At the end of my tether with suspected genital eczema. Advice needed

[Noddle2015]

Desperately looking for some advice.
For years on and off I’ve been diagnosed with thrush and frequently get abscesses on labia majora area. From my first pregnancy I tore pretty badly and had perianal stitches, frequently get piles from first birth also.
I’ve been checked for stis in past all came back clear, at one flare up I was determined I had herpes but doctor was adamant it was irritation and to simply bathe in oliatum.
Right now I am having the worse time I’ve done nothing but cry for two days. The skin involving my perianus and labia majora around it is red inflamed and painful, I also have terrible piles. Treating the piles and as for vuval area I’ve been prescribed antibiotics for uti, 3 dose course of thrush tablets and cream over 9 days. I’ve changed all my washing powder to non bio and botanical skin sensitive conditioner, I’ve washed in hibiscrub, bathed in Epsom salts, tried dermovate and hydrocortisone in affected area.
My discharge is relatively normal, however my periods have been getting further apart from 26 day cycle to 36 day cycle on average. I also had a baby 11 months ago so put this down to that.
I am at my whits end, I am in so much pain, and my skin feels raw. I can’t get into my doctors I’ve tried a local gym clinic and still waiting on a call.
I have not spots or ulcers on the area just raging redness. Am in agnoy having to wear underwear and pants and I can’t wipe properly going to toilet as the pain is shocking.

I just really don’t know what to, none of this probably makes sense and rambling but I was just hoping that somebody has been here before or can give me some advice. Am sorry for the long post.

Uniroid I think is only on prescription, but it works wonders for the piles situation!

NB Oh and definitely don't use Dettol or any salts

Pls don't discount people's suggestions if those solutions have worked for them! Dettol in the bath whenever my skin down there gets inflamed sorts it out immediately.

For the piles you can ask your GP for proctosedyl suppositories and ointment. Use both together.

I recently had a sore itchy inflamed vulva, was googling myself round in circles and wondered if it might be lichen schlerosis or Planus. My GP thinks it’s Vulvitis which is just inflamed vulva, it’s a symptom rather than a disease in itself. I’m gluten intolerant and if I eat gluten I get all manner of odd symptoms like mouth ulcers, vulval ulcers, blisters on my fingers and toes, itchy skin, dry skin, bloating, cracked skin, and I think the Vulvitis is just the latest one to appear. My last flare up happened 2 days after I ate some gluten. Would definitely recommend exploring whether yours is diet related.

For me: no pads or panty liners - mooncup and tampons only
Unbleached loo roll
Fairy non-bio
Cotton knickers
Sudocrem (lots of)
Juicing - did a week and skin improved loads

Things that helped me, apply a barrier cream before going to the toilet. Urine on inflamed skin just perpetuates the problem. Rinse with water afterwards and then apply more barrier cream. Wash with an emollient, experiment to find one that suits. No soap.
For me, only drinking water and avoiding anything spicy. You might find certain foods make it worse.
My problem was made worse by perimenopause.

If she has vulvovaginitis caused by irritation and reactions to products, or broken skin caused by skin thinning, Dettol will massively inflame it and make it a lot worse. So really you should not be telling someone with a skin problem to bathe in a strong disinfectant (!) if she has not been told to do so by a GP.

(That was to @Valhalla17)

And this NHS leaflet on vaginal and vulval discomfort also explains that you should never use Dettol in your bathwater to treat it:

oxleas.nhs.uk/site-media/cms-downloads/What_not_to_wash_web_version.pdf

Oh!! Here we go again!! The number of posts on here about thrush type problems. I think we should form an action group. I have posted before about my 40yr problem with this and had tried all thecreams/ ointments/pills until a chance remark by a doctor mentioned LS. Following a referral to a Dermatology clinic I had a biopsy which confirmed it and I've been using Dermovate since. I also have piles and have found that applying Germoloids to my perineum has made quite a difference to sitting comfortably.

Menopause itching flared up again this week, sudocrem, water washing help. With the piles buy a bag of frozen sprouts, wrap one up in cling film and put against your anus, not in!!! That does give relief. A tip from GP many years ago. The frozen rubber glove finger is ingenious.

Save up for an operation, NHS don't do it anymore I think. Piles and varicose veins considered trivial. As if

I had something similar for 10+ years. What worked for me;
Nothing with fragrance
Wash in cool water regularly
Apply vaseline after each wash
When the pain was unbearable at night, frozen peas wrapped in a towel and applied to the area numbed it well enough to at least sleep.
I was prescribed all sorts of lotions, potions and creams. They all made the irritation worse, speaking of which it's possible if you're using a cream for the piles that this is causing further irritation.
It's so bloody hard as it is one of the most awful places to have pain/irritation and I genuinely feel for you I think what I'm trying to say (waffling badly) is go back to complete basics, it does feel like it will never go away and I've cried for days about it (had it through most of my 20's and early 30's) I can't remember when it got better as it was quite gradual but now I just slather the vaseline on after my morning shower and so far I haven't had a problem for s good few years.
Good luck xx

I found honey in my bath water helped a lot, you could try that? As others have said, ditch fabric conditioner on underwear and try washing them with a gentle none bio soap powder on a 40 Deg wash to kill any bacteria.
Invest in some facecloths and use them to dry the affected area after using the loo and rinsing. Use once and also wash at 40.
Try canesten ( SP ) on affected areas, or sudocreme?
Do try the honey though, and get an appointment with a specialist.
Hope you're sorted soon.

I'm so sorry to hear you are struggling OP

Can I suggest the following:

1. Ditch the pile cream for 4 or 5 days. I spent almost a year thinking my itching and discomfort was caused by piles and used to be awake for a large part of the night with hideous itching. I stopped the pile cream (Anusol was by far the worst) and the itching improved a lot

1. Use Simple soap and nothing else. If I use scented soap at all I get a terrible flare up. Maybe not straight away but it will definitely come

1. Don't "over shower". I find that a gentle shower with minimal water on the affected area really helps

1. Have a Google of pruritis ani. I'm absolutely sure this is what causes my discomfort rather than thrush, piles, threadworms (yep, tried treating non existent threadworms on 3 occasions in case it was that). I have been working on my gut health and my symptoms have improved hugely. I also use a balm after wiping and that also helps to keep the angry inflammation at bay

Good luck. It's hideous having to suffer like this

Also, without wanting to be personal but do you shave, wax etc? If so then stop as this won't help either.

@Norgie one of the things I did once my symptoms improved massively was have ALL of the hair waxed from that area....its much easier to get the barrier cream onto the skin and to maintain gentle cleansing routines (for me, I am naturally very hairy though )

@Noddle2015.
I had this for ages ,fobbed off by gp.
Went for a private gp appointment and got lichen sclerosis diagnosed.
Topical steroids prescribed but they do work .

@GlamorousHeifer I see what you're saying, I was just wondering if shaving etc might irritate further, with the creams, wax or razor on skin etc or cause rashes.
God, don't we have to put up with some stuff with our fannies ☹️

@Norgie oh god I get you! I wouldn't have shaved/waxed whilst I had the symptoms, you just reminded me about what I did after they had mostly gone.

Hi OP, disclaimer I am in no way medical.

I had terrible eczema in the genital area, for about 2 years, really sore, was right across the pubis and upper thighs too. I couldn't go swimming as I was too embarrassed etc.
I have had eczema all my life, so thought I knew what it was like.

It finally occurred to me to wonder is it was eczema. It wasn't it was the same thing that causes athletes foot. red raw, itching, broken skin etc etc. Once I got the right cream it cleared up quickly. (and over the couner stuff wouldn't have cut it.)

Just another possiblity for you to investigate.

I would ditch the fabric conditioner, airways residue left in

Stop using anything but Surcare washing liquid and just ditch conditioner altogether. Use vinegar if you must use anything.

Anusol is awful (I agree with a pp) a dab of plain old hydrocortisone as recommend on the NHS website is far better.

No soaps or shower gels anywhere near that area.

It's worth pointing out the Dettol people are suggesting is NOT the spray stuff you clean your kitchen with buy the dark coloured stuff in a bottle and if you were born in the 70s you'd be well aquatinted with your mum giving you 'a nice Dettol bath'

Also if you use sanitary towels then be careful they're not irritating you,anything with a plastic coating or scented is not going to help.

gentle none bio soap powder on a 40 Deg wash to kill any bacteria.

40 deg does not kill bacteria.
You need to wash at 60 to kill bacteria

It could be an allergic reaction to something you or even just touch. I had absolutely agonising eczema all over my legs for the best part of a year and i finally realised it was a reaction to touching a nutty flapjack I made for my partner and kissing him when he came home, having eaten it in the day. Ask the gp to refer you for allergy testing.

@Steppermum Correct. No idea why I typed 40.

If you're not getting anywhere with the GP, try the Sexual Health Clinic.

Just wanted to add that when I had eczema that wouldn't shift I got referred to the Allergy Clinic. Turned out I was allergic to about 5 things. Once I cut those out the eczema went and had stayed away.