Vulvar itching/inflammation ?

Just be glad it is not lichen sclerosis - my DGD has this and it is a real nuisance.

I hope that a dermatologist can sort this out for you.

I assume you have had your blood glucose checked (there is a link)

I don't know whether this will help, but at least it won't do any harm if you try it. Some of my antenatal group back in the day suffered from this and our midwife advised just to direct the shower head at the area for a couple of minutes, high pressure, water as cold as you can stand, after the morning shower. It'll take your breath away, but might just work!

Eek!!

Luckygirl, i have read your post , my granddaughter has LS ,diagnosed 3 yrs ago, do you get any good medical advice? my GD ,has so many "flareups" is horrible to see her suffer so much. we really do not want her to have steriod cream so much.

What Izabella says.
Once I got meds for my type2 my itching stopped straight away.

Try changing your loo paper. Andrex quilted was my problem.

jacksmum - my DGD is entering puberty and the problem seems to be less acute now than it was a few years ago. She has managed the problem well by herself really - she knows when to use the steroid cream and how much to use. She has different tubes of different strengths and she uses the strongest first and then tails it off.

When it flares up it is very painful, especially at night.

I think that the steroid cream is the only treatment and is a way of avoiding the problem causing vulval deformities, which is to be avoided at all costs. My DD has always stuck with the steroid cream with her and does not worry about its use - making the poor lass comfortable is the priority.

They were told that it would probably die down at puberty and this does seem to be what is happening; so take heart.

If you think that urine is making it worse, after peeing get some largish cotton wool pads and soak one in warm water, wipe yourself and dry with other pad. Good Luck x

Luckygirl, thanks for you reply xx my GD is nearly 10 yrs old and is entering puberty,so we were hoping it would ease off ,but sadly it does not seem to be, i really feel for her and her mum as although she does not show it infront of her daughter she gets quite distressed seeing her daughter in such discomfort and restricted in some activities, as she gets so sore,LS is horrible for an adult, but so distressing to see a little girl suffering like this with no known cure.and so far my daughter has not found any support forms for parents who have young children with LS.

Advice given by dermatologist: Keep area dry and clean, (if only every house had a bidet); Some use a spray bottle of water after urination; keep cool e.g. avoid very tight jeans, wear cotton underwear and do not use anything perfumed; use coconut oil (or Vaseline)as a barrier, cut down or cut out sugar. Dermovate is very strong; only use as and when and then only a bit the size of a pea. The problem with steroids is that if you keep using them your skin eventually gets used to it and takes longer to work. If you Google vulval lichen sclerosis / lichen planus there is a website with forums and helpful advice from sufferers.

I was diagnosed with LS two years ago. I found an excellent group on Facebook. Lots of advice and ways to calm flare ups. Was a lifeline for me as I had nobody to talk to about such a private thing. Now manage very well with maintenance application of steroid. Get the occasional flare but now know what works for me.

jacksmum - give it a bit of time - we had given up any hope of it improving, but it is slowly as puberty progresses.

One way my DD found helped with our DGD was to put her in control of its treatment - she looks after the cream applications herself and it does seem to help her - she feels in control. She has been told she should not over-use the creams and she is able to titrate the dose very sensibly herself.

Genevieve489 this is a real buggeration. I and others on here have a post menopausal condition on her of atrophic vaginitis aka vaginal atrophy for which Estrogen pessaries are prescribed. As long as I keep using them I am OK.
Before then I had a lot of pain and itching walking and sitting was uncomfortable I thought I had an infection. When I saw the GP she diagnosed AV.
If you current medication is not working I would ask your dermatologist about this but you probably need AV to be ruled out.
See next thread where I can post a link to the previous thread

Just put vaginal atrophy into the search forums in the box on the right. I thought I could send it as an automatic link but it did not work.

Asda and other places sell a "feminine wash" much cheaper than the branded ones and works.

I must apologise for not thanking everyone for the responses to my post - your replies are appreciated. I saw the dermatologist this morning and she wants me to have another biopsy (ouch!), but doesn't think it is lichen sclerosis or cancer - all good.

I was really interested in what you said, Nelliemoser, and read more about Atrophic Vaginitis. I also saw that Vulvitis can be caused by low oestrogen levels. I might have to wait another few months before I have the biopsy and then another long wait to get back to the dermatologist, but I will definitely ask her about this if there is no definitive diagnosis after this second biopsy.

Thank you all.

Woman's Hour covered this issue a couple of weeks ago. I had to stop using hormone pessaries after a bleed. I use Replens daily, as going three days as recommended results in discomfort and itching. The dermatologist on women's hour recommended using thick ointments like Vaseline. I have hydromol ointmentbon prescription (for psoriasis) and started using it in the vulval region after listening to women's hour. I d recommend it

Sorry Genevieve, meant to wish you well

Thank you, Iam64. I did try Replens a year ago, but it really burned and I found it very uncomfortable, so I didn't carry on with it. I must get some hydromol, though - just had a look at it -and it looks as though it will be very helpful. Thanks again.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the issue of what to use in the shower - soap can be very drying and I was advised to use aqueous cream. Hope this helps.

I use hydroml ontment for that area (?) in he shower, aqueous everywhere else. My GP is now prescribin AQ as it's cheaper than hydromol.