I have an embarrassing problem with chronic vulval itching. It has always been quite itchy and very sensitive but in the last 3 years it has gotten a lot worse. It affects my outer labia and is paler than the rest of the skin. I was prescribed 1% hydrocortisone cream at first but it didn't help much, flaring up even worse and seemed that my skin is now thinner and bleeds when I scratch it. It now looks very pale and paper-thin like, with fissures and splits 🙁
I am sensitive to any soap or wash, even cotton knickers, I have tried using everything like E45, washing with emollients, Emu Oil..Washing with ice cold water only relieves it until I've dried off and then later in the day it starts itching again.
In 2010 I had a biopsy thinking I had Lichen Sclerosis, but the Dermtologist sent a letter to my GP saying they did not find anything. I didn't hear anything else and was not offered a follow up appointment. I left it at that but it has since worsened. It flares up at night, and in the afternoon even though I wash down there twice a day. I use a vulval wash from Boots which has been good but think I've become sensitive to that as well!
I am not sexually active so don't know if it has affected me inside the vagina, but my last 2 smear tests have been very painful! I don't know if it is because my vagina has narrowed or the nurse was too harsh.
Today I went back to the GP to ask for another referral, and he is now chasing that up. He prescribed me Trimovate steroid cream. I am wary of using steroid creams for all the potential side-effects and thinning of the skin, however this seems to be all that the NHS can prescribe. I started using it and will wait and see, nothing else was working so I thought I'd try the conventional treatments.
I would still rather treat it naturally as possible, any advice?
I thought it might be diet, and I eat a lot of sugar and wheat. I also have Polycystic Ovaries but don't think it has anything to do with it.
Would love to hear if anyone can relate, or your tips on coping without steroids.
I have just written a response with some suggestions and for some reason it has not been posted. I shall try again tomorrow.
Hi
Thank you. Cream has subsided the itching a bit for now. Read something about taking burdock root, probiotics, dandelion root, and using more natural bath products.
May need a trip to the health shop!
Have you tried a few drops of tea tree oil in cool water to clean the area.
I read somewhere that this type of itching is contected to diabeties, ie, sugar imbalances. Not necessary that you have it but shows your sugar intake is too high.
Firstly I would ask my GP to test for diabeties just to rule it out. Then overhall my diet, cut out all sugars, alcohol, read a book or two on diabetic diets, which in essance are healthy food and a balanced intake. Your surgery may have a diabetic nurse who could explain how your body converts various foods into suger. Dont forget the 'hidden' sugars, I recall reading that a serving of pasta is read by your body as the equivialant of 4 teaspoons of sugar, if you have an imbalance! Do some research on the subject.
Keep a food diary as you may find that something may 'trigger' the itching - if you know what I mean.
I would keep to fresh 'simple' food for about 8 weeks also read up about acid/alcaline foods, as you need food of the right kind to keep your body alcaline.
Good luck and may be tell us in a few weeks if the change of diet helped.
Fudge
I read somewhere that this type of itching is contected to diabeties, ie, sugar imbalances. Not necessary that you have it but shows your sugar intake is too high.
Firstly I would ask my GP to test for diabeties just to rule it out. Then overhall my diet, cut out all sugars, alcohol, read a book or two on diabetic diets, which in essance are healthy food and a balanced intake. Your surgery may have a diabetic nurse who could explain how your body converts various foods into suger. Dont forget the 'hidden' sugars, I recall reading that a serving of pasta is read by your body as the equivialant of 4 teaspoons of sugar, if you have an imbalance! Do some research on the subject.
Keep a food diary as you may find that something may 'trigger' the itching - if you know what I mean.
I would keep to fresh 'simple' food for about 8 weeks also read up about acid/alcaline foods, as you need food of the right kind to keep your body alcaline.
Good luck and may be tell us in a few weeks if the change of diet helped.
Fudge
I agree, it MAY be your sugar levels. I have just been diagnosed with diabetes and the symptoms you have described was one symptom I had major promblems with, and still do when my blood sugar levels are not balanced. In fact, it is usually the first sign, with me, that my blood sugar levels are unbalanced. Like you, I had different tests for various things, and also given different creams but didn't work. Ask your doctor to test you. If test comes back ok then at least you can rule diabetes out.