Wellness Sexual Health 5 Reasons Your Vagina Is Having an Allergic Reaction By Ashley Mateo Ashley Mateo Ashley Mateo has over a decade's worth of experience covering fitness, health, travel, and more for publications including the WSJ, Men's Journal, Women's Health, and more. health's editorial guidelines Updated on January 7, 2024 Medically reviewed by Renita White, MD Medically reviewed by Renita White, MD Renita White, MD, is an obstetrician/gynecologist at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology in Atlanta, Georgia. Her areas of expertise include fibroids, irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal pap smears, infertility and menopause. learn more Trending Videos Close this video player FatCamera / Getty Images A vaginal allergic reaction, or vaginal dermatitis, may occur if your vagina makes contact with the wrong substances. Your vagina and vulva (external female genitalia) have some of the most sensitive, delicate skin on your body. The vaginal mucosa, which is the soft tissue that lines the inside of the vagina, is very absorbent. Your immune system could overreact and cause an allergic reaction if you come into contact with an allergen, such as chemical dyes, feminine hygiene products, latex, and spermicide. Those allergens might lead to vaginal dermatitis, which causes symptoms like irritation and itching. You may need to be cautious of even small amounts of allergens because of how readily your vagina absorbs them. Read on to learn about possible causes of a vaginal rash, irritation, and itching. Pimples on Labia: What They Are and How To Treat Them Symptoms of Vaginal Allergic Reaction A vaginal allergic reaction can cause symptoms like: BurningIrritationItchingRednessSorenessSwelling (e.g., vulvitis, or swelling of the vulva) 1. Chemical Dyes Many products you might use on your vaginal area, from soaps to bath bombs to toilet paper, contain chemical dyes. Stop using a product if you can trace your symptoms to one of those products. 2. Fragrant or Deodorant Feminine Products Your vagina does not need douches, intimate sprays, or vaginal wipes to be clean and healthy. Feminine hygiene products can throw off the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria inside your vagina, possibly causing inflammation and irritation. Douching might also cause: Increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Problems during pregnancy Vaginal yeast infections The fragrances in many of those items may also result in a vaginal allergic reaction. You might visit a healthcare provider for an allergy test to find out what's causing your symptoms. Stop using any irritants in the meantime to reduce symptoms. 3. Latex Condoms Natural latex is made from the rubber tree and can contain proteins that trigger your immune system, causing an allergic reaction. Symptoms include: Anaphylaxis, which is a severe, life-threatening allergic reactionChest tightnessDifficulty breathingHivesItchingRunny or stuffy noseWheezing Between less than 1% and 7.6% of the population have a latex allergy. Those allergies are more usually common in people with frequent exposure to latex, including healthcare providers and those who have had multiple surgeries. There are plenty of latex-free options if you have a latex allergy. Look for condoms made from polyisoprene, polyurethane, and AT-10 (a synthetic polyethylene resin). Many drugstores sell sheepskin and lambskin condoms, but those are not as protective against STIs as other options. 4. Sperm You might be allergic to your partner's sperm. Seminal plasma hypersensitivity causes severe itching and swelling of areas that come into contact with sperm, such as the vagina. Other symptoms usually include a rash and difficulty breathing. An allergic reaction to sperm rarely leads to anaphylaxis. A healthcare provider can perform an allergy test if you suspect that sperm is to blame. You can avoid sperm or have immunotherapy shots to reduce your allergy symptoms if the test shows that you have a sperm allergy. 5. Spermicide Many manufacturers pre-coat condoms with spermicide, which is a chemical that kills sperm. You might be allergic to the spermicide coating if latex and sperm are not triggering your symptoms. It's also possible that you are allergic to foam or dissolvable film spermicides that you insert into the vagina before sex. Spermicide contains several compounds, such as benzocaine and nonoxynol-9, which may irritate the vagina. You might try using condoms without spermicide or another type of contraception. Treatment You can typically treat vaginal allergic reaction symptoms at home by: Applying a cool compress to the affected areaTaking a cool bathUsing a gentle, unscented soap to cleanse your vaginal areaUsing an oral or topical over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine Wearing loose clothing to avoid irritation Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not go away or get worse. They can prescribe or recommend treatments to help reduce genital irritation. Medical treatments include emollients (moisturizers) and topical steroids. Apply emollients to your vaginal area as needed. Just make sure to reapply them after bathing and showering. You might also use emollients to cleanse your vaginal area instead of fragranced soaps, which can cause irritation. A healthcare provider might prescribe a topical steroid, which the skin near your vulva easily absorbs. They might advise using a topical steroid with an antibiotic cream if you develop an infection. Apply the cream or ointment once daily or as a healthcare provider instructs. Wait at least 20 minutes between applying a topical cream and an emollient. Prevention You might not always be able to prevent a vaginal allergic reaction. There are steps, however, you can take to reduce your risk, such as: Avoid triggers.Do not scratch the affected area, which might cause an infection.Opt for latex-free condoms, or explore other contraception options.Wash your vulva with unscented soap and water. Do not douche or wash inside of your vagina, which cleanses itself by producing mucus.Wash new clothing and underwear before you wear them to get rid of chemical dyes. When To Contact a Healthcare Provider A vaginal allergic reaction can be annoying and uncomfortable, but most are not serious. You'll want to contact a healthcare provider, though, if you develop severe symptoms that do not go away or worsen with at-home remedies. Talk to a healthcare provider if you develop signs of an infection, including: FeverRednessSkin that's warm to the touchTenderness near the vaginal area 4 Things That Can Make Your Vagina Feel Sore After Sex A Quick Review Vaginal allergic reactions may occur inside the vagina or around the vulva. Chemical dyes, fragranced feminine hygiene products, latex, sperm, and spermicide are possible allergens. Talk to a healthcare provider if you develop burning, itching, redness, or swelling after coming into contact with any of those allergens. They can help you figure out what's causing your symptoms and advise treatments. FAQs Frequently Asked Questions 1. What does an allergic reaction to lube look like? An allergic reaction to lubricant can look similar to a vaginal allergic reaction to other irritants. Symptoms may include:BurningFluid-filled blisters that ooze, drain, crust, and scaleHives, or itch weltsItchingRednessSkin rashSwellingTenderness 2. What can be mistaken for vulvar dermatitis? Other skin conditions that affect the vaginal area and resemble vulva dermatitis include:Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD): This rare skin condition causes red, itchy, and scaly vulva skin. EMPD is sometimes linked to cancer.Lichen planus: This skin condition normally affects the mucous membranes of the mouth but can appear on the vulvar skin. Symptoms include abnormal discharge, burning, dark-pink bumps and white streaks on the vulva, itching, and soreness.Lichen sclerosus: You might notice burning, itching, and pain during sex. The vulva will appear crinkled, thin, and white and may have breaks in the skin.Lichen simplex chronicus: This skin condition might result from vaginal allergic reaction symptoms that persist for long periods. You may develop thick, scaly plaques on the vulvar skin that severely itch. Vaginal yeast infection: Vaginal allergic reaction symptoms, including burning, redness, and swelling, are similar to yeast infections. Allergy symptoms, in contrast, will typically show up right away after contact and last two to three days. 3. How do you treat an allergic reaction to lubricant? Stop using lubricants right away if you suspect that they're causing your symptoms. Wash away any residue in the bath or shower using a gentle, unscented soap and cool water. You might visit a healthcare provider for an allergy test to confirm whether lubricant is the culprit.Other treatments include:Cool compressesEmollients, gentle moisturizers, and topical steroidsOral or topical OTC allergy medicineWearing loose clothing until symptoms subside Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 14 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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