QUESTION:

I have been very red & itchy around the outside lips of my vagina for the past 2 weeks. What is it & what should I do?

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ANSWER:

Hello -

It may be a yeast or fungal infection. It is a common issue in that location. I recommend that you ask your gynecologist and follow their advice.

There are effective natural products that can take care of yeast and fungus. Ask your gynecologist or naturopathic physician which one they recommend.

Yeast and fungus like to grow and reside in skin folds and warm areas. If you do not have 100% cotton undergarments - consider getting some. They breathe better than synthetics.

Taking a probiotic - acidophilus and lactobacilis - may not be a bad idea either. It is best to get these from the refrigerated section of your health food store.

Yeast infections occur from not having an acidic enough pH in the vagina. This can occur from various causes. A main cause is an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria [undesired]. The pathogenic bacteria over...

QUESTION:
Dr. Ben,

I have had watery, itchy, red eyes for 2 years now. I have had tear duct surgery on both eyes. I have been to many eye specialists, dermatologists, etc. I had a skin patch recently, but they still couldn't help me. My eyes look like a raccoon, but with red instead of black circles.

Any information will be appreciated.

Thanks so much

ANSWER:
Sorry that you've been having this issue for so long - cannot be fun.

Sounds like a classic allergic presentation. The question is: allergic to what?

You need to ask yourself: What happened 2 years ago? What changed then?

You get a pet? Moldy house? New job with environmental exposures? Work with printing, chemicals, paints, solvents? Dust mites in your bed? New home that is off-gassing formaldehyde from new carpets, new floors, new paints? What hobbies do you have? What hobbies does your partner have or kids? What do you do for work?

Contact lenses? Solutions?

Getting a HEPA air filter, dust mite covers, having pets sleep outside ...

Patient came in yesterday to our teaching clinic and reporting how she was doing with her horribly dry and itchy skin and scalp. She had been in a month prior in despair.

She had been recommended to take fish oil a few times a day. Her improvement was excellent yet not completely resolved.

My first thought was to include a shower filter which would remove the harmful effects of chlorine.


Dry skin's main cause is either due to:

• diet
• environmental

QUESTION:

I have been very red & itchy around the outside lips of my vagina for the past 2 weeks. What is it & what should I do?

---------------------

ANSWER:

Hello -

It may be a yeast or fungal infection. It is a common issue in that location. I recommend that you ask your gynecologist and follow their advice.

There are effective natural products that can take care of yeast and fungus. Ask your gynecologist or naturopathic physician which one they recommend.

Yeast and fungus like to grow and reside in skin folds and warm areas. If you do not have 100% cotton undergarments - consider getting some. They breathe better than synthetics.

Taking a probiotic - acidophilus and lactobacilis - may not be a bad idea either. It is best to get these from the refrigerated section of your health food store.

Yeast infections occur from not having an acidic enough pH in the vagina. This can occur from various causes. A main cause is an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria [undesired]. The pathogenic bacteria over...