So, I've been in Vietnam now for just over a month. Haven't had any itching, but the white plaque has expanded and looked like a bit more fusing had occured. Panic set in and of course I was trying not to. However, now that we're here, my husband has been able to start doing more research to help me. And he came across some stuff about borax. So we started an experiment 6 days ago. Not using any steroids, but instead each morning and night he's applying to one side a saturated borax solution and the other side a saturated baking soda solution (as we'd read that some people found baking soda helpful). We've been taking photos in order to compare as we progress. As mentioned, we are on day 6 and there is honestly some change! My clitoris which was quite white has returned to pink. And while the whole area still has some white, the pink is really starting to move in more. The biggest changes are on the side with the borax, with some change on the side with the baking soda (but since some of the borax can get rubbed off on that baking soda side we can't say for certain that the baking soda is having a major effect). We are feeling optimistic about this and I will keep everyone posted. During the day I do continue to add vitamin E oil to keep moisturized.
What is your solution of borax? I read that it's comparably alkaline to baking soda. We've had a couple of mishaps here from people assuming more would be better. Both are very strong and abrasive full strength. There's also discussion online of the frequent confusion of natural borax powder with the pesticide borid acid and also boron.
I would be interested to know what kind of solution you have made. Is it baking soda/borax in water? How much of each?
Essentially what my husband did was a concentrate - he slowly added borax to water, stirring and dissolving until the borax would no longer disolve. It's called a saturated solution. He did the same with the baking soda. For application purposes he dipped a q-tip into the solution and applied it to the affected area. We read up quite extensively on the subject, and also read that many people are getting borax and boric acid confused (and boron). So people definitely need to make sure they're getting the right thing.
As mentioned above, my husband made a "saturated solution" of each. So one of borax/water and one of baking soda/water. Essentially he slowly added each to water, stirring to disolve and until it wouldn't disolve any further. The amount will be dependent upon how much water you're using, or how much solution you make. For application he dipped a q-tip into the solution and applied it to the lichen. We never soaked in it, just wet the area and then allowed it to dry. Once in the morning and once in the evening. It's been 6 days and there's definitely a difference and it's just surreal to the see the colour coming back. And to see no white on my clitoris...my vag has been white for so long, I don't even remember what it should look like normally, this is pretty wild. I'll post another update in a week.
Hi Alistar,
Thank you so much for sharing this very hopeful treatment. Could you tell me what the consistency of your borax solution is? Is it closer to a paste, or very thin like milk? Also, just to confirm, is the borax you are using sodium borate?
Anna
Probably as wild as when I discovered by accident that baking soda rinses made the fusing disappear. It's great to hear of this success.
Yes, sodium borate...definitely do not use boric acid nor boron. As for the consistency, it's still very, very water like. Just slowly add the borax and stir to disolve. Once it's disolve add more until you find some of the borax is starting to settle at the bottom without disolving. At that point the water and borax have become a saturated solution. My husband then just dipped a q-tip in the solution and applied it to the lichen, and we let it air dry. Twice a day. I was a tad nervous to try this as it meant stepping away from the steroids at a time when the lichen seemed to be progressing. But we did decide that if no improvement was shown after 2 weeks we'd stop. But half way in and there's definite signs of improvement, much more than when I use a steroid cream.
The baking soda hasn't made my fusing disappear, but I wonder if it's due to the type of application we're doing. Your rinses, did you use a spray bottle of baking soda/water, or did you soak?
I do baking soda rinses and baths. Plus I eat as much as possible alkaline. All together have made a difference.
Great news. Thanks so much for sharing it! Will look forward to your updates.
Just wanted to give an update: things are progressing pretty incredibly. I was feeling a bit of stinging the other day, right in the area where I have a bit of fusing. What we've come to discover is that the fusing appears to be coming apart! The pink has returned about 60-70%. We decided to stop using the baking soda as progress was at a standstill with it while the borax (sodium bicarbonate NOT boron nor boric acid) was making good progress. As mentioned we're treating once in the morning and again at night. We've been taking pictures at both times as well and the comparison between now and the start is quite dramatic.
Hi Alistar,
Exciting news about the sodium borate! I’ve ordered some online and can’t wait to try it. Bless you for sharing this.
Anna
We can't stop looking at the pictures and comparing. Be sure to do that if you can. The last couple of days my husband has soaked a small cloth that he'll place over the entire area and press it up against it. We've left it on like that for about 30 minutes (he doesn't hold it in place, we just lay it there). But I think applying by qtip was what has done the trick with the fusing. I hope you have some success!! Definitely let me know and I'll of course keep posting here about how things continue to progress for myself 
So I've abandoned the baking soda. The difference between the two sides was just so drastic that I felt like I didn't want to waste any more time and start treating the baking soda side with borax. I've not seen my bits this pink in I don't know how long? It's a shame I'm not still in Canada because I would have loved to have gone to my gyno and shown her to see what she would have to say!
Once the right side has caught up to the left, I will probably apply the borax once a week for a while and eventually stop to see how my body reacts. I will continue to apply vitamin E and jojoba oil though, important to keep moisturizing!
Hi Alistar,
I received my sodium borate (borax) a few days ago. While waiting, I've been taking baths every night and sprinkling in some baking soda. Also, I've been applying coconut oil a couple of times a day. When I began the borax treatment and examined myself, I was shocked to see that I had already begun to heal. I've been applying the borax solution with a q-tip twice a day and each day I look better. The bright white areas have now become pinkish and my tissues are softer and plumper. It's such a happy surprise, it made me cry.
Will continue the borax treatment until I'm completely normal, then will cut back. By the way, I read on line that many people swear by emu oil, so I've ordered some. It's pricey so if the coconut oil, etc works, I probably won't need to buy the emu oil in the future.
Anna
Yay! I'm so happy to hear that this working for you too Anna! It's still so hard for me to believe that is, but like you, every time we look it's getting better and better. Hopefully others will give this a try and we'll continue to hear positive results. I've heard a little bit about emu oil, but I think it'll be hard for me to get ahold of here in Vietnam. So in the meantime I'll stick to my vitamin e and jojoba oil + essential oil mix.
Hello Alistar,
Thank God for the brave women on this site who have shared their stories and treatments. I've learned more here than from my ob/gyn and other websites put together. Also, it's so comforting to know we are not alone in this.
I'll let you know if the emu oil is worth the extra price.
Anna
Hi
Thank you for sharing your treatment. Can you and Anna please keep updating on your experience with the Borax solution? Also are you able to share where your husbands research came from on the net?
thank you!
Hi Jane,
Alistar deserves all the credit for discovering this. Per her advice, I’ve been using the borax treatment for about 5 days now. Each day my tissues show improvement, and I’m thrilled. I think it may take another week or two for complete remission if I keep at it and also watch my diet and my stress level. I just broke up with my boyfriend, so it’s a struggle at the moment to keep a healthy/peaceful mind and body.
I also soak in a bath with baking soda every night, and use coconut oil a few times a day (will be trying emu oil soon).
Will post again if I notice any significant changes, or if/when I am completely cleared of this.
Anna