Vaginal dermatitis or not?

[lilsmitty]

I have a vaginal infection. I have had this problem for approx 20 years.  A nurse diagnosed me about 11 years ago and prescribed a topical .05% cream i put on it. I never had to apply the cream twice. It always worked the first time.

the symptoms are: severe itching. My labia cracks open and my mucous membrane is raw.  I have to get in the shower to urinate.

The stinging is unbearable.

It is not dermatitis. it is not lichen, it is not anything normally listed under female gynological problems. I lost the cream in a move. I have tried to get my records from my insurance who I no longer have, and they have been archived.

Can someone help me? it is ruining my life. it seems to me that the topical ointment was a steroid of somekind. I found it once on a Rx company website. its nothing normally prescribed for any female problems. Trust me I have tried the ALL.  

The nurse wsa the only person that ever helped me with this.  She took one look and told me what it was and prescribed the cream. I was so happy I cried. Now, I am back to square one.  

Help please, if someone knows what I have let me know. Also from what I remember, it's something I would have to live with for the rest of my life, but it was controlled by the cream she gave me. She told me when I had a slight problem, put it on. or if I felt it coming on with the itching, use the cream. She was right on.

[booboo1]

This sounds like the problem I have.  Have you figured out what it was and what the cream was?  I would REALLY appreciate the info.

Thanks so much!

[Destyni]

Not sure if Elidel is prescribed for this or not.  I have a prescription for it because I have eczema.  I get it on my face and sometimes elbows.  So now it seems like I have it vaginally too.  I am also in menopause as I had a hysterectomy. I tried all the meds for yeast and BV. Nothing made it feel better. The itch was out of this world. So I got desperate and tried my elidel. It burned at first and made it feel sort of numb.  It is like a steroid cream, just without the actual steroid so I figured what the heck.  Now I can say it is the ONLY thing that actually works. I can go for days itch free.  Then when it starts to itch, I put it on again and I am again itch free.  So maybe something to explore. It sure made a difference in my mental state as I do not feel crazy depserate anymore.

[heatheraki]

I can really sympathise with the pain you are going through. I've had this condition for four years now and its a living hell.
After becoming allergic to all other prescribed creams, the only thing I'm allowed to put on is dermovate and thats in very limited quantities.
Initially there is some relief but since you are only allowed to put this on once a day it doesn't take long to be in agony again.
If you also suffer from swelling and burning on the inside as I do then you can get some relief from inserting natural yoghurt. The cooling sensation is sheer heaven, especially when its burning so much you dont know what to do with yourself.
I've been on a yeast diet and nickel since I'm allergic to that too... but the flare ups keep coming and I have to say they really get you down.
Sometimes the labia swell to an unbelieavable degree, and when I have that, plus raw, peeling skin its horrendous. So if there is anyone out there who has found anything that can make a difference... please pass it on and help the rest of us get a quality of life back.
I wish that I had an answer for you but you could at least go down the road of using the dermovate. Better than nothing I reckon.

[twinkle97]

I have had a similar problem for about a year and a half.  Although my  symtoms are not as severe as some have described, it's really starting to get to me.  I've been prescribed numerous steroid creams, the last being dermovate.  None worked.  Two weeks ago I got some herbal liquid from a chinese herbal doctor which most towns have now.  You mix the liquid with water and wash with it.  The symtoms haven't completely gone, however irritation less frequent and the redness has reduced so I'm hopeful that it will do the job eventually as it's the only thing thats made any difference.  It's called JIE ER YIN XI YE.  If you google search then you can get more info.

[drivingmemental]

i have had the same condition for about 15yrs and lately it has become so bad it is unbearable. i was prescribed a cortisone cream 'Elocon' 0.1% and lately it hasn't been helping as much as it seemed to. i am aware that your body gets used to medications over time and also cortisone shouldn't be used for long periods. If anyone can suggest anything i would greatly appreciate it. I have been to a couple of GP's over the years and felt humiliated each time. All they could suggest was "wash in chamonile tea" "wear cotton underwear or none at all" "reduce caffiene and any preservatives from diet" which i tried but without any change to the condition. the Elocon cream tended to reduce the symptons for a few days but it would flare up again. In desparation i have tried my children's itch cream Eurax cream  which helped a little but doesn't last long. i scratch in my sleep and wake up with lacerations so bad that i can hardly pee or walk properly the next day. sometimes the itching is so bad in the middle of the nigth that it wakes me up. I haven't been able to have sex for months either. I want to get a referral to a dermatologist but am worried i will be humiliated, treated like i have some weird disease or treated for thrush, or told to just bath in tea! Does anyone know if this has a name?

[trac777]

An autoimmune disease called Behcet's Syndrome's initial symptoms closely resemble the herpes virus, causing vaginal sores, cuts, fissures, folliculitis and or inflammation in the genital area. Other symptoms develop many years later. I believe that many of you have this illness at varied degrees. It is different in everyone who has it. Your body is basically allergicly reacting to things around you. Your immune system is in over drive, it is an autoimmune disorder caused by enviromental damage to your immune system. It can not be fixed. It could get better or worse, depending on how well you take care of yourselves and how well you are treated.

. My symptoms started at age fifteen with itching, inflammation, then folliculitis (ingrown hairs), then cuts all over from time to time. It is different for everyone who has it. Some people just have inflammation where others may get cuts, or sores aswell. Folliculitis is a type of acne and is very common in Behcet's and occurs during or before a "flare" and can be on the face or anywhere. Chronic yeast infections and BV come hand and hand with Behcet's because it is a immune system disorder that weakens the immune system because the immune system is working in over drive. You are now allergic to more things. It is not contagious and it doesn't run in families. Researchers around the world think it is triggered by strep throat or from other enviromental causes, which permanitally damaged the immune system. It has been proven to not be genetic. Gential to Gential contact will cause a reaction "flare" in these people, so will a common illness, injury, or stress. It is very important for people who have this to rest often, use condoms, and take good care of themselves to avoid flares. They will also need medication like steriods and or immune suppressants, depending on their case.  Someone who needs a lot of medication to start, might not need that much with a little time. Common symptoms later in the disease, if it goes untreated, are digestive symptoms, bowel inflammation, possible bladder inflammation that feels like a bladder infection, arthritis, fibromyalga, and very late in the disease serious eye inflammation and possibly central nervous system involvement. People rarely die from this illness, the main thing a person has to be worried about is quality of life. That why you want to be proactive, not scared. This disease can be managed if properly treated.

For about ten years I had the gential symptoms and was sure it was herpes and never mentioned it to my doctors again. None of the medication for herpes had ever helped me and I also noticed my husband never got sick from me. The inflammation was the worst and I was using hydrocortisone on my own by then for some relief.

I started having other symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue. Then after I had two children my symptoms got a lot worse. FIbromyalga, Interstitial Cystitis, Epi-