to not really want to be brushed off about this?

[SingingSamosa]

Posting here for traffic as much as anything really.

My 6.5 year old DD (middle child) has suffered pretty much all her life with what seems like really bad nappy rash in her privates. It doesn't affect her bum, just her actual labia but all the way up and back. The doctors originally told me it was bacterial vaginosis when she was a baby and I had prescription cream for it (Timodine). Despite hourly nappy changes she'd still get it and it was so so sore. They told me it would disappear when she started potty training but she was potty trained at 2 and it still comes back periodically.

We have been back to the doctors numerous times - she was even referred to a paediatrician at one point but they've all said there's no bacterial or fungal issue (from swabs). They think the main issue is that she doesn't manage to wipe away all her wee when she goes to the loo but she tries so hard to do this yet it still comes back. I (and she) apply nappy cream when it starts to get a bit sore again but it's not that effective.

Last night I was up with her for two hours whilst she screamed in pain and her labia were very inflamed and red looking. Eventually a cold flannel, some Calpol, cuddles and lashings of nappy cream eventually soothed her enough to get her to sleep but I'm at my wits' end! Medical professionals have said that there's nothing more they can do. It's horrible hearing her sob and scream and not be able to do anything about it

Surely they can't just fob her off like this? I've watched her wipe after she's been for a wee and there's not any discernible difference in how she does to how her big sister or I do it.

She is a bit of a precious snowflake type in terms of sensitivity - she can't bear wearing certain clothes because they irritate her skin, she can't stand loud or high noises etc. I've always thought this type of 'super sensitivity' was more of a psychological thing that children had than an actual physical thing but perhaps she has very sensitive privates?

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? (Sorry for the long post!!)

Passive, she's always been a non-drinker but because of this I have forced liquid down her all her life (in a non dramatic way of course!). She had stickers and rewards for a good year or so to get her into the habit of drinking all her water bottle at school. She drinks just over a litre each day.

No to wet wipes on your privates!!!!

Whatever the cause, you have to use no products down there to clean, keep it cool, wear cotton (not just on inside of pants, but trousers/skirts too) and keep the area aired.

I second the idea of taking a picture when she has a break out. Sods law will dictate that she will be pretty much fine at any appointment. She has always tested negative for bacterial or fungal infection.
Juts checked the nystaform - it is 0.5% hydrocortisone, 1% chlorhexidine hydrochloride (antibacterial) and nystatin (fungicide). So that kind of covers all bases. If it is really bad, we sometimes need to move up to 1% hydrocortisone.

I used to work in paeds - do your community paediatrics have an allergy clinic? Maybe try there first (get GP to refer you) then they can refer on to dermatology if no allergies found?

My daughter gets quite sore and red if she doesn't have a quick bath every day. It's very rare that she can skip a bath and get away with it and we've learned the hard way not to skip it. Technique seems fine but she has always been quite sensitive in that area, had lots of nappy rashes etc as a child, couldn't use wipes etc. Treated for thrush twice I think. Her sister is bullet proof by comparison.

It's a pain but a quick shower down of her privates or a quick dip in 2ins of bathwater doesn't take that long if you get into a routine with her. It might be worth trying for a while to see if it makes any difference.

If she gets sore we use the boots own brand sudocrem overnight and that usually sorts it out. We also have to be careful what she wears when she rides a bicycle. Please her she has literally sawn herself in two wearing jeans. That took quite a while to go so.

Cotton underwear, non bio Persil [only persil, Fairy seems to cause issues] and no pants under pj's at night. Organic bubblebath only.

We also have a water softener but I don't notice any particular change since it was installed.

I would shower her every day, and use lotion on her body afterwards (not on her crotch area obviously).

Could this possibly be candida? Perhaps an elimination diet might be something to try? Food sensitivities manifest in loads of different ways.

I would scrape the money together and see this bloke privately to speed things up.

David Atherton

He can then organise further care on the NHS if necessary.

YY to investigating Lichen Sclerosus, btw. I get this and it's horrid but a simple cream deals with it in three days.

YY to rinsing private parts a couple of times a day with plain water.

YY to avoiding wet wipes.

Also you can try Piriton at bedtime as that can reduce the discomfort/inflammation and promote sleep.

I had this as a kid! It was awful - turned out it was biological washing powder and bubble bath causing it.

Hi Hun,
My little girl has the same thing. Her dermatologist said it is eczema.
These are the things he suggested:
Vaseline as a barrier cream during the night
Washing (without scrubbing) down there every night with water (quick shower)
Wash hair at the end off the bath. Don't use any other products. Take her out straight after the hair wash.

My daughter hasn't had a flare up since. I would strongly suggest you see a dermatologist. He could see it was eczma a very easily xxx

I agree with pp who have mentioned lichen schlerosis. I was only diagnosed recently but I suspect I've suffered with it on and off for decades. I had to see a gynacologist for a diagnosis. It's been easy to treat (steroids at first to clear it up then just top up when you get a flare up) and special lotion/wash. It's quite rare so might have been overlooked by her GP?

I'm not sure it's going to help but could you gently unstitch the crotch seam on tights? It should give her a bit of air down below!

My DD (nearly 7) is very similar. She gets red sore labia every few weeks and she can have runs where it flares almost daily. I personally link frequent flares with when her immune system is low/struggling after having colds etc.

It has got less frequent over time. Like your DD, her swabs didn't show any notable bacteria or fungus to treat.

My DD has lots of clothes sensitivities & out of school uniform she can only beat soft cotton leggings or skirts.

She has no products in her bath but uses diprobase to wash in the bath once a week or so.

What's helped her most is sitting in a bowl/sink nightly. The doctor we saw didn't feel a shower always rinses everything down there and a quick immersion is best. She also gets v dry skin if she bathes too often but sitting in a washing up bowl we keep just for this/or the sink for 2 mins each night (Luke warm water only) helps. Sudo Crem is the best thing ever for my DD if there's any flare up - morning and night (after sitting in water, once she's fully dry). And I work hard to find tights with the highest cotton level I can and all her knickers are good quality cotton.

It is getting less frequent so I'm hoping she's slowly growing out of it..

OP, as she has dry skin and can't have a daily bath/shower, could you install the hand held bidet shower so that she can wash after a wee/poo at home? I know you said she uses the loo a lot at school, but that wash before bed may help (and she doesn't need to bathe daily).

I meant to recommend this before to everyone really (I don't have shares in an essential oil company btw! )

BUT put a couple of drops of fresh Tea Tree essential oil in a cup of warm filtered water. Then let her wash herself with it with a piece of cotton sheeting that can be boiled washed or thrown away. 2 or 3 times a day will work wonders, it's magical. I Never use soap 'down there' and only use T tree so have no soreness and I'm quite sensitive.

I think this could be psoriasis

A litre a day sounds like a lot, especially if it's not triggered by natural thirst. I'd get sore from frequent toilet visits if I drunk this much.

I know you have said you use non-bio..we always do but have found some to have a very distinctive smell. Persil, Fairy and Morrisons own definetly have, Aldi's more than it used to.

The only one without scent (for me) is Asda's own.... I am very sensitive to wash powder smell and in the last two years, it starts to irritate me just walking down the aisle..

Could it be the a actual showering? My BiL can't shower, he has to have a bath otherwise he breaks out in an itchy rash.

Yes MaisyMoo Does he put softener in the bath water? because I have to it's lovely for the skin.

Someone upthread mentioned lichen sclerosus. I have just been diagnosed with this. I was in agony before I saw the doctor. It was so irritated and red. It would come and go but got to the point I just couldn't bear it. Before seeing the doctor I tried Sudocrem (which actually ended up stinging) and Vagisil (more stinging). I've been using a very strong steroid cream which has changed my life. I feel NORMAL now! Lichen sclerosus seems to mainly affect young girls and post-menopausal women (but some in-between too). Push to have it checked out because if it IS lichen sclerosus it needs to be sorted. My GP (who is the "go to" dr for all gynae/ob related things) was able to diagnose it. Does your surgery have a doctor who has a specialty in this area?

Best of luck, I feel for both you and your daughter.

Thanks all for the replies. It's not the showering, as she's only recently been having showers and this has been going on since she was a baby.

I also don't think it's lichen sclerosis as I've had a look on Google images and it doesn't look like that. She also is never itchy, it's just very inflamed and stinging. It's definitely not thrush as she's been swabbed for that lots of times. Vaginosis is what they diagnosed her with as a baby but then said it wasn't when she was older.

Psoriasis is a very distinct possibility as I have psoriasis (although not in my nether regions). She is being referred to a dermatologist so hopefully we'll get some answers soon.

I had something that sounds similar to this when I was pregnant and I was given an emollient to wash with and double base as well as putting timodine on it. The three things combined definitely helped.

Been there. Ours was linked with constipation/overflow irritating the skin. Still get it now if she doesn't keep clean. Daktacort ointment on prescription was the best when it was bad. I worried about hydrocortisone on her bits but she doesn't need to use it now. We control it now with Bepanthen. But when it was bad I put Bepanthen on every night and the Daktacort if flared up. Soft gel Ice packs wrapped in cloths helped alot as well when it was bad to sooth things.