8 Reasons Your Lube Might Burn (And What You Can Do About It)
Even the best lubes can create a burning sensation. Here's why it happens, plus how to fix it.
bezikus / Shutterstock Maybe you often experience a burning sensation after applying lube. Or maybe it burns sometimes and doesn't others.
If you're scratching your head (or your lady parts!) and wondering why — and what to do about it — listen up!
8 Reasons Your Lube Might Burn
1. Your lube may contain parabens.
Some lube brands have parabens in them, which can cause skin rashes in the small percentage of the population that's allergic to. Some studies also indicate that parabens disrupt the endocrine system.
Most companies are getting pretty savvy about not putting these in products anymore, but it’s still a possibility. So start by checking the ingredients list for ingredients that have prefixes, including ethyl-, methy-, propyl-, isopropyl, butyl- and isobutyl-.
2. Your lube may list glycerin or sugar as an ingredient.
The inclusion of glycerin or sugar could be another reason you experience a burning sensation with a lube.
While flavored lubricants seem like a fun idea, they're no fun for your vajayjay! And that’s because...
3. You might have a yeast infection.
Medically diagnosed as vaginal candidiasis, a yeast infection may cause your vagina to burn when using a lube — especially one that's pH balanced for your vagina (which normally is a good thing!).
That's because when you have an infection, the pH of your vaginal tissues changes. This difference in pH between your vagina and the lube can cause a burning sensation.
And if you are using a lube that has sugar in it, that only compounds the problem.
4. Your lube may contain alcohol.
I know, crazy right? Alcohol belongs in your drink, not your lube. But some lubricants use alcohol as a preservative, which can irritate your delicate vaginal area.
5. Your lube may contain chlorhexidine.
This is a disinfectant found in some lubes. The problem with chlorhexidine is that it kills all of the bacteria in your vagina — making it prone to infection. Those good bacteria are needed to keep tissues healthy!
6. You may have a bacterial infection.
It's also possible that your vagina is harboring a bacterial infection (medically known as bacterial vaginosis) — which might have been caused by using a lube containing chlorhexidine.
And again, any infection changes the pH of your vaginal tissues, which can then cause problems that result in a burning sensation.
7. The pre-applied lube on your condoms may be hurting you.
Some condoms come pre-lubed or with spermicide applied, which could be the culprit for that burning sensation you feel.
The most common spermicide is nonoxynol-9 and can cause mild to severe allergic reactions for both women and men.
8. Your vaginal tissue might have micro-tears.
Lastly, it's possible you might also be suffering from micro-tears in your vaginal tissue.
These can be caused by too much sex with a dry vagina, which is yet another reason to utilize a great lube.
Now that you've uncovered why your lube is causing a burning or stinging sensation, here's what you can do about it.
1. Pee after sex.
Okay, it won’t necessarily prevent the burning, but peeing after sex can help clean out anything that might be causing the problem.
2. Douche with kefir or plain yogurt.
Yeah, this may seem kind of weird, but it works by getting good bacteria into your vaginal tissues, which will help prevent problems and heal them.
Do it more than once if you're experiencing vaginal burning — three to five days usually works to clear things up.
3. Take a sitz bath.
A sitz bath is where you sit your bottom in a shallow tub of warm water to ease the symptoms of a yeast infection or other irritations.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil and a cup of vinegar to your water to help cleanse and fight infections.
4. Try Cantharis supplements.
Cantharis is a homeopathic remedy (made from green beetles) that can help with bladder infections or anytime you experience a burning sensation when peeing — especially after sex.
5. Don't forget your Omega vitamins.
Especially include Omega 7’s because they are the best for mucosal tissue, which makes up the lining of your vagina. You can find plenty of Omega 7’s in a Sea Buckthorn supplement.
6. Use a water-based lube before sex — or even daily.
Try squirting a pH-balanced lube, like Yoni Bliss — the one I created using homeopathic healing components that address the underlying issues of dryness and irritability — before having sex. You can also use it daily to improve the integrity of your vaginal tissues.
This will prepare your vagina for the act and can help prevent tears, especially if you're experiencing dryness.
We all deserve sexual satisfaction, and sometimes you just need a little help to get there.
And there you have it! A healthy yoni (Sanskrit for the vagina) is a happy yoni. And a yoni is never happy when it hurts.
Use the information above to help determine why your lube is creating a burning sensation and solve the issue, but don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare professional for added aid.
Michele Brookhaus RSHom(NA), CCH is a classical homeopath and the creator of Yoni Bliss, a female lubricant. She believes women deserve to feel sexy, sensual and satisfied.