Skin splitting every few weeks

[sobs1962]

Hi all, the skin on my mons pubis keeps splitting and is painful. I use sudocrem to heal it for about 5 days, then a few weeks later it happens again. When I wee, I pour 3 small cups of warm water over the entire area and dab dry with very soft tissues, so can't understand why this keeps happening. I have noticed though that my pubic hair is hard and brittle and wondered could it be that which is causing the problem. I have Hashimotos and wonder if that's contributing and also vaginal atrophy for which Vagifem has been prescribed. Any advice would be most welcome.

[Ratton726]

You need to see a Dermatologist for your painful condition in your intimate areas!-(I did get an appointment to see Dermatologist) when having problems in that area-

make it an urgent request at your GP surgery! Don't give up too easily with your urgent need to be seen!

[sobs1962 in reply to Ratton726]

Have seen a dermatologist and my diagnosis is "likely contact dermatitis ". Thought it was lichen planus or lichen sclerosis but supposedly he's the expert. Just need to keep doing what I've been doing and using daktacort when necessary as no cure, only management.

[AndrewT]

Dear sobs1962,

I am a Man but might be able to Help.... I'm going to recommend that you speak to your Pharmacist, with a view to buying a Vaginal Dosh/ or Wash- with a Ph of about five- I believe this is 'about' a vagina's natural level. Strangely, and an Ex girlfriend is Testament to this, too much Washing, Cleaning and so on can actually Damage The 'Membrane'. Normal Soaps are often Alkaline, in nature, The 'Thickening', that you describe, would be 'in keeping' with this fact.

I notice that you suffix, your 'name' with 1962, was it the year that you were born? If so Snap... I'm fifty-nine too. Forgive my 'intrusion', it's just that your Post 'Struck a Cord'. Sending you my

Very Best wishes

AndrewT

[sobs1962 in reply to AndrewT]

Thanks for reply, yes I was born in 1962 and the problems I have been having are due mainly because I'm post menopausal, but have been diagnosed with contact dermatitis and the fact I have hypothyroidism is only aggrevating the whole situation. If I come back in another life, I'm coming back as a man, once you're beyond your child bearing years,it all goes seriously downhill.

[Tranquilwaters in reply to sobs1962]

Have you thought of asking to try HRT? It's likely you have vaginal atrophy and vagifem may not be enough. Guidelines have changed on HRT now, and if your symptoms are due to estrogen deficiency which they sound like they are, you should be offered the chance to at least try it to see if it improves things for you.

[sobs1962 in reply to Tranquilwaters]

I am very hesitant to use HRT due to risks of cancer and I know the risks are not as high as used to be thought, and had a hysteroscopy in February and it was during this procedure they could see I had vaginal atrophy and that was when they prescribed the vagifem. Used the pessaries for 3 months and stopped in May as GP advised to use in a 3 months on,3 months off cycle. Have an appointment this week to see doctor, as the pain around the entrance to my vagina is practically constant and gets very itchy, I scratch and the skin splits, it's a bit of a vicious cycle, hoping they'll refer me to the Vulval clinic at my local hospital. Thanks for reply, if they suggest HRT, I will definitely think about it but only if it's suitable for me.