White pellets on labia. Why does a white coating appear between the labia? Treatment of white plaque

White plaque on the labia may appear suddenly and be a normal variant or an alarming symptom of a fungal or bacterial infection. Most often, the cause lies in diseases caused by fungi of the genus Candida. The main reasons for such manifestations are discussed below.

Cause	Basic moments
accumulation of smegma	This phenomenon occurs even in little girls and should not cause concern. Sexual (small) lips contain many sebaceous glands. The secret produced by them accumulates between the folds of the genital organs (it mixes with moisture and dead epithelial cells). Smegma is a white coating on the labia, which sometimes has an unpleasant sour smell (with insufficient hygiene that has disturbed the microflora of the vagina). It is not recommended to remove it, since the film serves as a protective barrier between the vaginal mucosa and the external environment.
Hormonal changes in the body	1. Changes associated with puberty girls. They occur before the start of the menstrual cycle at 11-14 years. During this period, the appearance of a kind of white coating on the labia minora is characteristic. This is normal and should not worry either the child or the parents.
	2. Changes associated with the onset of sexual activity. This is a reaction to the restructuring of the microflora of the external genital organs upon contact with a "foreign" microflora. In this case, white plaque on the labia will stop appearing over time.
Chronic thrush	The situation when a woman suffered from this disease and did not cure it to the end. The disease periodically makes itself felt in the form of the appearance of cheesy white secretions that accumulate in the folds of the genital organs. Accompanied by itching, burning and. It can also often be observed.
Genital herpes	Damage to the genital mucosa of a viral nature. Accompanied by ailment: the appearance of accumulations of vesicles on the skin, which degenerate into erosion and sores; hyperemia; swelling in the affected areas; burning sensation; Enlargement of lymph nodes in the groin; bacterial infections, manifested by the appearance of characteristic discharge (white plaque in the vagina); damage to the central nervous system; development of cervical cancer (after several recurrences of herpes).
Malnutrition (avitaminosis)	Lack of products containing vitamin A, E, PP and other useful elements.
Poor hygiene or the use of inappropriate products that cause a negative reaction
Vulvovaginitis, vaginitis	Inflammation of the lower genital organs caused by gonococci, chlamydia, ureaplasmas, trichomonads, mycoplasmas, candida, staphylococci, E. coli, streptococci, etc. Symptoms: burning sensation; (white, yellow, curdled, bloody, purulent); · redness; Pain in the lower abdomen hyperemia; Frequent urge to urinate.

Treatment

Therapy is chosen depending on the identified disease. It involves the use of external and internal use (vaginal tablets, ointments, creams, suppositories). The most popular medicines:

White plaque on the labia, not accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms (itching, burning, vaginal discharge), is not a sign of a dangerous disease. In other cases, you should immediately contact a gynecologist and pass the necessary tests to identify the disease and subsequent therapy.

Often, women find a white coating on the labia. If it does not have an unpleasant odor, then in most cases it is a variant of the norm. A sour-smelling discharge may indicate an infection. It is important to pay attention to the presence of other symptoms: itching, redness, burning, swelling, and discomfort.

Why does plaque appear between the labia?

The reasons for this are as follows:

1. . Even in newborn girls, smegma is collected - a mixture of the secretion of the sebaceous glands, dead epithelial scales and a lubricant designed to moisturize the mucous membranes. A large accumulation of this mass in the folds of the labia minora and in the clitoris is due to insufficient hygiene of the intimate area. Sometimes smegma has an unpleasant sour smell, indicating the growth of pathogenic microflora. To stop the growth of bacteria, it is enough to wash your face twice a day, using a special intimate hygiene product or baby soap. It is not recommended to use cotton swabs or wipes to remove plaque.
2. Hormonal imbalance. In girls during puberty (from 11 to 18 years), serious changes occur in the body. An excess of hormones leads to a violation of the microflora of the vagina, as a result of which a white coating accumulates on the labia. This usually signals the imminent onset of menarche (first menstruation). You should not worry about discharge, but careful hygiene should be observed.
3. Beginning of sexual activity. After contact with the microflora of a partner, girls may develop a white coating. After a while, the problem disappears on its own.
4. Pregnancy. At the beginning of the first trimester, the amount of plaque and discharge in a woman can increase significantly. This is due to the fact that the body purposefully lowers immunity so that the fetal egg is not rejected by the uterus. After all, new life is a foreign object, from which the immune system seeks to get rid of. As a result, frequent recurrences of herpes, thrush and other chronic infections occur.
5. Vitamin deficiency. In dieting women, immunity is usually weakened. This increases not only the risk of colds and viral diseases, but also contributes to the reproduction of its own opportunistic flora. To restore the body's defenses, it is important to balance the diet. You can ask the doctor to prescribe a course of multivitamins.
6. Climax. White plaque on the floor of the lips in women during menopause is due to increased dryness of the mucous membranes. Due to the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries, the discharge is scanty, dries quickly, leaving a film on the surface.
7. Sexually transmitted diseases or developing against the background of external and internal negative factors (herpes, thrush).

Most often, white plaque is formed due to thrush and smegma.

White plaque on the labia in women photo

Genital herpes

The second type virus infects the nerve cells of the body and manifests itself in the form of bubble rashes on the genitals. The infection has a high recurrence rate (up to 98%). You can catch it through vaginal, anal or even oral sex. The risk of infection increases if the partner and the woman herself have microdamages on the skin.

For some time, the pathogen does not manifest itself in any way, being in a sleeping state. Then, redness, tingling and itching occur in the perineum, small watery bubbles appear. From excessive dryness, the skin may appear covered with a white coating. After opening the rash, painful sores are formed, which are tightened with a crust and completely heal.

Usually the disease is mild. But in severe cases, there is a risk of damage to the urethra, vagina, cervix, cervical canal, anus and rectum. Therefore, when the first symptoms of herpes appear, you should consult a gynecologist. The doctor will prescribe drugs that stop the reproduction of the pathogen.

Thrush

White cheesy plaque on the labia with an unpleasant sour smell is a sign of candidiasis. Fungal infection is localized mainly in the vestibule and on the mucous membrane of the vagina. It can appear both in a little girl and in an adult woman. Yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida live on the skin and mucous membranes of a healthy person, being part of the normal microflora. Their growth is provoked by the following factors:

• weakening of the immune system;
• long-term use of antibiotics and hormonal agents;
• unprotected and promiscuous sexual relations;
• insufficient or excessive hygiene of intimate organs;
• microtrauma of the vagina and labia;
• diabetes;
• intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• pregnancy;
• lactation.

The first symptoms of thrush are itching and burning associated with the reaction of the mucous membrane to a fungal infection. Redness is observed, and. Thick, white or gray curdled discharge with inclusions of flakes and lumps also occurs. Drying, they leave yellowish marks on the linen. The acute form of the disease is characterized by the spread of the inflammatory process into the urethra and vulva. This is accompanied by pain during urination and sexual intercourse. If the acute process is not eliminated in a timely manner, then the thrush becomes chronic, difficult to treat.

When white plaque is not accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, it is a variant of the norm and does not require therapy. It is enough to keep the intimate area clean and change underwear daily. But if itching, burning during urination, cracks or rashes, pains and pains in the lower abdomen, redness, bloody, curdled or purulent discharge, you should immediately consult a doctor. Inflammatory diseases of the genital organs (vaginitis, colpitis, vulvovaginitis) can be caused by viral, bacterial or fungal microflora. It is possible to determine the pathogen and prescribe the correct treatment only on the basis of laboratory tests.

The appearance of white plaque in the folds of the genital organs is a frequent phenomenon, and it is not always the result of an inflammatory process. White plaque on the labia is explained by the fact that a woman changes in the smell, consistency and structure of the secretions throughout the cycle. Just like plaque, discharges of this color do not have a strong odor if the woman’s health is all right. The presence of a slight sour smell depends on the microflora of the vagina and is considered the norm.

anxiety symptoms

White plaque on the labia in itself is not a reason to panic. Particular attention should be paid to the occurrence of concomitant manifestations: burning sensation in the genital area and discomfort in the lower abdomen, the presence of an unpleasant odor, plaque and discharge. Sometimes these manifestations are accompanied by fever. In this case, to identify the causes that caused such changes, it is worth visiting a gynecologist.

Why does plaque appear in intimate places

A white spot on the labia may occur due to poor-quality treatment of thrush. The process of infection can occur constantly from a sexual partner. In the case of thrush, the formation of plaque is accompanied by severe itching. The appearance of discharge and white plaque on the mucosa of the reproductive organs can occur not only in a mature woman, but also in a teenage girl who does not live sexually. Usually they appear in girls at the age of eleven or thirteen and signal that menstruation may soon begin. The reason is the hormonal changes taking place in the body.

Consequences of hormonal changes

At the beginning of sexual activity, when the vaginal microflora changes, plaque on the labia is explained by a reaction to the partner's foreign flora. In the future, these changes cease to disturb the woman. However, in the case of a prolonged manifestation of this condition, you should consult a specialist. Without an examination and consultation with a gynecologist, it is almost impossible to say whether a white coating on the labia that has appeared is evidence of a serious illness, or hormonal changes occur in the body associated with the onset of sexual activity. Don't try to remove plaque as soon as possible. In the absence of diseases, it protects the body, preventing the penetration of pathogenic microbes. Thanks to this, the microflora of the vagina remains healthy.

Hygiene rules

During personal hygiene procedures, white plaque on the labia is recommended to be removed with a cotton swab moistened with vegetable oil or water. In this case, it is better not to use ordinary shower gels or soaps, as they can only increase irritation. In this case, the use of special gels for intimate hygiene will be much more effective. They are based on extracts of calendula and chamomile, which are used in traditional folk medicine to relieve inflammation and irritation of intimate areas.

The appearance of white pimples in the intimate area

Pimples and white balls on the mucous membrane of the genitals should not be taken too lightly. Their appearance in this area often indicates infection with syphilis. Syphilis, being a common infection of the body, is transmitted mainly through sexual contact or during childbirth to a child from a sick mother.

Any woman notices even minor changes in her intimate health, especially with regard to the menstrual cycle, the nature of discharge from the body. Therefore, when changes occur in the body, as a rule, panic begins. For example, a white coating on the labia. This phenomenon is quite common. Where does it come from? - many people ask. And one more important question, is white plaque on the labia a sign of any inflammatory process or is it normal?

First you need to calm down and take into account that the structure, consistency and smell of secretions change in a woman during the cycle. If a woman is healthy, then the discharge does not have a pronounced odor, just like a white coating on the labia. Sometimes the discharge has a slightly sour smell, which is also a variant of the norm and depends on the microflora of the vagina. And here it is important to take into account not so much the white plaque itself on the labia as the accompanying signs. Let's list the main ones. It can be a burning sensation, a feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen, and the plaque itself, and sometimes a general increase in temperature.

In this case, there is a reason to immediately contact a gynecologist in order to identify the cause of such changes in the body.

Untreated thrush can cause a profuse white coating on the labia, and infection can occur regularly from a sexual partner. Traditionally, but unfortunately erroneously, it is believed that neither infections nor unusual discharge are characteristic of very young girls who are not sexually active and who have not even started menstruating yet. But it's not. According to gynecologists, anxious parents often turn to them with the fact that the child complains or is afraid of strange changes in the body. But the fact is that plaque on the labia in such cases overwhelmingly means that the girl has hormonal changes in her body and very soon she will begin her period. As a rule, such a plaque appears at the age of 11-13, that is, at the very time when the beginning of the first menstruation is expected very soon.

And another common case. Often at the very beginning, a woman notices such changes. And, of course, fears and doubts appear again. The fact is that even if the girl and her partner are healthy (that is, we exclude the STD option), then the vaginal microflora still changes. In other words, this is a kind of reaction to the partner's alien microflora. As a rule, the change passes with time and no longer bothers the woman.

It is almost impossible to say in absentia whether a white spot on the labia means the presence of a disease, say, vulvovaginitis, or is it a common restructuring of the body associated with hormonal changes or the onset of sexual activity.
And the last. Do not try to get rid of plaque as quickly as possible. If this is not a consequence of the disease, then it performs a protective function for the body. Plaque prevents the penetration of pathogenic microbes and creates a healthy microflora of the vagina.

In the implementation, which, of course, is needed in any case, it is recommended to remove this plaque with a cotton swab moistened with water or vegetable oil. Just don't use soaps or gels, they can cause irritation. True, special gels for intimate hygiene are currently being sold, they are based on plant extracts traditionally used in folk medicine to relieve inflammation and irritation of the most intimate and sensitive areas. These gels contain calendula and chamomile extracts and are therefore suitable for daily use.

White plaque on the labia often indicates the presence of a pathological process. It all depends on the accompanying symptoms of the disease. Moreover, a whitish coating can be observed at any age and even in newborn girls. This condition is dangerous during pregnancy, as it often indicates the presence of the disease. The norm will be considered a white coating between the labia, which does not cause an unpleasant odor, itching or burning.

White plaque on the labia - causes

White plaque on the labia often appears as a result of the presence of genital candidiasis or thrush, as it is called colloquially. This is a fungal infection that causes a curdled coating on a woman's genitals.

The main reasons for the development of this disease can be the following circumstances:

1. Sexual contact with a sick person.
2. Violation of the hormonal background, often associated with age-related changes in adolescent girls.
3. Violation of the microflora of the external genital organs in connection with the onset of sexual relations.

Where does plaque come from between the labia

As mentioned above, a white formation on the labia may appear as a result of the physiology of the female body or as a result of a disease.

Physiological causes

The vaginal microflora can react to internal or external changes. During the period of hormonal restructuring of the body in girls aged 12 to 14 years, plaque may appear on the genitals. Similar cases can be recorded during the period of bearing a child.

The beginning of sexual relations can also affect the condition of the genitals of a woman. For example, in some cases, in this way, the organs of a woman are protected from the alien microflora of the sexual partner.

The causes of white formations can be other non-pathological factors:

• lack of vitamins;
• tight underwear;
• nutritional errors;
• non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
• low quality body cosmetics.

If such factors are eliminated, then the plaque will disappear on its own, without additional treatment. Such a plaque in infants is called a sexual crisis and is considered the norm. Since in this way the body is cleansed after childbirth. After 7-9 days, this condition usually disappears.

Plaque caused by natural causes should not be eliminated. It protects the normal microflora of the vagina and also fights pathogenic microorganisms. Smegma (the so-called white formations between the labia) is associated with the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Remove it with a cotton swab with vegetable oil. You can also wet it with water. But various aromatic soaps and gels should not be used, so as not to irritate the delicate skin of the labia.

Pathogenic factors

If, along with plaque, additional signs appear - burning, itching, redness, pain, etc., then this may indicate the onset of the disease.

These include the following pathologies:

• infections associated with human genitalia;
• sexual diseases;
• fungus.

Among these pathologies, the following diseases are most common:

1. Thrush (candidiasis) and other fungal infections.
2. Vulvovaginitis and vaginitis.
3. Herpes of the genital type.
4. STDs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.

You should not guess where the plaque on the genitals came from, it is better to immediately visit a gynecologist. Through examination and additional tests, he himself will figure out the causes of this condition. To avoid catching candidiasis, you should use a condom if you are not sure about your sexual partner.