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Anxiety over Itchy vulva - litchen sclerosus??

4 replies

Lemons1571 · 06/01/2021 20:13

Have had this itching for 5 years, but for some reason I’m suddenly panicking. Crazy itchiness down there. Wouldn’t exactly say it’s really sore red or painful, just irritated. One of the inner lips is drooping a bit and now bigger than the other? Whole area looks a bit darker and shiny too, it’s looked like that for ages but it’s not scaly, fragile, bleeding or weeping.

I do get lots of spots near the inner labia (mostly small, but sometimes big lumps that are sore, can be squeezed and eventually burst just like a spot would) ugh.

Have seen a few gp’s over the years. One said thrush but treatment didn’t work and there’s no discharge anyway. One said it’s folliculitis, but an emollient hasn’t helped either. Others have been 🤷🏼‍♀️ and said don’t use soap.

Anyway a couple of days ago I found some hydrocortisone and thought bugger it I’ll give it a go. OMG. It felt so much better within a day. The itching is much reduced and I am far more comfortable. I’ve waited 5 years to feel like this!

I guess my question is does it sound like litchen sclerosus or something more serious? Should I see a gp yet again? I’m catastrophising a bit but am suddenly worried it’s something dodgy that’s been lurking for way too long.

Is any of this normal??

OP posts:
sadie9 · 07/01/2021 00:30

I developed this and it was misdiagnosed as thrush for years but finally diagnosed as localised eczema. Doc gave me a steriod ointment called Betnovate which stopped it completely. I only needed a tiny bit each time, the same tube lasted years.
It went away completely after menopause.
My labia were the shape you described but went back to normal once I was using the ointment regularly to stop the flare ups. You could go back to GP and get a prescription for right type of cream.

Yubaba · 07/01/2021 00:38

I have something similar called Inverse (flexural) psoriasis, I use a mix of clotrimazole, hydrocortisone and and epiderm to treat it.

Vagessence · 07/01/2021 00:49

To those diagnosed, were tests ran or was it more process of elimination?

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 07/01/2021 00:51

If this has been going on for 5 years and no GP has figured it out, I’d definitely go see a gynaecologist. This sounds deeply unpleasant!

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