Thin perineal skin

[Handbaghag]

Sensitive issue in more ways than I've, but had anyone noticed thinner, itchy skin in the vulval/perineal/anal area? I've had sensitive skin in the vulval area over the years and am careful to use unperfumed stuff etc but had anyone got any creams they've found that settle things down?

See your GP, it could be lichen sclerosis, it's quite common in women especially around menopause

I’m also experiencing the same (and I don’t think it’s lichen sclerosis). There’s a couple of defined patches which seem to flare and have a very specific type of itch. I’ve used sudocream in the past but interested to see if there’s anything else others would recommend.

I've had this problem for a long long time now , I've tried many many creams including the hormone creams pessary and the ovestin cream, sudocrem , clobestol which is used to treat LS , vaginal moisturiser, basically everything recommended.
I've seen four different GPs I've had countless swabs and examinations , I had a full STI screening ,.bloods ,.everything is normal,.also take a daily antihistamine.
Sometimes the itch is that bad I get paper type cuts and the when I wee !!! The pain is unbearable so I have use a peri bottle to lessen the pain.
This week after an 11 month wait I saw a specialist dermatologist who deals with the gynae side of things , she examined me nothing looks or feels weird so now she's decided to try me in a very low dose of amitriptyline (10mg) before bed to start with and see if this helps.
I'll try it ,I'll try anything !!
Good luck its hell on earth !

Yes I’m the same, sometimes itchy sometimes red and sore. I’ve also had paper type cuts down there! I’m currently on Ovestin cream x 3 weekly. It just feels like the skin down there is on the edge of being irritated all the time. I’d love a solution. I’m 49 definitely peri but not on HRT and don’t intend to be. @Maltybiscuit how is the Amtriptyline supposed to help?

I had this. My gynae has put me on liberal application of ovestin on the whole area every night for a month.

I'm going through tubes of the stuff.

You can use Ovestin but I don't like it but organic coconut oil helps me,it's wonderful stuff.

Ovestin is the bio identical hormone estriol. It’s been a life saver for me x

Ugh me too

What is a peribottle please

@Whyisitsodifficult she said that a low dose is prescribed for eczema patients and those of severe itching pruritus etc , I only know the drug for it being an AD but that's at a much higher dose.
I'm happy to give it a go , Ovestin doesn't really do much for me on a severe itchy outbreak (thank god the HRT prepayment certificate covers this cream as I have got through a lot ) the Clobestol steroid is better in my opinion but was only prescribed when LS was a contender , I use very sparingly. The paper cuts are Indeed agony ! For me organic coconut oil made it worse , that area doesn't seem to like anything sadly !!
@fromBodentoBandM a peri bottle is just an angled bottle so if I have the paper cuts I use lukewarm water and target the area whilst I wee so it takes the stinging away , they are widely used post partum as well when you've had tares to the area etc.

@Droolylabradors have you found that helps? I initially had to use it every day (internally) for two weeks and now I’m x 3 a week. It’s helped with my urgency and frequency to urinate but still having issues with itching and the tears! It’s quite miserable and I just want to lay in bed legs, akimbo (not in a sexy way)! I also had a good look down there and I appear to have warty like skin tags, my GP wasn’t concerned by them but god what a mess it all looks!

It's been a week and yes, it is making a difference. Gynae said to literally pile it on every night. I've been using it in the normal way for 12 months.

Mine is due to a severe prolapse though so the pulling and tightening is because I have the prolapse.

What made it worse was Yes VM and cetraban (which I could have predicted as it's paraffin). Yes VM made me scratch so hard I bled.

I have this and have been prescribed a topical steroid gel which works really well. It’s called Synelar gel. You can get it in a cream too but it’s not as good.

nothing else works

@Droolylabradors interesting what you say about Yes VM I had itching whilst using this but wasn’t sure it was this as had a rash as well! I’ve also been prescribed Lotriderm as my GP thought it was thrush it did help but has steroids in it which I thought thinned the skin. Hard to know what to do for the best.

Some random suggestions to help with itch and irritation and thinning vulval tissue:

Topical estrogen should help thicken and strengthen the genital tissue, given time to work, e.g. three months and then review with your doctor.
If Ovestin doesn’t suit in the U.K. there’s also Estriol 0.01% and Blissel gel depending what’s included in your local GP formulary.
Emollient ointment can help applied to the vulva eg Epaderm or Hydromol, can be used as often as needed and also to wash with. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/emollients/
Don’t use anything with lanolin or SLS. An alternative is Yes OB. Yes VM is water-based and can be a bit stingy on already irritated tissue. Oil based products can be kinder with less potential irritants
A steroid ointment applied thinly as directed can help reduce inflammation and itching (it’s not only used for LS). I was prescribed this and used it for a month along with emollient for relief of symptoms with a check by my doctor after two weeks. Steroid products don’t cause thinning of the vulval tissue if they are used as directed by your doctor
Sometimes an antihistamine can help with itching, though it does work by drying out mucosal membrane so can be a fine balance.
A sitz bath or applying wrapped ice to the area can help, also look at products containing lidocaine, which can have a numbing effect

Other things to consider that might be causing irritation are toilet paper and pads containing bleach and perfume - look at Cheeky Panda and TOTM instead, also body wash, shampoo and wash powder

I have similar. When it's really bad, I use Vagisil wipes to soothe it which work really well.

Oh thank goodness it's not just me. I get incredibly itchy at night for the fortnight before my period.
Dr has suggested using a mild steroid cream but it's never made any difference. Can't tell you how excited I am to try coconut oil tonight.

This is me too! Just awful

Me too, incl paper cuts. Haven’t seen a dr yet but I will 😩.

Just been to see GP for this. Prescribed Dermol moisturiser and a Dermol antihistamine /steroid.

So painful to pee or cr@p. Only recently turned 60 and now being told to avoid tight trousers (I live in jeans or leggings as I'm a regular runner), but can't bear to think I might have to start wearing granny slacks like my Mum, who is 86.

I'm too young to be old and I hate it.

Oh it's just too depressing isn't it 😞 x

I like the VV oil by Naydaya. Its quite expensive but you only need a drop.

Reading with interest. The itching at night can be horrendous.
Was using hydrocortisone cream but that made things worse.

The ovestin cream sorted this for me. Also improved my weak bladder which was a much welcome side effect.

That’s interesting about leggings, I workout daily and live in mine! Does your GP think it’s making your symptoms worse? My vulva has decided to swell up on one side today which is also painful!😥