TMI but cuts down below?

[Fedupandsore]

Have NC.

About 2.5-3 years ago I had a tear on my vulva. I just sat down one day and thought I had a thorn or something in my knickers ( ) until I had a look.

I continued to get little tears and went to my GP who believed it to be thrush. After a few unsuccessful treatments she did a swab test which came back as negative.

Since then, it’s got much worse and has moved round to my bum but I also still get the tears on my perineum. My skin just tears whenever I have a BM/ bend down/ happen to move in any way that causes the skin to slightly stretch. They look like paper cuts.

Since then the gp diagnosed them as anal fissures but they’re atypical as I have multiple and they come and go in different places. I finally saw a colorectal surgeon last week who has now said they’re not fissures and has referred me on to dermatology with no idea of how many weeks that will be.

I’m so fed up. It’s literally like

FedUp, if you can see someone sooner, I would. I have now waited 4 months to get my appointment to see the gynaecologist at the local vulva clinic. I wish I'd been able to afford it!

Is your smear test up-to-date?

Just I used to have this problem. I had low-level thrush symptoms that weren't cleared up by the creams (even the doctor-strength ones). And the tears you describe.

When I had my smear test (hadn't been for 3 years or so), I had a abnormal result and then went for a colposcopy and loop excision treatment as had pre-cancerous cells. This stopped the thrush and it hasn't come back. No more tears.

This link was never mentioned by the GP or gynaecologist.

Waving back from Norwich Soubriquet

lut Yes, I’ve had a smear test. I had the tearing problem at the time of the smear and as far as I know all came back normal. Thanks for suggestion though and CR surgeon did check my smear test result while I was there so it could be relevant.

Talk about bad luck....

I've got two more cuts

I do have something similar, had it for many years.
What helps- only water for washing.
When the cuts are bad I lather sudocreme on, but, although it helps to heal them it's very drying.
Hydrocortisone.
The only moisturising cream I can use is Zerobase, everything else makes things worse.

Following this thread. I get these cuts too, usually just at the base of the inner labia. I think it is possibly related to hormones, always notice it the week or two after my period

I get these too - in the crease or join between inner and outer labia - I've found it to be exacerbated by strong soap or shower gels.

Sudocrem usually works if I start as soon as I notice it - or sometimes I Canesten if it's really bad - I also use Vaseline but not so much as for dryness but more if I feel sore.

It comes and goes but I have also had one episode of LS but in a different place - not treated - it just went by itself. I had an early menopause and also believe it's hormone related.

It sounds like lichen schlerosus to me too. I saw quite a few doctors before that was suggested and the gynae said it was textbook ls. Mine was so much itching and cuts most often near or on perineum. I was prescribed strong steroid cream which you gradually reduce the use of. I also use manuka honey topically

This sounds exactly like how my lichen sclerosis started 20 years ago. My GP mistook it for hormonal issues. I soldiered on thinking maybe it was thrush until I saw a Gyne consultant about another matter 7 years later.

It was Lichen Sclerosis.
Auto immune conditions run strongly in the family. We have eczema, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and hay fever. This is just another example of an over eager immune system.

Mine was hot and red with splits. The white part didn't come until later when the scar tissue formed.

It's incredibly important to use a strong steroid cream, mine is 0.5%.
And to use it properly. To start with I skimped on mine and ended up with horrid scaring requiring surgery.

Now I'm using it liberally my problems are managed. I've been using it properly for 6 years with no sign of thinning skin.

If it is this, see a specialist and get on top of it quickly to prevent tissue damage. It's easily managed but you need a specialist vulval clinic to see you through. Especially important when reaching menopause.

For others that might have this condition and have scarring, you can treat it. There is a method that uses the steroid cream and once the condition is under control, and not before, the skin can be stretched. Just a little each day. You can get amazing results reducing scars.

Best wishes and hopefully it will clear up soon.

Oh that’s rubbish Soub fingers crossed yours clears up quickly.

Flicker has yours got any worse over the years? I’m using Hydrocortisone now but think you aren’t meant to use it for more than a couple of weeks. Worried about making the skin thin when it’s already so fragile.

Brazzle mine is always worse during/ after my period too.

rizlett that’s where mine started too but weirdly don’t get them there any more.

barna interesting that you weren’t diagnosed until you saw the gynae. Haven’t tried manuka honey yet either so will give it a go, thank you.

Purple Thank you for the detailed reply. I already have eczema and hay fever. My DM has asthma.

Sorry that you’ve had such an awful time with scar tissue etc.

Am I right in thinking you’re saying it’s ok to use the steroid creams long term? As I’ve been trying the hydrocortisone the last few days and it seems to be helping. How did you access the vulval clinic? Did you have to go via a dermatologist or gynaecologist?

I get so anxious and panicked about intimate examinations so this is my worst nightmare.

I read about people treating it with manuka honey and coconut oil. Coconut oil did nothing to help but because I don't want to use steroid cream constantly I always keep manuka honey in but if it's bad only steroid cream helps. You don't realise how bad it is until you get some relief from it.

I have a couple of other conditions related to my crappy immune system too so it's worth cross researching if you do too.

The GP said she thought it was LS but wasn't sure so referred me. I had some labial fusing that responded very well to steroid cream too. In fact, I keep saying cream but I specifically asked for ointment because my eczema has always responded to steroid oinment but never cream - it might be worth trying the other if one doesn't give you great results

I eventually found a good GP who referred me directly to the clinic. Our nearest one was outbid area and an hours drive.

I've been reassured repeatedly that steroid cream if used correctly doesn't cause the thinning I was worried about. Certainly my experience supports this.

I'd just wish I'd had access to the internet 20 years ago, my situation might have been so much better with accurate information at the start of my journey.

OP, you mentioned eczema. My gut feeling is that the tears are related to a state of auto-immunity.

I sometimes suffer from these too. Once one got infected and I got a rash spreading down one thigh and up across the hip and lower back. That was pretty scary, bu it responded well to antibiotics (could have led to sepsis, but luckily didn't).

My advice would be:

1. Press for a specialist consultation.
2. Read up about improving your immunity through diet and lifestyle.

3.Allow some daily air to the areas that are regularly affected.

Good luck.

I’m back!
Saw lovely lady GP yesterday, she took detailed history, had a look, and said she thinks bad thrush. Did swabs, is sending me for blood tests and gave me fluconazole tablet and clotrimazole/hydrocortisone cream. She’s gonna call me when swabs and blood results are back. Very happy customer, hope she’s a permanent GP and not a locum!

Oh and she mentioned lichen but said she was pretty sure it wasn’t that

Thanks barna good point about the ointment vs cream. I developed M.E. four years ago and also have had sub clinical hypothyroidism suggested by the M.E. clinic so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a link.

Glad to hear you haven’t had any side effects from using the cream long term purple

Yes could well be related to auto-immunity Molly and sorry to hear you suffer too and had that experience. Must have been really scary.

Thank you for coming back PJ04JCW and so pleased yours should be easy to treat. Fingers crossed you have some relief very soon!

Thanks, good luck to all you other ladies.

Thought I’d do a quick update for anyone with the same issue who may come across this thread (god knows I’ve read loads researching this).

I’ve had my appointment at dermatology. They couldn’t make a diagnosis but had some suggestions like dermatitis, possible crohns.

While I was waiting to see them in desperation I’ve been using hydrocortisone constantly which heals the tears quite well. I have ignored the warning not to use this long term and dermatology agreed that the benefits in terms of my quality of life outweighs the risks.

The plan is to do a skin allergy test, use hydrocortisone and hydromol ointment several times a day and I may need to be referred to a specialist vulval clinic too.

Bit frustrating not to have a diagnosis but feel reassured about using the hydrocortisone long term. As soon as I stop using it the tears come back so it seems to be keeping them at bay rather than treating them. Maybe this is the best to be expected with a skin issue?

FEDup, glad you’re on the road to getting sorted. I have this on & off-have had for years & have been putting up with it. My 10yo did seems to also & will be getting her a GP app if it continues. Very interesting reading this thread...please do return & keep us posted. Good luck.

Try sudocrem too. You wouldn't think such a simple thing would help - obvs the hydrocortisone is far better - but sudocrem is made for that area.