Sexual Health Reproductive Health Issues Vaginal Health An Overview of Vaginal Skin Peeling and How to Treat It By Ashley Braun, MPH, RD Ashley Braun, MPH, RD Ashley Braun, MPH, RD, is a registered dietitian and health content writer with over 5 years of experience educating patients on chronic diseases using science-based information. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 10, 2021 Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Anita Sadaty, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology. She is a clinical assistant professor at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and founder of Redefining Health Medical. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes Diagnosis When to Seek Professional Help Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Are you currently experiencing irritation, itchiness, or vaginal skin peeling? If so, it is important that you know these symptoms are all common and normal. There are many potential causes of vaginal skin peeling, but the condition can be treated as soon as its cause is determined. Read more about how to diagnose and treat peeling skin in the vagina. Verywell / Laura Porter Causes Multiple conditions may lead to vulvitis (inflammation of the vulva) or vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina). Six potential causes of vaginal skin peeling include: Yeast Infection Most women will experience at least one yeast infection during their life. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida. It’s considered an opportunistic infection, meaning Candida is a normal part of your vaginal flora, but under the right conditions, it will overgrow, causing an infection. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include: ItchingIrritationBurning during urinationPain during sexRashWhitish-gray, clumpy, cottage cheese-like discharge Contact Dermatitis Contact dermatitis is a rash that develops after contact with a substance. Common irritants or allergens that may cause a vaginal rash include: SoapFragrancesLaundry detergentLubricantsLatex Symptoms of contact dermatitis include: Red rashItchingBlistersPeelingSwellingHives Usually, symptoms will resolve within a few days to a couple of weeks after removing the irritant. Eczema Eczema—also called atopic dermatitis—is an inflammatory skin condition. It usually first appears in childhood, and symptoms can come and go. Flare-ups often appear on the arms and behind the knees, however symptoms can show up anywhere on the body. Symptoms of eczema include: Red rashItchingDrynessFlakingBumpsFissuresPeeling skin Bacterial Vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis is caused when too much of one type of bacteria grows in the vagina. Activities that change the pH balance in and around the vagina increase the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis. These activities include: Sexual intercourseUsing fragranced soaps or bath bombsFrequent douching Though many people experience no symptoms with bacterial vaginosis, symptoms—if you have them—may include: Abnormal vaginal dischargeVaginal odorItchingIrritation Herpes Herpes is a viral infection and is considered a sexually transmitted disease. Once you get herpes, the virus remains in your body, and symptoms will come and go. It’s more likely to spread during a flare-up when active symptoms are present. Symptoms of herpes include: PainItchingSoresUlcersScabs Lichen Sclerosus Lichen sclerosus is a rare condition that primarily develops in postmenopausal women or young girls who haven’t started menstruating. The cause of lichen sclerosus is poorly understood. Symptoms of this condition may include: Thin, white patches of skin around the genital areaItchingDiscomfortSkin tears Diagnosis Many skin conditions causing vaginal skin peeling have similar symptoms, making it challenging to self-diagnose. Making an appointment with your healthcare provider helps you get an accurate diagnosis for the cause of skin peeling and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose your skin condition just by examining the affected area. They may recommend blood testing or taking a sample of the area for testing to confirm the diagnosis. When to Seek Professional Help If you have flaky, itchy, peeling skin in your vaginal area, talk with your healthcare provider to get a diagnosis. Some conditions require prescription medications to treat. Treatments your doctor may prescribe include: Antifungal treatmentAntibioticsAntiviralsOral corticosteroids Ways to Treat Vaginal Skin Peeling at Home It’s important to treat the cause of your skin condition to get rid of symptoms. At-home treatments that may help ease the symptoms of vaginal peeling include: Using over-the-counter antifungal creams and ointments (for a yeast infection)Using anti-itch creams like corticosteroid ointmentsApplying ice or a cold compress to ease irritation and itchingChanging out of wet clothing quicklyWearing breathable clothingUsing gentle, fragrance-free soaps A Word From Verywell Multiple conditions may cause vaginal skin peeling, such as yeast or bacterial infections, sexually transmitted infections, eczema, lichen sclerosus, and allergies. You can help prevent skin peeling by wearing breathable clothing and avoiding irritating products. If your symptoms continue and you’re unsure of the cause, contact your healthcare provider. Frequently Asked Questions What can cause skin tissue in the vaginal area to peel? Peeling skin in the vagina, vulva, or labia can be caused by:Bacterial vaginosisContact dermatitisEczemaHerpesLichen sclerosisYeast infection Can a yeast infection cause skin to peel? Yes, vaginal skin peeling can be caused by a yeast infection. Other signs of a vaginal yeast infection include:Burning during urinationIrritationItchingPain during sexRashWhitish-gray, clumpy, cottage cheese-like discharge How do you prevent vaginal skin peeling? You can prevent vaginal skin peeling by avoiding irritating soaps, fragranced products, hot baths, and showers. Also, avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing. Changing out of wet clothing as soon as possible, wearing breathable materials, and staying hydrated may help prevent skin peeling, as well. How long will it take to heal vaginal skin peeling? With treatment, most skin conditions will heal within one to two weeks. However, if your symptoms continue, contact your healthcare provider. Will vaginal skin peeling go away on its own? Depending on the cause of vaginal skin peeling, the symptoms could go away without treatment. It's important to avoid any triggers that may be causing the irritation. You can relieve some of the discomforts with topical corticosteroids. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms continue longer than one to two weeks. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Spampinato C, Leonardi D. Candida infections, causes, targets, and resistance mechanisms: traditional and alternative antifungal agents. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:204237. doi:10.1155/2013/204237 Kostner L, Anzengruber F, Guillod C, Recher M, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Navarini AA. Allergic contact dermatitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2017;37(1):141-152. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.014 Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH. A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016;8(3):181-190. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181 Coudray MS, Madhivanan P. Bacterial vaginosis—a brief synopsis of the literature. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020;245:143-148. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.12.035 Sauerbrei A. Herpes genitalis: diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2016;76(12):1310-1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494 By Ashley Braun, MPH, RD Ashley Braun, MPH, RD, is a registered dietitian and public health professional with over 5 years of experience educating people on health-related topics using evidence-based information. Her experience includes educating on a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, HIV, neurological conditions, and more. 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