Vaginal Itching but No Discharge: Causes, Treatment, and More

Vaginal itching is a signal that something is amiss in the vagina. Some common causes of vaginal itching are yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis (BV), which can also cause abnormal discharge. Other causes of vaginal itching, like razor bumps, irritation from soap, vaginal rash, and genital herpes, won't cause abnormal discharge at all. 

Some causes of vaginal itching won’t get better on their own and you’ll need treatment. Knowing the causes of vaginal itching without abnormal discharge, as well as other symptoms you might have, can help you decide if you need to call your healthcare provider.

This article covers the possible causes of vaginal itching with no discharge, when you should see a provider, and how vaginal itching is treated. You’ll also learn how you can prevent vaginal itching. 

Causes of Vaginal Itching Without Discharge

Several things can cause vaginal itching without discharge. Some of these conditions require medical treatment, while others are things you can treat at home.

Causes of vaginal itching without discharge include:

• Sweating
• Razor burn
• Eczema
• Irritants
• Pubic lice
• Genital herpes
• Lichen sclerosus

Sweating

Everyone sweats in their genitals because this part of the body has glands that make sweat just like the ones in the armpit (apocrine glands). These glands make a thicker sweat than the glands in other parts of the body (eccrine glands).

When a protein from sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin, it can cause an unpleasant odor. As sweat dries, it can also make the groin and vulva itchy.

Prevention

If sweating is causing vaginal itching, it should go away when you bathe or shower. You can also take steps to prevent vaginal itching from sweat by:

• Choosing breathable materials, like cotton, for clothes
• Wearing moisture-wicking underwear for exercise
• Taking a shower and putting on clean clothes as soon as you can after sweating
• Keeping at least some pubic hair, as it carries moisture away from the skin
• Maintaining a weight that is healthy for you
• Avoiding pads or pantyliners, or changing them frequently if you do use them

Any scented product can irritate the sensitive tissues of your vulva and make itching worse. Avoid or limit how often you use these kinds of products:

• Scented menstrual products
• Antiperspirants and deodorants
• Feminine hygiene sprays

If you use a product that gets rid of or prevents sweating and odor, choose an unscented product.

Razor Burn

Razor burn happens when the razor removes the top layer of the skin and allows bacteria to invade. 

Shaving hair in your pubic area can cause razor burn, just like shaving hair elsewhere on your body. You may notice that the skin is swollen and red with itchy bumps that are sensitive when touched.

Prevention

You can prevent razor burn by using a clean and sharp razor. In addition, more blades are better than fewer.

You can prevent razor burn by:

• Moisturizing the skin before and after shaving
• Taking a hot shower or putting a warm washcloth on the area before shaving
• Using a shaving cream or gel so the razor can glide smoothly over your skin
• Only shaving in the direction of hair growth
• Storing your razor in a dry area (which helps prevent bacterial growth)

If you have razor burn, try to avoid irritating the skin more. If the itch is intense, you may find relief from:

• Applying a cool or warm compress to your skin
• Taking a warm bath, possibly with oatmeal, for extra soothing benefits
• Wearing loose-fitting, breathable fabrics like cotton
• Using aloe vera gel on external skin only

Eczema

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a skin condition that causes redness and itching. Female genital eczema is an umbrella term for several types of itchy skin conditions that can affect your vulva or the skin between the cheeks of your buttocks.

Types of eczema that can lead to vaginal itching include:

• Atopic eczema. This condition is caused by a dysfunctional immune system. Symptoms include dry, itchy skin and rashes. The rashes may appear red on light skin and purple, brown, or gray on darker skin.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: This chronic form of eczema can clear up and flare repeatedly for years. It’s thought to be caused by an abnormal reaction to a type of yeast on your skin.
• Allergic contact dermatitis. A day or two after exposure to an allergen, an inflammatory reaction that causes an itchy rash can appear on the skin. Common triggers include poison ivy, nickel, and fragrances.
• Irritant contact eczema. Harsh substances such as solvents, soaps, wool, or certain ingredients in beauty products can damage skin cells and trigger an immune reaction that causes itching, burning, or blistering. The symptoms can be severe enough to disrupt sleep or make it hard to focus.

Prevention and Treatment

For types of eczema triggered by exposures, avoiding the substances that cause symptoms is key. 

Some things that can help prevent eczema flares, like regularly applying moisturizer to the affected skin, may not work for the genital area. However, drinking lots of water, trying not to scratch the site (or at least being gentle when you do so), and showering in lukewarm (not hot) water can help.

Topical corticosteroids are a standard treatment for many types of eczema, even when the vulva is affected. If you see your provider and they prescribe these medications for you, closely follow instructions to make sure you are using them safely. 

Your lifestyle habits, including getting plenty of sleep and managing your stress, can help you manage the symptoms of eczema, too.

Irritants

Many soaps, body washes, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products that you might use in the bath or shower can be irritating to the sensitive tissues of your genitals. This kind of irritation is common (especially in children) and is sometimes called soap or chemical vulvitis.

Bubble baths, shower gel, and other soaps can cause itching if your vulva or vagina becomes dry and irritated. You may have itching and burning sensations when urinating, and your vulva might look red. 

Other products that can cause vulvar/vaginal irritation include:

• Laundry products (soaps, detergents, dryer sheets, wrinkle releasers, fabric softeners, whiteners)
• Body care products (creams, lotions, gels, perfumes, sprays, deodorant, colored/scented toilet paper)
• Bath and shower products (soaps, gels, bath bombs, bath beads, oils, cleaners, exfoliators, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, masks, tanner, toner)
• Hygiene products (douches, scented tampons/pads, OTC ointments/creams, wipes, contraceptive creams or foams, condoms with lubes/flavors/scents)

Prevention

The easiest way to stop itching from irritation is to avoid using any soaps or products near your genitals that could be irritating. Try using fragrance-free laundry products to see if your itching improves.

You also should not douche or use products marketed to “clean” your vagina or vulva. Warm water is usually enough to keep your genitals clean, though some people can use a mild soap without irritation.

Pubic Lice

Pubic lice (or "crabs") is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause vaginal itching. The tiny parasitic insects live in pubic hair and, less commonly, other body hair (like the chest, beard, and eyebrows).

The lice live off your blood while they’re on your body. The most common way of getting them in your pubic hair is by touching the pubic hair of someone who has them. It's rare but possible to pick up pubic lice from bedding or clothing that you have shared with an infected person.

Pubic lice generally live on the fleshy area at the top of the vulva where most of your pubic hair is (mons pubis). Other than itching, you might not have any other physical symptoms of public lice.

Visible signs of public lice include:

• Tan or grayish lice on your pubic hair or skin
• Yellow or white eggs (nits) attached to the hair

While you will need to remove lice for hygiene and comfort, they are not harmful. 

Prevention and Treatment

The only way to prevent pubic lice is by not having sex or any other kind of close contact with a person who has them.

If you are infected, you can get rid of pubic lice with:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription products, including lotions, shampoos, gels, mousses, and oral medications
• A fine-toothed comb to remove eggs from your pubic hair (you can use just your fingernails for this if your case is mild)

In addition, you should wash and dry anything that the lice may have come into contact with, including:

• Clothes
• Bedding
• Towels

While it may seem like shaving your pubic hair would be a quick way to get rid of public lice, it will only get rid of the eggs—the lice will crawl to the first body hair they can find.

If you want to shave to make sure that all the nits are gone, experts recommend waiting until after treatments have killed all the lice. You may have an itching for a while after the lice are gone. Try to avoid scratching, as you could damage your skin and develop an infection.

If you notice redness or swelling in places where you've scratched, that could be a sign of infection and you’ll want to call your provider.

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is an incurable STI. It's most often caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), but the virus that causes oral herpes, HSV type 1 (HSV-1), can also cause it.

Around 12% of Americans between ages 14 and 49 test positive for HSV-2. Many cases of genital herpes are symptom-free or have mild, infrequent symptoms, including vaginal itching. 

During a herpes outbreak, people may have minor, painful sores or blisters on the genitals or anus. The sores can appear on the vulva, perineum (space between the vaginal and anal openings), vagina, and cervix (which connects the vagina to the uterus).

Other possible symptoms you may have during an outbreak include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Swollen glands in your throat, underarms, and pelvic areas

Prevention and Treatment

You can get genital herpes by having unprotected genital, anal, or oral contact with a person who has it. A condom and other barriers can provide protection, but there is still a risk of spreading herpes.

People can manage herpes with antiviral medications, which can help prevent it from spreading. Herpes symptoms can be eased with OTC pain medications and cool compresses applied to the sores.

Lichen Sclerosus

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic skin condition that makes the skin thin, pale, and wrinkly. It usually affects the genitalia and anus but can also be on the chest and arms. It's most common in women over age 50 and pre-pubescent girls.

The cause is not known, but it might be an autoimmune disease. It may also be related to hormonal imbalance linked to estrogen levels. 

Lichen sclerosus does not always cause symptoms but can cause:

• Intense vulvar itching
• Anal itching, pain, or bleeding, especially during bowel movements
• Pain during vaginal penetration
• Difficulty urinating or pain with urination
• Blisters
• Easy bruising, tearing, and bleeding
• Sores in a "figure 8" pattern around the vulva and anus

Lichen sclerosus usually comes and goes. It can cause permanent scars and usually gets worse over time if it is not treated.

Treatment

Lichen sclerosus cannot be cured. The goal of treatment is to manage your symptoms.  The standard treatment for lichen sclerosus includes:

• Steroid ointment to reduce inflammation, itching, and pain
• Steroid injections
• Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants to decrease pain
• Medications including Soriatane (acitretin) or Protopic (tacrolimus)
• Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you have vaginal or vulvar itching without abnormal discharge, lasting more than a few days, you should see your healthcare provider.

You may think that something simple like razor burn is causing your symptoms when it could be a condition like herpes that needs treatment. However, seeing a provider is important because if you use the wrong treatment, it could make the condition (and symptoms) worse.

If you also have an abnormal discharge or pelvic pain along with vaginal itching and see your healthcare provider right away.

Your provider may recommend different treatments depending on the cause of the itching. They might also offer some home remedies and OTC products for soothing an irritating itch, including:

• Cold compresses or ice packs for 5-10 minutes at a time
• Oatmeal baths
• Moisturizer (additive- and fragrance-free)
• Topical anesthetics containing pramoxine, found in Vagisil anti-itch wipes
• Topical treatments containing menthol or calamine

How to Prevent Vaginal Itching

There are steps you can take to help prevent vaginal and vulvar itching, like avoiding known irritations and keeping your vagina and the skin around it clean and healthy.

Skincare

Good skincare can help prevent itching, especially when it's caused by dry skin, sensitivity to products, or sweating. Dermatologists recommend that you:

• Take short baths or showers (10 minutes) in lukewarm water.
• Use fragrance-free skincare products.
• Wear loose clothing made from breathable fabrics.
• Keep your house relatively cool and, if you're prone to dry skin and eczema, use a humidifier in the winter.

Vaginal Health

Taking care of your genital health can help prevent vaginal itching and other problems. Your vagina is healthiest when it has the right balance of bacteria called vaginal flora.

When you have the right balance of “good” bacteria, it keeps the environment in and around your vagina slightly acidic. The acidity levels keep “bad” and possibly harmful bacteria from getting out of control.

A lot of things can disrupt that balance, including:

• Antibiotics
• Vaginal lubricants
• Fragrances
• Dyes in clothing
• Douching
• Birth control devices
• Pregnancy
• Restrictive clothing

You can maintain good vaginal and vulvar health by:

• Washing your genital area with water only or gentle soap (harsh soaps can upset the pH balance)
• Cleaning between the labia majora and labia minora (inner and outer lips)
• Trying to keep the area as cool and dry as possible
• Wearing cotton underwear
• Changing out of wet swimsuits or sweaty workout clothing as soon as possible 
• Using pads and pantyliners only during your period
• Changing pads and tampons frequently
• Wiping front to back after bowel movements
• Showering daily
• Avoiding "feminine hygiene" sprays or douches
• Using vaginal lubricants to reduce friction during penetrative sex
• Using condoms during penetrative sex
• Changing condoms when changing the area of penetration (switching between oral, vaginal, or anal)

Summary

Many things can cause vaginal itching without discharge, including sweat, razor burn, some STIs, and skin conditions like eczema and lichen sclerosus.

At-home treatments such as oatmeal baths, anti-itch cream, and cool compresses can help calm itching, but you should see a provider if your symptoms do not go away in a few days. They can figure out the cause of your itching and make sure you get the right treatment.