itching on my virgina

hello## in the side of my vigina (vagina), inner thigh it always itches and on the upper lip, and also when its time just before my periods i get like boils on my vagina..wats the cause
and when ever i just shave my underarm using blade after a week or so i get a lump which is like a boil, its very painful and then when ripe it burst, and goes away leaving marks on my under arm

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

There are a few possibilities for this kind of itching of vagina and groins.It can be a fungal infection(Tinea cruris) or a contact or irritant ( xerotic) dermatitis.

Wash your groin and vagina daily and then dry thoroughly by pat drying,not rubbing. A hairdryer is useful if you have hairy groins.The damp groin is an ideal site for fungi to multiply.Also wear cotton underwears and change them twice a day and do not share other people’s towels.Application of local antifungal cream(terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole) and oral antifungal drugs are the mainstay of treatment.Pls don’t apply any medicated powder without informing your dermatologist as it may aggravate the condition.

The boils that you  get on vagina and your underarms after shaving can be due to staph infections of an oil gland or hair follicle or an ingrown hair. Apply hot compresses on the boil.As long as the boil is hard,it is difficult draining it.But once it becomes soft,drainage is easy.You need to consult a doctor if it is bigger boil for its drainage or for prescription of antibiotics. In future also,when shaving ,get some facial scrub and vigorously scrub the area twice a week. If you notice any ingrowns hairs, you can attempt to squeeze and pluck them out and they will then heal spontaneoulsly.Also wear loose-fitting underwear and clothing.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.