfortunately, many women do not know these signs and leave this condition alone. Thinking that the condition will get better by itself over time, until you finally notice that your vagina becomes irritated after the rash appears.

Without treatment and prevention, the symptoms of vaginal irritation can get worse. The combination of vaginal moisture, existing irritation conditions, and no circulation in the skin of the vaginal area, can become a nest for bacteria to multiply. Here are some possible diseases that are at risk of occurring if vaginal irritation is not treated.

1. Bacterial vaginosis

Actually, bacteria are not always bad, there are also good bacteria that help maintain the health of the body, such as good bacteria in the digestive system and vagina. However, the good bacteria and bad bacteria will continue to compete, if there are more in number then the bacteria will win.

Well, the good bacteria in the vagina can be unable to compete with bad bacteria due to vaginal conditions that are too moist. As a result, bad bacteria can multiply actively, which causes bacterial vaginosis.

This disease causes changes in the mucus; it becomes more abundant and smells bad and will cause a painful and burning sensation when urinating or having sex. If not treated, this condition can affect fertility.

2. Urinary tract infection

Besides bacterial vaginosis, bad bacteria that continue to multiply can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bad bacteria, especially bacteria E. colli which builds up in the vagina, can spread to the bladder and cause inflammation.

Common symptoms of a UTI are fever, pain and a burning sensation when urinating, and pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. This condition may make you want to continue to urinate, but only a small amount of urine is excreted.

Watch for signs and symptoms of both of these diseases. Immediately check with a doctor before the condition gets worse and complicates treatment.

Tips to prevent the vagina from being kept clean and menstruation free of irritation

You certainly don't want to get vaginal irritation and risk other vaginal diseases, right? Of course, it is better to prevent than to cure. For that, consider tips on caring for and maintaining vaginal hygiene to stay healthy as follows:

Choose sanitary napkins wisely. High humidity occurs during menstruation. This means that you should choose pads that do not make the vaginal area more moist. Look for pads that are soft and absorbent. And most importantly, sanitary napkins must have pores that allow air to circulate so that the vaginal area will remain dry.
Do not use vaginal cleaning products that can damage the acid balance of the vagina. It is better if you wash your vagina gently with clean, running water every time you urinate. Then, wipe with a tissue to keep the vagina dry.
Avoid tight and rough pants. Choose pants made of cotton which is soft and absorbs sweat well.