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Vaginal dermatitis or not?

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 I have tried to get my records from my insurance who I no longer have, and they have been archived.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.
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Avatar universal
You could have hyper keratosis
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4198403 tn?1350941355
Has anybody been diagnosed with Lupus! I have this itchyness and soars down there to and osteoparosis too! Please let me know:) They gave me a shot of vitamine B today,it seems to be working :)  ouch!!!
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Avatar universal
I was just put on something ling you are taking about it is called Clobetasol Propionate Ointment .o5%.  Works great.
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Avatar universal
I recently experienced something similar. My GYN prescribed Clobetasol E 0.05% 60 grams and told me to use 2x/day for 2 weeks.
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Avatar universal
I also have unexplained burning, itching, dryness, swelling, rawness and sensitivity.  I am working with a gyn now to see if we can find something to help relieve the symptoms.  I was prescribed clobetasol propitiate BUT was not told that if you use it too much it can cause thinning of the skin and permanent bruising.  I learned this AFTER I had used it for months on end and now have little purple bruises all over my vagina.  SO if you are using it and it is helping just beware that when the dermatologist prescribed it to my daughter to use on her eczema (this is when I learned the side effects) he explained to use it for two weeks and then stop for two weeks to avoid the bruising and thinning skin.  I am in the middle of allergy testing, actually have a second panel tomorrow, to find out what is causing my severe allergies. they are pretty bad and I am convinced that my allergies are the culprits for many of my issues.  Plus I have sensitive skin in general so there is no surprise that my vagina is sensitive too.  So are my nipples.  Gonna look into this Bechet's as well as Sjogrens disease, sorry the spelling may be wrong.
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Avatar universal
I also have had this same prob b4.. I used to get it VERY regularly, and was always treated by the dr for thrush, which never really made the symptoms go away..
Finally I went to a female GP and told her of my problem, and that thrush treatments never work.. She had one look close look thru the magnifying lamp and told me straight away that I had a form of vaginal dermititis!
She prescribed me a cream called DIPROSONE 0.05%.. This stuff is Magic! Just one tiny little amount applied to the area gave instant relief and within days the symptoms were GONE!! Since the first prescription 4 yrs ago, Ive only had to get one more tube, and havent had a prob since!
I did stop using normal soaps and body washes in the vaginal area though, as it seemed to flare it up.. I switched to QV soap free wash.
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Avatar universal
Not sure if you all are talking about vaginal dermititis or not but I'm actually 13 wks pregnant and went for my first ob appt last week. I hnever pay much attention to things unless they get really bothersome but my doctor informed me that I have this condition. She said I've probably had it for a while and it's funny because when I was pregnant with my first child I was diagnosed with many yeast infections and she told me that is was probably misdiagnosed and was actually vaginal dermititis. She informed that is can flare up from anything to changing bath soap to using a new laundry detergent but prescribed me with a .05% cream clobetasol propionate and although I've only used it for a couple days I've noticed a major difference already. Not sure if this will help any of you all but it was worth a try.
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem as the first girl and I'm 15. I don't know what Its called but it swells and gets really sensitive for no reason. For days the swelling doesn't stop and I'm creeped out to tell my mom to go the gy-no. I wash regularly and I'm a virgin. Please help
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Avatar universal
Im coming back as a dismissive male G.P. with no bedside manner that specializes in mens health! Thank you to all the wonderful women that have shared their most intimate stories on this site.I have suffered from this painful condition since my late teens. I am now in my late forties.I have been accused of anything from sticking odd and varied objects up my vagina to being just plain psychotic.I have under gone many tests,unnecessary surgeries(one life threatening) and countless embarrassing doctors and specialists appointments. All to be told that this was a life long condition and to just live with it.********! I come from a medical background and have always had the utmost faith in western medicine so it took me a very long time to embrace the natural medicine side of things. After the loss of two marriages,many jobs due to taking too many sick days and an attempted suicide,I finally decided to contact a natureopath.Joy of joys! After acupuncture and some herbal tonics and topical treatments I am on my way to recovery.I urge anyone with this life debilitating condition to look outside the square. You just might find that  veil of despair lifting and believe me,the sun is shining on the other side.Good luck my brave comrades.
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Avatar universal
I have had problems with vaginal itching for years and my dr prescribed nystatin/triamcinolone/acetonide cream. I have also been prescribed Desonide which helped but the nystatin combo cream is better. I also take baking soda baths and these have given me some relief as well as taking antihistmines to help control the itching. At my last appt my dr suggested a biopsy to check for skin disease if the itching kept coming back so I think this is my next step. I'm making an appt with a gyno this week and I have an appt with a dermatologist next week. I hope info this helps!!
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Avatar universal
i had genital warts and discharge for a year now,,all anitbiotic i took from my physician is not working,,its keep on coming back,,what should i do? pls help me
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Avatar universal
After reading all your comments I feel I have something similar.  The cream I was prescribed was Betazole by my Gyn.  I apply it once and all the symptoms disappear.
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Avatar universal
Betnovate ointment! worked miracles for me...
I have been putting up with similar symptoms for years now.. unbearable itching, burning, and just contstant pain from being red raw.. At times it would make me cry, it affected work, driving, sleeping, everything! I couldn't sit still for more than a minute without having to run off and and try something, anything to stop the itching.  Anyhow..being 35 weeks pregnant my OB finally took a look! Hmmm Dermatitis he said..prescribed me Betnovate ointment, I rushed home to apply it and....Relief!!! omg finally! I've been using it now for 4 days and it seems to really be doing the trick, My skin down there feels smooth again finally, no sores from scrathing, no burning or stinging, nothing... Honestly if you have symptoms like these..ask your doc for a script for this stuff, it may just do the trick :)
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Avatar universal
It comforting to read others are in the same situation as me! I have just been to a dermatology centre. Localised atopic dermatitis was the most recent diagonis of the condition which really can be unbearable (Im sure you would all agree). So with all the usual advice, change toilet paper, washing powders, laundry liquids, tampons etc I have now been told to try this. Use betnovate 1/5 cream twice a day for 10 days straight. Then take 4 days off. Repeat if necessary. Then when the condition is not as itchy use a lower strength cream such as hydrocortisone1% for maintenance when necessary. As good as this all sounds... we shall see! Oh and the other advice is lower the stress...Easier said then done when you are always annoyed with it! Good Luck everyone.
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Avatar universal
Everyone with any type of dermatitis should consult a doctor and ask for allergy tests. Now there are two types, delayed and immediate. Often delayed allergies are the answer to many health problems. I am asthmatic and therefore have cut out lots of different ingredients ( though I have been bad and not followed the list properly!) Now I  have suddenly developed an invisible dermatitis on the entry of the vagina! I have tried what the doctor told me and changed toilet paper, soap, even my tampons are hyper allergenic! But it hasn't gone and I know that I have to take out the list of delayed allergies that are stored in my file. The thing with delayed allergies is that you don't feel a reaction. I for example have a delayed allergy to eggs. So if I eat them, at first nothing happens, then between 12-24 hours later i begin itching. Because its so mild I sometimes think what can one piece of cake do! There are no scabs or rashes, I just itch! I have a list of lots of other food intolerances and I guess its time to eliminate them all from my diet! If you try removing the contact allergies and nothing happens try food! It may be as simple as cutting out eggs!  Oh and by the way my asthma has gone from being hospitalized every two weeks to occurring once a year! By the way doctors don't often suggest this, it was a Chinese medicine doctor who suggested it at first. Also remember allergies and intolerances change with time, so if you were tested ten years ago get tested again!  Dermatitis is always caused by something, figure out what that is instead of just using cream! Good luck ladies!
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Avatar universal
clobetsol is what you are looking for.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
wow you really have helped me. i.ve felt like i'm really weird and have something wrong that no one else has.
from puberty on i have had fissures on the genital area, worse as i get older.( i am 20 now) in november of 2008 it got so bad i couldn't walk, my vagina was swollen, itchy and in soo much pain.skin was just falling off and there was raw sore spots that went down my thighs. i had horrible diarrhea, and constipation, along with being depressed and tired all the time. i have what i thought was cancor sores all the time so bad that i can't eat. you said nothing about menses cycle but mine is not regular at all. sex is almost impossible, only when the breakouts aren't around. different lubes irritate along with my own body lubrication.i saw a naturapathic physician for a while and cut out gluten and sugar and that seemed to help alot. but it seems to keep coming back. i'm frustrated and stressed about it and the stress only makes it worse.  i've had every STD test and they even took a skin biopsy which made it worse. the only thing they said was wrong with me is something about my white blood cells being abnormal, but the doctor said it was nothing too worrisome. they send me away saying they don't now what is wrong and to wear cotton underwear and don't use any soap. i have had this problem for 8 years now and have had no idea as to what it could be. it is slightly a relief to know i am not the only person who has this.
does it cause sterilization at know do you know?
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Avatar universal
was it called Kenalog ointment? that was the only thing that ever worked for me.
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Avatar universal
I just found this website a few weeks ago, and at first I thought I was the only one with this, the same symptons as you. I have alot of itchy spells burning when I urinate, it gets really raw and it hurts when I sit and it hurts when I walk. It is so painful at times I havent had sex since April 2008. I finally went to the doctor in 2008 and he told me I had vulvodynia, another word for vaginal dermatitis.It has been very depressing for the last year and a half for me and especially my husband when it comes to no sex. The doctor prescribed a steroid ointment Clobestol .05%. This maybe what you are talking about. I was also told to use only dove soap to wash in, to wash my underwear in baby laundry detergent or unscented or dye-free soap, unscented pads and tampons and not to wear underwear as much as possible while I was at home so air could get to it. The ointment worked as long as you keep using it but he said using to much could make it worst. I was told I had alot of scars inside thats why sex was so painful, he prescribed a pain pill to numb the nerves. Its been a tough road. To top it all off I was also told it was a life long condition too. If anybody else have any good advice please let me know. I understand been there done that.
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Avatar universal
Whatever you do, avoid Ky gel. This stuff has in it an ingredient that aggrivates even the slightest yeast infection. Canestan too can be a bit of a no no.I was prescribed months of the stuff for continuous thrush infections and ended up becoming allergic to it. What started as a simple bout of thrush ended up two years later with full blown vaginal dermatitis. ( or possibly Bechet's  disiease, having read the message left before.) Try epaderm, for body washing. really good product.
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Avatar universal
I broke out with this condition a few months ago and tried almost everything!
The doctor's knew nothing & treated it as a yeast infection which it was not, they gave me a perscription creme with canesten & hydrocort but said not to use it too much because it will thin your skin. Fluconazole helped but the infection just came right back.
So I suggested could it be diaper rash because it looked the same- blisters, red resh & cracking. They told me to use penatin diaper rash creme.
Witchazel only burns & stings, aloe vera jel doesn't really help.

What does help me is rinsing a few times a day with 10-20% apple cider vinegar in water ( use a squirt bottle or water bottle with the close top squirt lids). If it burns when you pee, use the squirt bottle at the same time to immediately wash off the urine. Then dry on cool with blowdryer. I use (AVEENO fragrance free diaper rash cream) which does wonders with healing up those blisters & cracking fast! You may want to wear pantyliners so you don't stick to your undies. I highly suggest trying this product, it must be the oat kernal extract with the other ingredients that does the trick!
Don't wear underwear to bed, you want to air it out at night. If you are at home a lot, try not to wear undies, again it needs to air out just like when parents let their kids go with no diapers to air out their rashes.
Don't use scented laundry soap, use unscented or for sensitive skin types. Or use just plain water in the machine. I was warned against using (no name) cheap brand maxi's too. Stick with unscented name brands you trust, just like with diapers on baby's.
Shaving can also cause you to break out! It could be the gel strips they added to razors nowadays. Personal shavers may also cause a breakout if you get too close to the skin.
Any scented or tingling lubricants can also cause irritations.
It seems to me this could be a new developed allergy from what I have been researching.
I also have Fibromyalgia & Rheumatoid arthritis, so there could be a connection.
Still have yet to find a way to get rid of this, but in the meantime I am using the above mentioned to keep outbreaks under control and want to get an allergy test done.
All these steps I am taking are a pain but it really helps a lot!
I hope this info helps all of you too.
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Avatar universal
WOW! I was very impressed with the very informative message you posted. One of my specialists suggested I had Behcet's Disease. She is treating me for Fibromyalgia ("diagnosed" a year ago).  I have been so uncomfortable in the vaginal area for 6 months now. At times it feels like sand paper was rubbed all over my Labia! I also notice pimple like sores as well. Everything you described is what I am experiencing. Before that I suffered (still do) from painful oral sores on my tongue, gums, and checks. At the request of my Neurologist, I saw my Gyno three days ago and she too suggested I may have Behcet's. She also called it Vaginal Dermititis. She prescribed an ointment (RX only), Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream - 0.1%. I have been using it these last three days and it does help. On top of all that, I have Interstitial Cystits (diagnosed 4
years ago). I have all female doctors who know one another and work together on my various problems. Oh, I also had a hysterectomy 8 years ago due to Cervial Dysplacia. It has been suggested that I inherited my father's autoimmune problems. He passed away 11 years ago from complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scheladerma (a horrible autoimmune disease that literally causes your organs to attack one another and thus slowly stop functioning all together.
I will see my Fibro doc next week and I plan to discuss what I read on this site. I continue to love life and live it to the fullest! I teach elementary school and love every minute of it. I am also enjoying my two precious grandchildren. I am too young (54 yrs.) to give up. I do what I need to and have to in order to cherish each moment all day long!
I will continue to visit this website for updates, help, etc.
Have a wonderful day and week!
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Avatar universal
Im 22 and pregnant with my first which is due in 7wks. For the last 4years I have been fighting constant BV and Thrush which I was able to manage with creams and fluconazole however since I have been pregnant my symptoms have become extreme. I am in a lot of pain all the time with excessive discharge and itching. None of the creams seem to help anymore and to make matters worse nothing will show up in swabs. It wasnt untill my sister in law said her mother had dermatitis and had always thought it was thrush. I enquired with my doctor who thinks that could be what Iv had all along but he cant treat it with anything untill after my baby is born. I would like to know why during my repeated trips to the gynacologyst this condition was never mentioned as a possibility.
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Avatar universal
Vaginitis: At age 19 to maybe 22 I had frequent bacterial vaginitis and yeast infections. They always responded to treatment but frequently recurred. My doctor at the time referred me to Dr. Sobel at Wayne State. It was recommended that I avoid anything that may produce an allergy. What worked for years was avoiding spermacide and only using J&J baby soap.
In 2006 I had a yeast infection for about 3 months. My doctor was Julie Masters of SJMO. What I figured out was that Tampax Pearl was the cause because I noticed cotton pieces shedding. I stopped those tampons and the infection went away.
Now…I’ve had vaginits for most of 2008. There has been only 3 short periods of time that I have been symptom free. I have tried to avoid anything that might cause an allergy. The first infection started with generic soap. I came to the doctor after approx 2 months of symptoms and was symptom free for only 2 weeks after taking diflucan and doxycycline.  The second infection was a quick recurrence and I think KY might have been the offending agent because the infection was bad a few days after KY.  This infection did not get better until I ended up taking 3 antibiotics in a row (doxy, zithro, and flagyl) and diflucan. While I took the flagyl and one week after I took it I had n/v/d and then developed abdominal pain so I went into WB-Troy to make sure nothing was wrong. All of my labs and stools were negative as far as I know, but the cat scan showed a 6mm nodule in the LLL. One week later I ended up with a UTI and took bactrim and diflucan actually 2 days apart times three and that worked. After that I was symptom free for 6 weeks. When I came back to the doctor after a month of symptoms that would react to and calm down a little bit with weekly diflucan I ended up with BV and yeast again. Since I had a bad experience with Flagyl the last time I insisted on another option. I took Clinda for a week it did nothing. Came back in and Dr. Stark told me to try Replense I had a horrible reaction. Next I ended up on 3 weeks of Flagyl. During that time I took diflucan once, repeated in 3 days repeated in one week and the next week I came back into the doctor cuz the infection did not get better. So then I tried a week of boric acid and ended up noticing oral thrush a week after the flagyl was done. Since then I’ve taken weekly diflucan. After the boric acid the odor went away but I was still draining. All of my symptoms soon returned, I started smelling quite offensive, back to the doctor and the latest was 3 weeks of boric acid. I stopped the weekly diflucan during that time and started it right after. I was symptom free for 2 weeks. Now I have a very uncomfortable infection  and discharge again… My appt with Dr. Sokel is not until January. It is not right that I should have to wait another 2 months. This is really distressing me. I feel like I’m begging for help and just getting band-aids. I have a boyfriend now that is really nice about all of this but I am completely embarrassed and ashamed even though I’m doing everything I can. Please help. This all makes me cry.
I visited the obgyn again Wednesday. He gave me the idea to test for celiac at an allergist. I really think that if I take diflucan every week and I don’t get better a yeast infection is not my problem it’s my symptom. So what is really wrong. I’ll test for anything.
I went to the allergist today and we talked about this and my plan is to try a new soap and avoid condoms and tampons. we'll see.
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