please Help: Redness and skin irritation

[worried0103]

I hope you can help.

Current condition: no itch or abnormal discharge just very red vaginal area (lips) and surronding..

Background info:

Dec 09 was diagnosed with BV infection took 7 day course of flagy. sympotms cleared but returned in a month..thought it was yeast so took monistat 7 days..sympotms cleared but still felt minor itch and burning..so the doc called one pill called Difuucan it didnt do anything minor itch was still there.

Went to another doctor in mid Feb 10 and she did test for yeast BV and ghnoorea and chalmidia and trich all negative..she prescibed me 4 pills of diffucan to take one every three days and also precribed me the cream clotrimazole betamethasone diproprionate to use twice a day..i did use it 2x for over a week but stopped using it for two days and used vagisil around the vagina lips and area but a lil relief ..For the past week i keep looking down there and in the mirror i can see the area is so red and cant tell if its inflamed or not...it doesnt hutrt..and there is no itch or anything just slight burning sensation when i use the cream..I have reapplied the clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate cream today i have nothing else to turn to..should i continue to use the prescibed cream or use vagisil?

I use cotton underwear, dont use soap or douches or anything like that..dont wear underwear at night to "air it out"  I just dont know what this could be from since the test are negative and there is no itch or discharge...

Could you please tell me something..i am just scared and dont want to overlook it incase it is something very serious..i am getting married soon also havent had sex in 2 months so i know its not because of condom irrritation or anthing.


Thanks a million
sorry for spelling area

[worried0103]

Thanks for your post. As I mentioned in my original post, I have been to a gynec and have been tested for the common STD's including Chlamydia, thrush, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis. There is no itching and no discharge. I was given a strong steroid cream called clotrimazole/betamethasone diproprionate to apply twice a day. As of the past two days i have stopped using all kinds of creams and medications. I have also gone and seen another gnec and she retested me for all the above STD's and thrush and Bacterial infection. She told me everyhting was fine and now my skin may just be irritated due to steriod cream. Both gynec told me to ignore this issue as their is no sympotms for anything and since the vagina area and lips are just red it will take time and will heal on its own..I am just concern if that is normal.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Red itchy vagina can be due to a number of causes. First of all it can be due to allergic reaction or contact dermatitis to your undergarments, sanitary napkins or tampons, soaps etc.There is no change in the color or smell of discharge in this case.

Secondly, It can be due to STD’s like Chlamydia or thrush(red,sore,itchy vagina along with pain during sex and slight increase in the vaginal discharge may be present), Gonorrhea(Itchy, red, or swollen vagina and Pain during intercourse, urinating or abdominal pain may be present),Trichomoniasis(red, very itchy vagina along with greenish, frothy discharge is present) or Lichen sclerosis which is a non-infectious inflammatory skin disorder which affects the vulval and perianal skin(Symptoms include itchy, sore and inflamed vulval skin which cracks, causing additional pain and stinging and treated with a strong steroid cream).All of them except lichen planus can be transmitted after oral or vaginal unprotected sex.

My sincere advice would be to get these possibilities ruled out from a gynecologist. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.