Intertrigo… I am at my absolute wits end 😭

[Helphelphelp22]

Change of name for this…

I have asked Mumsnet before for advice and normally always get some really useful replies, so I am going to try seeing if this gets me anywhere…

I’ve had intertrigo on my natal cleft (inside of my bum cheeks) for years… it tends to flare up and then calm down.

However, for the past 3/4 weeks it has been pretty horrific. It’s red raw in parts, tender, with areas of bleeding. It’s particularly sore/painful at the very top and hurts to sit / lie down in certain positions. A rash has also now developed around the arena extending further down. It’s not only sore sight for the eyes but it’s also pretty grim to live with, and it’s really getting me down.

You name a steroid cream.. I have most likely tried it. Currently on elocon and fungal cream after being on antibiotics and anti fungal tablets.

I am trying so hard to keep it dry, air it at night etc, but nothing seems to be working. The GP has done a swab and also asked dermatology for some advice. But I am so miserable and I just don’t know what to do.

If anyone has some miracle cure or any advice I’d be eternally grateful 😔

Have you tried any cavilon products?

Could it be psoriasis? edit ti say ignore me. You said intertrigo for years.

@Clumsycorvid i have not no.. what are they?

Have you tried Vit B?

It's a nice barrier cream to help protect and repair.

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat nope I haven’t, is that supposed to help?

@Clumsycorvid ahh okay, thanks, I will look into it!

Lack of Vit B can often trigger skin conditions.

what Anti fungal tablets have you taken and did they make any difference? You need to take 150mg, and then 72 hours later another then probably a maintenance course

or psoriasis as PP said.

https://www.coloplastprofessional.co.uk/globalassets/hcp/pdf-file/v2/uk/wsc/cpwsc-interdry-poster_a3-november-2021.pdf this product is amazing for intertrigo

@Polyestered I was taking 50mg Fluconazole daily for 2 weeks

Medihoney cream might help

If I were to see someone private I am guessing I would need to see a dermatologist right?

@Helphelphelp22 not intertrigo but very sore under my boob's and areas of eczema.

Giving up fabric conditioner helped.
Giving up wheat and refined sugar and all gone within a fortnight.

It might be worth a try. I'm sorry you are having a rough time.

I get this sometimes, though not as bad as yours sounds you poor thing. I spend as much time as I can with my bum bare, wafting in as much air as possible, and keep it dry as can be. Also when I have to dress, thin cotton everything,

Yes I am trying to not wear anything at night but I don’t know how to give the actual area air as it would mean having to open my bum cheeks all of the time 🤣😭

Had this under my boobs for years to the extent that the skin was darkening, doctors just gave me steroids cream that didn't help at all. Finally a doctor actually looked at it and gave me two courses of antifungal pills, followed by using athletes foot cream. It's all gone, the skin is pale and normal again. Maybe try?

OP maybe also look into your diet and see if dairy/ wheat etc have an impact - you may need to do exclusion. I’m Celiac and before I was diagnosed I had this horrifically - stopped me sleeping and also had sores all over my chest . Good luck it’s really horrible xx

Skin conditions often diet related. Have you tried excluding dairy, that’s a massive trigger for my husband?

I didn’t actually think it could be related to my diet. I am currently on mounjaro, so am trying hard to eat healthy, unprocessed food with more nutrients. Maybe this will make a difference… 🤞🏻

My mum had unexplained skin conditions flare up for a while, and the doctor had no clue what it was. She used Eumovate, but as it's steroidal, she didn't want to use it for too long.

She ended up buying some Smiles & Joys cream from facebook in desperation, and it's been absolutely amazing. I've used it for chafing and it astonishes me every time how effective it is. I rarely need more than two applications. It's weirdly cooling but also warm at the same time!

I ended up buying more on amazon (much cheaper than the original but the same stuff).

This is it: https://amzn.eu/d/hebQkjs

If you search for Smiles and Joys you get a different packet now, and apparently the formulation has changed. But this one with the Chinese packaging is the original. It's also on ebay. I keep a tube with me at all times now!

I’d recommend seeing a private dermatologist. My mum did and it was about £250 for the consultation. Treatment was £3k but the dermatologist wrote to her gp who prescribed it on the nhs.

I had underboob version of this a couple of hot summers ago and I got rid of it by using Eumovate 50/50 with Daktarin 2% applied morning and night.

No sugar / white carbs.

Showered with Dermol. Used a separate facecloth to dry underboob, then absorbent kitchen paper, then applied cream. As the rash eased, I replaced the daytime cream with vaseline. Then when rash was gone, kept applying the vaseline - I still do. The vaseline stops skin surfaces rubbing together which triggers the cycle. It's never recurred.

Silly question but what kind of pants are you wearing? From experience (and no, I'm not the pants perve) you need 100% cotton. Anything else is going to make you hot and sweaty and isnt that breathable.

Mega TMI alert coming....

I also had this. In my case it was because the skin was drying out at night but during the day my bum was getting hot, sweaty, the skin would rub together and there the skin was raw it would also stick to itself on either side. In my case I got rid of it with some interlabial pads and fluconazole. A lot of cloth pad sellers make them- they're designed for people who use cloth period pads and have mega heavy periods. Basically I would put a folded pad where it needed to go. During the day it would absorb the extra moisture and stop my skin sticking to itself. Don't use folded toilet tissue though as this holds moisture against the skin.

Mega mega TMI alert coming.....
Occasionally if it had been a hot day or my skin was especially raw the pads would......stick for want of a better term. Pulling the stuck pads is a whole new world of pain so I would soak them off in a quick bath and then dry the area carefully.

I got my pads from someone called Minivivi (and no, I'm not her). She was kind, sensitive and knew her thing r.e. the right fabrics to use.

I'd still consider psoriasis.

I had this very bad under my boobs. It comes back if I don't keep on top of it.

I use herborganic shower gel under boobs only when washing. Pricey but worth it amd an antifungal cream the ones aimed at jock itch.

Be consistent with both twice a day and after a week or two it clears.