Recently become super sensitive to washing ‘down below’- the itchiness is torture!

[Summergarden]

It used to be the case that if I was washing in the shower with something lovely smelling but highly scented and I accidentally got a bit near my vagina it will be intensely itchy for a few days after.

But recently if I get a bit of the milder shower creams there it’s having the same effect, including Dove which had previously always been ok.

Does anyone have any suggestions on anything to reduce the itching please? It’s driving me mad.

On a related issue, I was getting dry skin on my lower calves in winter over the last two years, and not using products on them has stopped that too. I’m a real convert to water only, other than armpits.

I run water over my vulva and for my anal area I use Dermol, as a soap substitute.

Specialist gynae nurse recommended washing down there with e45 shower cream to prevent itching. She said actually better than plain water as that can be quite drying if you're already itchy. Really helps me! She also said avoid all the 'womens cleaning' products and definitely no scented things, even on the outside. Also no baths.

If I use just water my undercarriage is itchy, sore and sometimes the skin actually splits which is murder.

GP advised Aqueous cream and it's a life saver. Just a little and rinse thoroughly.

The tubs cost a fiver in supermarkets and chemists but HomeBargains have them for a pound.

I use Canesfresh and highly rate it. I used to get recurrent thrush and needed something that was an alternative to using a mild soap as even that could be a problem.

Essential oils can be incredibly irritating!

Your mention of ‘flare ups’ could be LS. Some people have it constantly where as others have flare ups. Have you had a look in a mirror to see if there are any white patches on your genital. It’s not curd like the way thrush is. It’s real white patches on your vulva. You’d also look a bit inflamed. And With advanced LS you can have white patches from front to back in a figure of 8.

I also use the E45 bodywash, it's been an absolute life saver.

Simple soap is good.

Having a coil made things unbearable for me felt like constant thrush itch.

Recommend giving it a blast with cold shower. Really helps with itching. And then all the advice above. HRT fixed the issue for me.

Absolutely nothing but water down there and if you have a bath no bubbles. Then when dry, moisturise with zero base or double base cream. This has worked for me for 20 years.

Aqueous cream for washing. Home bargains sells cheap tubs for 99p or so, but I found theirs really hard to rinse off. I prefer the tubs from most supermarkets which are around £5.
And definitely see GP if it doesn't settle down. It may be perimenopausal vaginal atrophy, in which case vaginal estrogen will be a game-changer. Or you may need lichen sclerosis ruled out, if it is LS there are treatments available but it's important to start them at an early stage.

I had horrendous Candida from a copper 7, canesten etc didn't work & it was only when I had the coil out & symptoms disappeared did I make the connection. GP didn't twig it & gave me a diabetes and sti tests! Ditto DD re IUD & thrush, I did warn her!

@CherryRipe1 I didn’t ever get thrush it was the threads bothering me.

Oh okay! Yes, they're horrible, like nylon guitar strings poking in ya bits. I was told to check them but it was rare due to squeamishness.

Use an unperfumed shower gel.

Water alone doesn't remove smell and can be incredibly drying. It really isn't recommended. A non perfumed, zero additive wash like Sanex Zero is so much better.

I have eczema and allergic hive response (as well as hayfever🙄). I seem to be allergic to perfumes but have used lots of various faith in nature products and never reacted or got itchy rashes from the essential oils used to make them smell nice, particularly like the lavender soap which is very gentle. I always use their shampoos and handwashes too. If Ihave to use a handwash somewhere else I can guarantee an itchy patch on my fingers within a short time.

I use e45 body wash. I have severe itching at times been to the doctors 3-4 times now and no diagnosis just different creams to try. However they recommended something like this or aqueous cream to wash with

Of course you are. You go to the toilet, sweat and have sex from this area so you need to clean it as you would any other part of your body. You just don't put anything inside.

See your GP but in the meantime you could try taking an anti histamine that's suitable for daily use.

I have LS and a very good dermatologist told me not to touch shower gels with a barge pole and to use emollient ointment to wash. I'd also steer well clear of anything calling itself an intimate wash or perfumed. I use Cetraben ointment to wash, but others such as Epaderm or Hydromol have also been ok for me. I used to use the E45 wash mentioned by PPs but became sensitive to it so stopped.

Also, what are you washing your underwear in? I used to use non perfumed powder detergent and double rinse but became sensitive to that so now just wash undies at 40 or 60 in a separate wash.

Finally if you shave or wax down there, stop.

Just to say thanks very much to everyone who has taken the time to reply on here.
I’m still not sure exactly what the cause is but will monitor it carefully and if need to go to the GP will ask them to test for everything that people have mentioned on here, including several possibilities I’d never even heard of. Mumsnet at its best- I’ve learned a lot!

You only wash your bum hole area with water?

Your bum hole?

Post menopause I've found estriol cream helps a lot, but there's still itching at night. My skin is very dry now. It's like dandruff on the inside of my trousers at times. I'm using a soft long back brush to gently clean dry areas.