Vulval Itching

[kate24601]

Not sure if it's endo related but I'm so itchy I feel like clawing my skin off! I've had this for a while in waves but have never found it related to anything hormonal or diet related, and it's driving me insane! Tried E45, petroleum jelly, even been given steroid creams and nothing is touching it. The skin is dry and scaly but the itch feels like it comes from underneath the skin and I'm waking up in the night itching despite wearing socks on my hands. Any suggestions??

[Pixie_Pumpin35]

Hello Kate

This sounds awful. I don’t feel like I can help much. Are you wearing sanitary towels a lot? Could you be having a reaction to them if you are? Have you tried none perfumed free products to wash with? Natural yoghurt is good for thrush, could it help with this to help cool and calm the itching?

I hope you find something that helps xx

[kate24601 in reply to Pixie_Pumpin35]

I wear pads for about 5 days when I'm on, but the itching is usually manageable these days, I used to wear Always but I did react super bad to those! I wash with aqueous cream after the gynae told me to 4 years or so back but it comes and goes in waves. I think it might be stress related even though I dont feel particularly stressed right now! I've shaved the whole area and slathered it in vaseline and it seems to have done the trick for the flakey skin but the internal itching feeling is still there annoyingly! x

[Sweetyassi]

Hi,

It sounds like you have thrush, I used to get very itchy. I'm on antibiotics which I take every other day. Been on them for a year now and they have helped stop the thrush.

Sweety.

[kate24601 in reply to Sweetyassi]

I've tried all sorts of anti biotics for thrush over the last few years but have't found one that seems to work for me, are there lots if different types? I found that this is the worst patch I've had since the start of this year, but I can't find anything that makes the period of itching start!!

[Sweetyassi in reply to kate24601]

Hi,

I had endo inside my bladder which was causing infection, nothing worked for me not even antibiotics until I had the endo removed its been a year for me taking antibiotics and to be honest I have moments when I think it's all coming back.

You need to go back to your gp and tell him/her. Do you get burning sensation with the itching?

Sweety

[geekybird in reply to Sweetyassi]

I'm slightly confused by this as thrush is fungal, not bacterial. My understanding is that if you have thrush in your system antibiotics (for other things) kills the good bacteria that keep it in check, so antibiotics are known as a potential cause of thrush overgrowth rather than being of any help against it.

[Sweetyassi in reply to geekybird]

Hi yes, antibiotics can make thrush worse or cause thrush, especially if you are on antibiotics for a long time.

Sweety

[geekybird in reply to Sweetyassi]

Note, if you have bacterial vaginosis which can also cause itching, rather than thrush, then presumably antibiotics could help. This usually comes with a 'fishy' odour.

[Thecraftyadder]

I see you included the tag psoriasis. Have you been diagnosed with that? Because I understand this is one of the areas it can like to attack! I know from experience that the itching from a patch of psoriasis can make you want to rip your skin off! I use Aveeno dermexa to wash with now as its sulphate free unlike aqueous cream that I used before so gentler. One thingI've found great for rash and itching in delicate places is coconut oil. Its really soothing, reduces the itch, mosturises and the natural acids in it remove the flaky skin. Also my gp suggested taking antihistamines to calm some of the itching (I've had a bad year of it since my endo surgery) should finally be seeing a dermatologist in January.

[kate24601 in reply to Thecraftyadder]

I 100% didn't include any of those tags haha, must have automatically added them based on what I wrote as only became aware of them just now! However it does seem to fit as I have other patches on my body of dry flaky skin that all seem to flare up at the same time! I'll definitely give coconut oil and anti histamines a try, now the flaky skin has cleared up the itch feels like it's under my skin and it's making me twitchy and driving me absolutely crazy! x

[Thecraftyadder in reply to kate24601]

You can get eczema or psoriasis in that area. Stress can make them flare up or getting run down (battling endometriosis doesn't help us with that does it!) Hope you find some relief soon!

[geekybird]

I'm not sure I have any helpful advice but just wanted to say you're not alone as I have problems with recurrent / ongoing vulval itching, so I understand how you're feeling. I thought my issue might have been related to using pads but haven't seen any improvement since I stopped using them after my hysterectomy 6 months ago. Steriod cream does at least bring me some relief on occasion but if it gets really bad the only thing that helps is sitting on ice packs! (I use the fabric ones, wrapped in a fluffy sock). After visiting my local GUM clinic again in desperation and being told, as usual, there's no obvious abnormality, I've been referred to a vulval dermatologist. Perhaps they may also be able to help you? I hope you get some help soon as I know it can be very distressing.