Very dry vulva, not menopausal etc - please help!

[savebuckbeak]

Please help! I'm desperate. I'm 32 and my vulva always just seems to be so dry, unless I use a lot of moisturiser on it. To clarify, it's definitely the vulva (so the external bit: the labia majora and minora), not the vagina. I have no issues at all with self-lubrication.

On examination, everything looks normal. I do have lichen sclerosus, but with my steroid treatment, it's not visible and everything is well-controlled in that regard. I've not seen/read/heard anything which suggests lichen sclerosus causes dryness, particularly when the condition is well-controlled, and in someone of my age.

My periods are regular and normal - nothing has changed. I'm not on any hormonal contraceptives and never have been. I have no other symptoms of menopause or peri-menopause. So I'm just confused as to why I have this dryness.

Has anyone else ever experienced this (and also not been in menopause/peri-menopause, nor been on hormonal contraceptives)?

Appreciate any advice/suggestions. Just so fed up as it can be quite uncomfortable :(

It probably is due to the LS. I have LS too and vulva always feel dry even though mine too is well controlled with Dermovate twice weekly. I use a tiny pea sized blob of moisturiser each time I go to the loo which does the trick.

Thanks for replying! Do you mind if I ask - are you a similar age to me?

Definitely not your age or menopausal,I'm 74. Diagnosed 3 years ago with LS, and finally after over a year and private dermatologist with vulval eczema., prescribed Epiderm in a pump, for washing the area and moisturizer 4 times a day,as necessary. It's about £13 in Boots, 500mls and last over 6 months. Told we shower far too much, and it's bad for our skin.

@savebuckbeak No I'm 63. Was 54 when diagnosed.

I'm close to your age and have been suffering for 2 years constantly with itching, but not diagnosed LS. It finally cleared up last week (!) treating it as eczema (which i have elsewhere) and yeast infection - I'd noticed the kind of sweet/bready smell. Steroid creams can cause yeast overgrowth i think.

Ahh ok, I think at age 63 dryness is probably a lot more common and normal due to age-related thinning/atrophy.