Itchy vulva

[ARMSDOWN]

I'm going completely insane. My vulva is so itchy. It's in a localised spot on each side. No thrush. No STIs. No BV. Just unexplained intense itch. I havent changed shower products. Don't shave or wax. Tried washing with just water. Has anyone had this before and found a remedy?

When you say something wildly incorrect like the vulva doesn't have hair so you aren't sure of the relevance of shaving it really doesn't help people's woeful understanding of female anatomy. I'm really not sure why it's so hard for people to know the parts and their names.

Have you tried washing with Aqueous cream? Never use soap or shower gel or bubble bath. Aqueous cream cleanses & then when you are finished washing, put a second layer on to moisturise.

If it's in a localised spot, I reckon it could be an infected hair follicle (basically a boil) exacerbated by eczema (secondary to the infection, caused by the itching). If you feel a little spherical lump under the skin, at the epicentre of the itching, it could be this.

I've had exactly this and it never went away for months till I got it treated. Gp gave me topical steroid antibiotic cream, I think it was called fucidin. Miraculous stuff, cleared it in days.

Edit for typo

I have vulval eczema. Can’t necessarily ‘see’ anything. Took a while to diagnose. E45 and Diprobase work wonders.

I have vulval eczema too and it can present like this when it flares.

I had this when I suddenly became allergic to my washing powder. It took me ages to work out what it was. I switched to Aldi washing powder and had no problems since.

Do you wear sanitary pads or liners? They can irritate the skin. Especially the scented ones

Honestly vagisil is a lifesaver it gives me instant relief!
I am similar age to you and never used to get itchy but now do. I think it's linked with my cycle hormones as I don't have it all month round

Varicose veins?

Lichen sclerosis. Had this for years and GP useless. Very badly c affected my marriage. Then one day a locus GP prescribed cream for lichen sclerosis. Forgotten what it was but it cleared up almost overnight.

Dermovate I think was the treatment . Worked rapidly. Had been unbearable for literally years. And yes re white spots.

Don't you use the Dermavote oil all the time? I've been told to use it twice a month forever to prevent it returning.

It has returned occasionally ( I mean less than once a year) but one application sees it off. It really is amazing because it defined my life for years -was utterly unbearable. I remember going to visit my SIL and seeing nylon knickers drying in her bathroom and crying because I couldn’t wear any -was commando under skirts and couldn’t wear jeans or trousers. It was soooo debilitating but the GP just said use Canesten which was obviously pointless!!

If it is just itching (anywhere) with nothing to see, try a dab of a lignocaine cream such as lanacane ( which, 40 years ago, was advertised as suitable for 'feminine membrane itching'. ) It won't fix it if is is some kind of infection, but if it's a nerve itch it may be enough, and either way it should ease the symptoms.

Do you swim? I’ve discovered that the chlorine in swimming pools causing intense itching in my nether region. Ordinary soap/shower gel doesn’t seem neutralise it, but I’ve had success using swim shampoo of all things.

I have this but mine is linked to menopause. Vagisil really helps.

Thanks, for some reason I thought it would come back quickly if you stopped applying the meds.

There doesn't seem to be much knowledge on it. My gyne said leave it alone it will go away by itself.

I’ve been told to use 2/3 a week as standard

I was on twice a week when I first started but reduced to twice a month. My gyne was concerned about using a steroid ointment could thin the skin if used too frequently. Interesting the different advice we receive.

It can be a sign of type 2 diabetes. Ask the GP to do a blood test.