I have read and was told by a Dr. that this can be caused by the hormone estradiol being too low. Estradiol is the lowest in your cycle at the time of your period. Which makes sense that it often flares up around that time. Apparently the low levels of estradiol make you more prone to yeast infections, so you can end up with cracks and yeast together. To treat this I have used bioidentical estradiol, done yeast cleanses, taken probiotics, and used coconut oil as lubricant which I love! KY was making it worse. Good Luck!
That sounds quite sensible indeed for a long term health plan. Thank you. Truthfully, this country needs to provide good, cheap healthcare advice to the masses because expensive doctor visits and experimental strong drugs just doesn't cut it.
Try bepathem, its basically a disfectant cream for down there. it is usually used for nappy rash but works for everything
My doctor says it is from too much sex and since I have sensitive skin and the vagina is the most sensitive area on the body then it will react more harshly to things
I (like all of you) have had this on and off for the past couple years. Someone posted something about being allergic to toilet paper, I had never thought about that. What I am going to try though is a probiotic called Florajen (you can get it at your pharmacy). I get yeast infections more regularly than I would like and My Gyno recommended I try Florajen during my last visit when I had complained about this. I'm also on birth control, which she says is causing an imbalance of flora in the vagina which in turn causes the yeast infections. This may be why some of you are experiencing this close to your period, when certain chemicals are more present than others? I'm not entirely sure. But I tried a sample of it and it helped put things back in balance for the time being, I didn't try it long enough to see if it would help with the cracking skin though. Planning on it! So glad I'm not alone on this...
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THE CONDITION: I had this on my outer vulva (where hair grows, but just below the curve of pubic bone) for 2 years, 1st year on one side, second year on another side. Labia minora clitoris and vagina are intact.
My condition started 2 yrs ago after getting brazilian style waxing. I was not sexually active then but I was in the past. Thinking a remote hypothesis that some kind of infection was contracted while waxing (for u it could be shaving), I went and got tested for STDs and pap smear. All tests were negative. My skin would just itch like anything and turn white, n then peel off. To be on safe side the doc gave me 3 fluconazole tablets. I also tried all possible topical anti-fungal creams But no change in the condition. I also tried Betadine ointment to prevent the cracks from getting infected. Then I tried a lengthier oral antifungal combined with antibiotics medication that lasted for a 15 days. I continued topical creams as well. I replaced soap with Vagisil wash, victoria secret's hip huggers to fruit of the loom cotton panties (one size bigger than i would wear), and apply cream every morning and night.
I noticed that during my period if I wash there with water every time I change pads (exactly 4 hours heavy days and 6 hours milder days), my skin did not peel or itch. But once my bleeding stopped the cracked dry skin came back again. It had been 1 year and 11 months doing the trial and error. After getting a family person's advice I went to planned parenthood and found I had lichen simplex chronicus. A very remarkable symptom the doc said was specific to lichen was elephant like skin- thick and wrinkled and darkened due to continuous irritation and peeling and scratching for long time. The Doc prescribed me steroid cream. I completed two years now exactly with the condition. She asked me to get a consult from dermatologist and get a biopsy done to find if it has entered cancer or sclerosus phase. She told me what I had was milder than lichen sclerosus. I am still not using steroid cream as I am afraid it will have side effect.
The next day after getting diagnosed I started using AQUAPHOR healing cream. It worked wonders. My peeling skin stopped but itching would not go away. I figured its the itching form healing skin. Its been 3 weeks now and the itching is going down. The day I don't apply Aquaphor, it goes dry again. I use Nivea extra moistening body wash externally. My skin texture has become normal like it was before I got waxed two years ago. I now believe I was misdiagnosed with lichen. If I go to a dermatologist I don't believe they will even think of lichen as a possibility.
MY TWO CENTS: I think as grown women we have to take care of vulval skin (only the part where hair grows, do not go near vaginal opening) like face; with daily cleansing, exfoliating (weekly, bi weekly) and moisturizing. I do not wax or shave anymore, I use scissors for trimming as close to skin as possible. (hell, we don't shave our faces, waxing there to me is dangerous! Don't want to take any chances until I get babies.) My water intake is more than required and since past 4 months I have started eating two fruits daily without fail. I am planning to do yoga daily to improve my circulation there.
The whole point of the story is ladies, have patience. Lichen comes after you have medically ruled out all the possibilities and cancer comes even later. No need to panic. But do not wait like I did, get on your feet and get an appointment with a dermatologist, Gynec will probably not help u out here. For those women whose conditions worsen after sex or around that time of month may consult a gynec.
Nice sharing with you and get well soon. C'' l8r.
I've been suffering with this for last couple of months but typically every time I went to docs it had cleared up. Managed to get a docs appointment when it was there and she said it was because the skin was so dry. I suffer with very dry skin and had eczema really bad as a child. She prescribed me a shower wash called 'Dermoll 200'. It contains no soap or perfumes. She also said to only use water based lubes but to be careful as some do contain E numbers which she said could trigger a reaction for me. I've been using the wash for 3 days now and my skin is so much better and the splitting has pretty much healed. Best 7 quid I ever spent!
There are several different types of yeast infections, the type you're all talking about is caused from an overgrowth of the fungi Candida. Candida exsists in the intestines of everyone, it aids in digestion. In some people, however, an overgrowth may be caused. They are a PAIN to get rid of, and if you do';t do it properly, they'll just keep coming back. They can appear as a white coating over the tongue or thrush on any moist area of the body (i.e. vagina, feet, mouth, armpits)
I had one for years until I finally realized I had let it go on for too long. I tried monistat three times finally realized it wasn't working. So, I researched it a lot and found out about the candida. It is a process, but if you follow it to a T, you should see results a couple of weeks.
1. No caffeine, sugar of any type (brown, honey, agave, molasses, NOTHING), or wheat/yeast.
2. Drink a lot of water, I'm talking so much your pee just looks like water
3. buy a cortizone or antifungal cream for an instant relief (I bought a large tube and kept some in a ziploc baggie in my purse for convenience and no embarrassment from packaging)
4. go to health food/vitamin/homeopathic store and get a "candida cleanse". Normally kinda pricey anywhere between $30-$100 and about a week long
5.when you're done with the cleanse take some acidophilus (if you can find it with cellulase, it would be best) this normally runs $20-30 and its a specialty so they'll have it at the same place you get the cleanse.
6. don't wear pantiliners, they'll only irritate. pure cotton undies only, if you get discharge on them, you'll just have to change them. Also, NEVER EVER wear thongs/g strings.
I had results in two weeks and was completely healed after three months since I found out later mine was systematic. Good luck!
So glad I found this post.i have been getting this itch an burning and also very dry skin outer lips I should say.tried everything.went to my doctor she said it was hormones.so now I'm on hormone cream.did not really work.so I could not stand the itch.in came destin.yes deist in works great.but a new product balmex adult care cream.does not cure it but keeps it at bay.hope this helps.if anything is made to get rid of it all together please post.
This is happening to me too. Swollen left labia minora and now the skin is cracking. No discharge. Just itching. I am taking an antibiotic for sinuses too. I'm guessing that's why. But it's super scary and I'm so sad. I've never seen my vagina look like this. It's terrible. The Monistat 3 day soothed the itching. I still feel it mildly. I think the swelling went down a little but I have cracked skin now. I just want it to be over. Are their any good creams to put on my labia to get rid of the cracked skin? I've never had an external yeast infection in my life. I know for a fact it's this crappy medicine.
:-(
corn startch and apply this every night before bed it will keep it dry , and less painful . the more it stays moist. the lesser the chanses r that it will heal properly .
So do I. Sometimes it bleeds. I am 59 and the htr and estrace don't help.
I meant HRT
I put antibiotic cream on it. Going to doctor again next week.