Unbearable itch and soreness below

[Oomph]

Hello all, I'm hoping someone with a similar experience can help me. Forgive the long story, but I think it's probably good to have a chronology!

• I started with what i thought was a UTI 2 months ago: urgency to pee, itchyness, burning sensation after peeing. I was given ABs (nitrofurantoin) for 3 days which GP prescribed without taking a look or a sample, over the phone.
• After this 1st course, symptoms did not go away so I returned to GP who this time took a sample and gave me a second course of antibiotics. Still no fever, just general itch, urgency, feeling in my urethra.
• Sample came negative for infection from lab
• I started to feel increasingly itchy and was told it was probably thrush (yeast infection) due to two courses of ABs. Took Canesten but itch remained. This has been going on for 2 months now
• I have red, raised patches of rough skin and what looks like little tiny bumps in my inner labia, and the itch is un-bear-able.
• The GP gave me oestrogen cream as she thought this might be vaginal atrophy due to perimenopause. This seems to have made things MUCH WORSE after a few days.

Some googling is throwing out lovely stuff such as Lichen Sclerosus and Lichen Planus. Has anyone had similar symptoms and could you let me know how you've coped with it? I'd be really grateful, as it's driving me nuts and I don't have another appointment with the GP for a week. And then I'll probably need to be referred to a dermatologist, so another wait!

Thank you!

Yes I had very similar and I had aerobic vaginitis. Unfortunately neither the GP or gynae seemed to know anything about this so u had to get a private swab done by digital microbiology and then I self reested with fluomizin and vaginal probiotics.

I've been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis before.
I had unbearable itching and very dry skin to the point it would split and cause really painful little almost paper-cuts. Tried thrush cream and I had to wash it straight off because it burned.
I just went to the GP, explained my symptoms, got a cream (I think steroid?) and it sorted it immediately.
I used it a few times and then gradually less and less. I've not had a flare up for ages now.

I've had similar.
I use no toiletries or soap products on the affected area.
I used to use a mild steroid cream which worked but it always came back.
The only thing that doesn't set my nether regions on fire is zerobase cream. As long as I use it regularly it keeps it at bay. It won't be enough to get rid though, you need steroid cream first.

Many thanks to both. It seems like i'm going to have to be super careful with any products that come into contact with these parts. I've started by rinsing ALL my clean underwear in a wash without detergent.

In terms of the lichen sclerosus diagnose, I have red it looks like white patches, but I have red rough areas with tiny bumps. Could it be that these are early symptoms? How about with aerobic vaginitis?

Thank you so much for posting. I can't tell you how alone I feel with my itchy fanny, which I'm trying desperately not to scratch to shreds!

I was diagnosed with lichen planus and vaginal atrophy post menopause.

Been prescribed vaginal estrogen and a medium strength steroid for flares. Best thing to help immediately seems to be washing regularly with dermol 500 rather than any other kind of soap/ shower gel.

For a temporary relief pending a GP visit I would get an over the counter steroid

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skincalm-Bite-Sting-Relief-Cream/dp/B0785JQV7W/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1LXUK30C97ZYE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1Czo8IaPlprk0wccV-dY0CoDGIIzOWdtR_NSUpD-Z5HbGksyvouynycsmV9JPRw9DIGOOTOPLitGg-jxMFVlyOM_bFPBhNPx1DP0X5V7tF6Z7BoFzsxXtsTpw9woCStkFxBT-DawoE0VoHcqtXAJCVTcwo-4DznI1GZt-iQt26HIsUfISyTaQaMFqzJqfB2oXtmXbNdrtSjS0eQHON4PzQ.PTB_H2jtPvgrbD8r0J1y69rGukA9XifyaQWvK-gjSXI&dib_tag=se&keywords=steroid+cream&qid=1730744792&sprefix=steroi%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-3
Don't use for more than a week or so as it can thin the skin. If you try and buy this direct from a pharmacy they may be cautious about giving it to you for vulval use but I think it is weaker than the one my GP has prescribed me.

And some dermol 500
https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/shop/brands/dermol/bnd-1se

You do need to see the GP though as if it is lichen sclerosus it gives a slightly higher risk of cancer and will need to be checked out every 12 months ( according to my GP).

Thanks for your advice, @EducatingArti . If my itching does not improve with washing, I'll look at a mild cortisone cream. I do feel concerned about going down this path without a diagnosis, and because it is not currently presenting with the white patches that are associated with this condition. At any rate, thank you, I don't think I can last much longer feeling like this!

This is interesting as I have had similar symptoms twice recently that weren't cleared by a thrush pessary/cream and no infection was showing in my urine when tests came back so not a kidney/bladder infection. Antibiotics seemed to clear it up but it came back within a couple of months. Just waiting to see if it comes back again as doctor is unlikely to give me antibiotics next time!

One thing that really helped with the itching/burning was coconut oil. Sounds silly but it worked for me.

I know its weird BUT - have you tried Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream??

I occasionally get a sore bit and decided to try it - I use it for anything skin related, spots, cuts etc - it was the best thing ever and really sorted the soreness out.

Well I don't think the wash and the mild steroid will do much harm in the short term. Just tell your GP what you have been doing.
You could also try some vagisil cream short term which was also helpful to me.

I got the impression from my GP that while lichen sclerosus has the white patches, lichen planus doesn't.

I have had something similar, gp prescribed zerobase over the phone, which sort of helped & at least didn’t make it worse.
what seems to have helped me is starflower oil three weeks of every month, I take it absolutely religiously- if I miss a week (apart from period week) it all kicks off again.

I got zerobase also for regular use once flare is under control but my online pharmacy took ages to dispense it and the dermol 500 had already made things loads better before I tried either zerobase or the eumovate the gp prescribed.

Thanks all for your suggestions of things to try. i should add that I am perimenopausal and using vagifem pessaries as well as HRT (mirena and oestrogel).

I'm hoping it is not one of these autoimmune conditions, but it sounds that even those can be managed with the right treatment.

It's just the way it's presenting (red rough patches) does not seem to fit with the description of LS

I have LS. Things that help that aren't the steroids -

Rinsing with water after peeing. A shataf (plumbed-in water sprayer) is life-changing.
Baths with no product - no soap, shampoo, gel, anything. Just soaking in water.
When washing hair in bath or shower, wash body first then get out of the bath or stream of water, shampoo and rinse bent over so no shampoo runs down your body into the area.
All cotton underwear. (M and S do it in multipacks.)
Going without underwear where possible.
Apply barrier cream after washing with water to protect from irritation (vaseline works.)
Super-hippy washing powder, no fabric softener etc. Not on bedsheets etc either.
Vaseline before swimming in chlorinated water ( I dont bother with this actually but have read it helps some people.)
Non-fragranced toilet paper/liners if you ever need to use them - I use bamboo cloth ones.

There's an emu oil thing some people swear by but I'm vegan so haven't tried it.
The above is just what's helped me, if it isn't LS some of that might help anyway, if it is then most people find it pretty easily managed once you get the prescription.

I wouldn't use vagisil. The doctor advised me not to while waiting for diagnosis.
You have my sympathies, it's so horrible. Hope you get sorted soon.

Just to add that one of the worst triggers other than soap/shower/bath products is using pant liners. Better to carry spare underwear and change if required.

I have started using an aqueous cream every day to wash the vulval area when I'm in the shower. It has completely stopped my problem of itching/small tears/soreness. I bought a big pot from Amazon which was only around £2, I'm amazed at the results.

@steppingcarefully thanks for posting. Can I ask, were you diagnosed with anything in particular or were you just addressing your discomfort? And did you have any lesions like rough skin or sores? I'm trying (stupidly, I know) to self-diagnose in advance of seeing the GP, and then possibly having to wait for a dermatology appointment!

Last night was particularly awful, with the itch waking me up, and not relenting. I cannot see white patches, but there are small areas of red very tiny bumps or rough skin. It's driving me nuts!

@Geranen thank you for the comprehensive list, this is SO useful. I am longing for a shataf (which I had to google)!

Specifically, your advice to avoid vagisil and other products rings true. I think using a mild oestrogen cream is what made things much worse this time round.

I have been using vaseline, but to be honest, given how bad it is at the moment, I am not sure whether it's helping or hindering.

Thanks again to all for your help. I would just like to know what the cause is for me!

Guttate psoriasis? Absolutely enraging itching especially at night - a remarkably easy fix with a steroid foam and moisturiser.

@EdithStourton -> googling.

I have red, raised patches of rough skin and what looks like little tiny bumps in my inner labia, and the itch is un-bear-able.
I posted earlier. This descibes exactly what I had, plus tiny cuts like paper cuts.
Never got a diagnosis as it was managed with steroid cream and then zerobase. The cuts heal well with a layer of good old sudocrem but that does dry things more so I only apply until it's healed then moisturise.

This sounds like my dd. Much better after daily sudacreme. Gp gave hydrocortisone and an emollient to wash with. Avoid tight clothes.

If it is that, mine sometimes thinks of making a return and I slap on some moisturiser and it goes way again.

I don't understand why people go to the gp for this stuff and have to do the process of elimination, that takes ages and makes you suffer. It doesn't make any sense.

Go to your GUM clinic. It's their area and not all about STDs. You'll get sorted a lot quicker. They have the power to refer.

I didn’t see anyone about it no. I did have some red sore areas and on occasion a small split in the skin which as you know are extremely painful! I believe mine was just down to vaginal dryness due to menopause. I found sudocrem very good for the soreness but since using aquaeous cream I have had no need to use anything else.

Also, on the subject of hippy, hypoallergenic laundry detergents, which ones do you use? It's difficult to judge from the labels! @Geranen - you mentioned this helped you. Which do you use? I am so keen to NOT use anything that might make this bloody thing worse.

Thank you all. I am fighting with my savage desire to SCRATCH.