1. Loosen Your Clothing
Body-hugging jeans, constricting underwear and pantyhose without a cotton crotch can aggravate the uncomfortable itching and burning yeast infection causes. Tight clothes create a warm, moist environment that is the perfect breeding ground for yeast. Wear pants and underwear with breathing room.
2. Ease Vaginal Burning With Cool Compresses
Soak a clean washcloth or cotton pad in cool water to make a compress and apply it to your vaginal area. You can do this each time you use the bathroom. The cool water will help soothe vaginal burning until your medication begins to take effect.
3. Stay Cool
Keep out of the hot tub or whirlpool, and avoid hot showers and baths to help manage the burning and itching associated with vaginitis. Shower or bathe in lukewarm water instead, and use a mild, unscented soap.
4. Use a Vaginal Moisturizer
Apply a vaginal moisturizer to manage the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis, or thinning, dry vaginal skin. Read the label carefully, and select a vaginal moisturizer rather than a vaginal lubricant. One application of vaginal moisturizer can ease vaginal dryness, burning and itching for up to 3 days. Use a vaginal lubricant just before having sex to make intercourse more comfortable, but the moisturizer is your best bet for longer relief. Avoid vaginal moisturizers and lubricants if a yeast infection is causing your symptoms, as extra moisture spurs yeast growth. Don't put petroleum jelly in or around your vagina.
5. Soothe Medication Side Effects
Review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist and determine whether a decongestant, antihistamine or antidepressant could be contributing to vaginal dryness and irritation (noninfectious vaginitis). If you can't eliminate the medication or reduce the dosage, use a vaginal moisturizer or smooth some vitamin E oil directly onto your vaginal area to ease dryness, itching or burning. You can purchase the oil or break open a vitamin E capsule and use the oil inside. A little olive oil will work, too. It's water soluble and relatively inexpensive. Use it sparingly, though, because it can stain your underwear and clothes.
