3 Easy Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Yeast Infection
Safe and effective remedies that can help ease discomfort and infection symptoms.
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Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent treatment for yeast infection. Each year, 1.4 million women in the United States suffer from vaginal yeast infections (1). Many women are affected by this condition. It manifests as intense itching in the vaginal area and discharge.
While medicines can treat vaginal yeast infections, their use may interfere with everyday life. Many of the symptoms can be alleviated by home remedies and natural treatments. The use of hydrogen peroxide has proven effective despite the availability of many herbal remedies.
Know Your Ingredient: Hydrogen PeroxideWhat Is It?
A viscous liquid chemical with strong oxidizing properties.
What Are Its Benefits?
It is an antiseptic and can be used for treating yeast infections.
Who Can Use It?
Anyone experiencing yeast infections or requiring an antiseptic for minor cuts and injuries.
How Often?
It can be used once daily.
Caution
It may cause rashes or a burning sensation in some individuals. Do a patch test before use.
Did You Know?Hydrogen peroxide appears to ease these symptoms in some cases (2). In this article, we shall examine that topic further. You will also learn how hydrogen peroxide can improve your health. Keep reading.
In This Article
How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Help?
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Hydrogen peroxide works by restoring normal vaginal flora and bacteria (3).
It also restores the pH balance of the vagina, which could be another contributing factor to yeast infection.
Hydrogen peroxide also helps remove clue cells. These are cells on the vaginal skin that are covered with the infection-causing microbes (3).
In a healthy vagina, the good bacteria (lactobacillus) produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. These two create an acidic and protective environment, thereby preventing the infection (4).
Did You Know?Using hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant for vaginal yeast infection is simple. But we strongly recommend you use it in addition to your prescribed medications after consulting your doctor.
How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Treating Yeast Infection
1. Hydrogen Peroxide With Baking Soda
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Baking soda is a mixture of sodium and bicarbonate ions. The mixture dissolves completely in water. It can help remove harmful microbes and odors.
Studies show that baking soda can treat a yeast infection by inducing cell death in the Candida fungus (5).
What You Need
- ¼ – 2 cups of baking soda
- ¼ – 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide
What You Need To Do
- Add the two ingredients to a warm water bath. Allow them to dissolve completely.
- Soak in the water bath/tub for about 40 minutes.
- Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedy once a day.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide With Apple Cider Vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar works both as an antibacterial and antifungal agent.
Studies show that apple cider vinegar can fight Candida growth. Its antimicrobial properties help fight the yeast infection (6).
What You Need
- 2 cups of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide
What You Need To Do
- Fill the tub halfway with water.
- Add the ACV and hydrogen peroxide and mix well with your hand.
- You can soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedy once a day.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Soak
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This is similar to the previous methods, except that you use hydrogen peroxide alone.
As we are aware, hydrogen peroxide restores the beneficial vaginal bacteria. It also flushes out clue cells, which are cells that carry the infection-causing microbes.
What You Need
2 cups of hydrogen peroxide
What You Need To Do
- Add the hydrogen peroxide to a tub half-filled with water.
- Soak in it for about 30 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this once daily.
These are the three most popular and effective methods to treat a vaginal yeast infection. Using these over and above your medications can give you better results.
A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution works best.
There is another method that is quite popular among proponents of hydrogen peroxide. It is using a hydrogen peroxide douche. This home remedy is as controversial as it is popular, so we want to dispel the ambiguity surrounding it.
To Douche Or Not To Douche?
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Douching is a process that involves the use of water to flush out the inside of your vagina. While some purchase the douche bottles with the readymade solution (of water and hydrogen peroxide), you can prepare the solution at home too.
But we do not recommend you do.
Most studies are against douching for the treatment of vaginal yeast infection. While the process can remove the fungus, it can also flush out the beneficial bacteria. This leads to the eventual overgrowth of pathogens (7).
One may also end up pushing the infectious microbes up into the uterus, fallopian tubes, or even the abdominal activity (7).
The process can also lead to pelvic inflammation and inflammatory disease, and, in serious cases, even cervical cancer (8).
Surprisingly, in a study, vaginal douching led to an increased prevalence of vaginal yeast infection (9).
So, what’s the verdict? Do not douche.
Using hydrogen peroxide works well in treating vaginal yeast infection. But you may want to exercise caution. Do a patch test first. In some individuals, the substance can cause adverse reactions when it comes in contact with the skin (10).
If you experience any symptoms, like rashes or a burning sensation, please discontinue use and consult your doctor immediately.
Hydrogen peroxide has proven effective in treating yeast infections. Using hydroxide peroxide for vaginal yeast infections can help ease the symptoms by restoring pH and beneficial bacteria of the vagina. It can be used alone or along with baking soda or apple cider vinegar. However, this effective remedy must be used along with prescription medicine only after consulting your doctor. In addition, if you are experiencing any rash or burning sensation after using it as a remedy, stop its usage immediately and consult your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get vaginal yeast infection a second time?
Yes. Though it is rare, you may experience it a second time.
How do you prevent yeast infections?
The best way to prevent a vaginal yeast infection is proper health maintenance resulting in a healthy balance of your vaginal bacteria. You can achieve this by keeping your genital areas clean and dry and wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting pants.
Avoid douching and make sure to include probiotics in your diet to prevent yeast infection and for a healthy immune system.
What will happen if a yeast infection is left untreated?
An untreated vaginal yeast infection usually goes away on its own without causing serious health complications. However, leaving it untreated for too long can worsen the symptoms and lead to cracks, sores, severe itching, and discomfort.
Key Takeaways
- Candida fungi cause yeast infections. Hydrogen peroxide works by killing the fungi.
- You can use it in a mixture of baking soda, apple cider vinegar, or water for topical application, douche, or soak solution.
- A 3% dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide is the ideal concentration to apply to our body.
- Improper usage can lead to dryness and irritation and cause damage to the beneficial bacteria in the body.
- Do a patch test and consult a doctor before using hydrogen peroxide along with prescription medication.
References
- “Vaginal candidiasis” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- “Recurrent bacterial vaginosis…” International Journal of STD & AIDS, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Utilization of hydrogen peroxide in the…” Minerva ginecologia, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Healing a candida overgrowth…” National University of Natural Medicine.
- “Formic acid and acetic acid induce…” Current Microbiology.
- “Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar…” Scientific Reports, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Vaginal douching: evidence for risks…” Epidemiologic Reviews, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Vaginal douching and adverse health…” American Journal of Public Health, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Factors linked to bacterial vaginosis…” American Journal of Public Health, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
- “Hydrogen peroxide and cutaneous biology”: Translational applications, benefits, and risks
