Which home remedies help?
If you have vaginal dryness, you can first try some household remedies to alleviate the discomfort and rehydrate the vagina. Natural oils are particularly suitable for increasing the suppleness and elasticity of the mucous membrane. These include olive, marigold, sesame and wheat oil.
When buying, you should pay attention to good quality. Sitting baths with essential oils are also suitable, as they stimulate the blood circulation of the genitals. Due to the lactic acid bacteria it contains, natural yoghurt can be used in the intimate area, whereby special cures from the pharmacy usually have a much higher effect level and are more effective.
In addition to home remedies, behavioural measures can also alleviate the symptoms of vaginal dryness. For example, soaps and aggressive washing lotions should not be used in the intimate area to prevent the vaginal mucosa from drying out. Clear water or washing gels specially adapted to the pH value of the vagina are more suitable for intimate hygiene.
Lubricant gel can also be used for vaginal dryness, which does not improve even with sexual arousal. This prevents pain and injuries during sexual intercourse.If you have a tendency to vaginal dryness, bandages should be used during your period rather than tampons, as the latter can additionally dry out the vagina. Swimming in chlorinated water can also dry out the vagina.
Therefore, swimming in swimming pools should be avoided for the period of the symptoms. Olive oil is a natural way to make the intimate area softer and more supple again and to relieve vaginal dryness, such as itching and burning. As with the use of other natural oils, care should be taken to use them in their pure form and to ensure good quality when buying them. This can prevent any substances added from additionally irritating the already stressed vaginal mucosa.
Which creams help?
There are numerous creams and gels available in the pharmacy to provide relief from vaginal dryness. Most products are available over the counter and are not subject to prescription. However, if hormones are added to the cream and thus contain estrogen, it is usually prescribed by a doctor.
A combination of a moisturizing preparation with a lactic acid cure can be useful to stabilize the vaginal flora and lower the pH to natural acidic levels by facilitating the settlement of lactobacilli. This can prevent infections, the likelihood of which is increased in cases of vaginal dryness. Furthermore, the cures often have an additional moisturizing effect.
In order to find your way around the wide range of over-the-counter products against vaginal dryness and to choose the best cream or gel type for your individual needs, testimonials from other people affected can be helpful. Pharmacy staff can also recommend products. The difference between gels and creams is that the latter, unlike gels, contain fat and thus have a different consistency.
Common to hormone-free creams or gels is that they usually provide long-lasting moisture, are odorless, easy to handle and can often be used as a lubricant. They can be used both in acute cases and over a longer period of time. They can also be used as a bridging measure until hormone-containing preparations are used, in order to achieve the fastest possible resolution of symptoms.
Hormone-containing preparations should only be used after consultation with a physician, as they should only be used in cases of proven estrogen deficiency and are also contraindicated in some patients, especially women undergoing breast cancer therapy. In the case of existing hormone deficiency, especially during menopause, the local supply of estrogen can be useful, since the blood circulation in the vagina and the regeneration of the mucous membrane can be achieved via the hormone effect. This reduces vaginal dryness and makes the skin of the vagina more elastic and less sensitive again.
The Vagisan® moisturizing cream is a frequently advertised product that can be used in cases of vaginal dryness. It is a hormone-free preparation for symptom relief, which moisturizes and contains nourishing lipids. It is adjusted to the natural acidic pH value of the vagina and is available as a classic cream, in the form of vaginal suppositories or a combination of both. In addition to this product, a variety of other creams and gels from the pharmacy are suitable, which are available hormone-free and can also contain estrogen. If hormones are an ingredient of the product, it is usually only available on prescription and must be prescribed by a doctor.
