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?

This is me too. No way I can go to see the gp about it.
I just slap sudo on it.

Does sudocream help?

I have been to the gp with it. Ruled out lichenosis. She said something about it being due to reduced hormones, told me to get dermol or equivalent, which i have.
I'm on vagifem pessary and hrt patches. Maybe ovestin cream would be better?

Gosh why not? Ovestin does help.

I had to use betnovate for a month oh the relief.

I get this too. I'm 50. the amount of times I get the mirror down there but all looks fairly normal apart from dry skin on the outside bit.

I use estriol cream internally and a combo of cetreban cream, sudocrem and hydrocortisone cream which seems to keep it in check. Interestingly I've recently not had a period for nearly three months and it seemed a lot more settled down there then I ovulated a week or so ago and my boobs are so sore and also so is down below. I assume this is the fecking hormones.

I have been using a low dose steroid cream, I haven’t been to my gp about it, I have eczema so I have steroid cream for my hands and face so have been using that, it helps a little. I also find not wearing underwear (when I’m home) helps a little and not wearing tight trousers/jeans.

I have this and I've only just turned 40. I put up with it for 7 months before contacting the GP (I'm an idiot) and was prescribed eumovate which helped almost immediately. I have an in person appointment with the Gp this week.

frazzled 101: I almost swore at the GP when she said this is common in menopausal women, but 40? I feel for you.

So far put up with this for over 2 weeks. Reading up on it makes me very sad & angry. I've been using a mild steroid for a week and so far not much has changed. I can't sleep for the itching and I'm up several times a night anyway as I'm having treatment for a weak bladder. This extra pain really isn't helping as I don't get back to sleep after getting up at night.

At work I've almost passed out with the pain and have been on the point of tears so many times now.

You think menopause means lots of sex with no babies, but while some will tell you it's not true, they don't know what conditions you will be 'lucky' enough to pick up.

Have you tried Ovestin cream? This makes an amazing difference to a weak bladder. I thought I had OAB but it was lack of hormones x

I really wish I could tolerate ovestin cream for this reason but it makes me feel sick and headaches.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor That’s a shame. I’ve been lucky and had no adverse effects. I think it’s only absorbed where it’s put and doesn’t get into your system?

It's very surprising that so many posters here have had steroid creams etc prescribed by a GP. It would be more appropriate to try estrogen cream first which can't do any harm whereas steroids can.

The symptoms sound very much like genital symptoms of menopause *GSM) and the treatment for external irritation and thin skin is weak estrogen cream Ovestin, as described by @over50andfab

Sadly, I think this is another example of GPs not being educated about women's bodies and menopause.

The steroids and other products may help with the itching or soreness but they don't really deal with the underlying issue which is loss of estrogen.

Obviously, we don't know the full medical details of anyone here, but on reading all the posts, I'd guess that almost everyone here needs Ovestin.

PLEASE if you are not getting the help you need, or afraid to ask your GP, see someone else and get the right treatment.

No one should be using steroids on genital skin for long unless prescribed by a dermatologist.
It can thin the skin.

You can use Ovestin forever.

Old ladies in their 80s and 90s are prescribed it.

It doesn't get into the blood stream, it stays where it's put, so you shouldn't get any side effects, and it's not HRT- it's a topical cream. Very safe and sorts out all sorts of itching, bladder stuff and sore skin.

Has anyone tried hyalo femme?
I’ve just started using this so too early to tell if it’s working yet but it’s supposed to be as effective as ovestin but without the hormones.

This is true - I used hydrocortisone too long and it made things worse.

it's a topical cream. Very safe and sorts out all sorts of itching, bladder stuff and sore skin

Don't have itching (thank god!) but my bladder's got so weak. Will GP prescribe Ovestan for that, even though no itching? Vagifem and everol conti currently prescribed.

Thanks to this thread I have a peribottle on the way 😁

I went to my dr’s practice numerous times after urine infections didn’t seem to fully clear with antibiotics. I know now this was stinging and burning caused by vaginal atrophy. I was told by different GPs to shower instead of bath, drink lots of water then I was prescribed Eumovate. All of this stinging and burning and constant need to wee went on for around six years. It was debilitating. I was even referred to a GYNAECOLOGIST who said everything looked normal and had I tried Vagifem and steroid cream. I said yes and I had a reaction to the Vagifem. He replied oh well that’s all we prescribe. You really do have to do your own research and advocate for yourself. I read about Ovestin, asked the GP to prescribe it and it’s changed my life x

Ps @JinglingSpringbells advice is invaluable. She really knows her stuff xx

What do you mean by weak?

If you mean it holds little and you need to wee a lot, then yes it may help.
It builds up the lining of the bladder, restoring the layer that depends on estrogen for its plumpness.

It does this because the estrogen is absorbed by the bladder through the vaginal wall.

It can also help 'leaks' because it helps to support the tissues around the bladder opening. However, you also need to do your 30 pelvic squeezes a day to help any leaks.

@Snowinsummer The question is why would you not want to use Ovestin? or Vagifem?

All these OTC things can help a bit but they are usually for women who can't use topical estrogen. This is a tiny number of women who may have had aggressive breast cancer.

The amount of estrogen in topical estrogen is tiny.
If you crushed a low-dose, 1mg tablet of estrogen (HRT) into 100 pieces, 1 of those pieces if the same as 1 application of Ovestin.

As it happens I am due a call from my urogynaecologist this morning after urodynamic tests for the urinary frequency. Hopefully he will help with this skin issue too.

I've had one treatment of bladder botox a while back which hasnt made much difference. I went for botox because I had an oestrogen cream which didnt achieve anything but not sure if it was ovestin. Will ask him about that. If it helps with the skin and the peeing that would be a double win!

JinglingSpringbells: I would add that I have had aggressive breast cancer but that was 20 years ago. Maybe oestrogen cream would be OK now.

I’ve been using Vagirux pessaries (same as vagifem I think). They are not working anymore 🙁 I’m going to ask for Ovestin and try that instead.

Sorry to hear that.

I can't speak for your dr, of course, but from what I read, most drs would say it was okay for you.

There are other products available for women who can't use vaginal estrogen, one of which is DHEA, but you'd need to see a specialist gynae who knows about all of this.

It's also about balance. Some women who have had BC do start using full HRT for quality of life.

Women can make the choice over taking a very small risk (if that's what it is) and quality of life.

My breast cancer was 7 years ago and strongly oestrogen positive, but my breast surgeon was happy to prescribe oestrogen pessaries.