I have just started using Borax, after testing it on my arm for about a month. It seems to be working but I wonder if anyone knows how long it is safe to use it. Could it have any long term effects?
I've been using it for years in the bath, 1/4 to 1/2 cup; but now, as I can't get in and out of the bath, use 1/4 cup in a sitz bath which fits over the toilet.
Hi, personally i would not use it, after enquiring about it, it is banned in the uk, have you googled what borax actually is, I have spoken to many gyne consultants, who have said a big NO to using borax. i think your skin on your arm is less delicate than your vulva area. I wish you good luck.
Thank you both for your replies. Yes, I have googled it and understand what it is. I am in the UK too and got it through ebay. I am satisfied that what I bought is the correct stuff. I believe it is banned in the UK because ingesting it in large quantities can be harmful. I will only be using it externally (mostly).
Hi Fran,
I have been using Borax (externally) for about a year and a half now, and I thank God every day that Alistar told us all about it. I began by swabbing on a solution twice a day. Now that my fusing and white patches are gone, I do baths with 1/6 cup in a tub, or spray the solution on twice a day just as a precautionary maintenance. My healing is nothing short of miraculous, and my "architecture" has returned. So to answer your question about long term effects, I can say after a year and a half, my long term effect has been healing and reversal of LS symptoms.
One final thought - since LS is fairly uncommon, most doctors are not that familiar with treating it. Any doctor who advises not to use sodium borate, a naturally occurring mineral (borax) clearly has now idea how much it helps. They push steroids because that's all they know to do. Steroids have side effects. Borax (and baking soda) do not. I realize that some people with serious flare-ups may have sensitivity to borax when they first start out, but by using a very light solution they may be able to tolerate it until they improve and can increase the amount.
If you haven't already, please read the entire thread, An Experiment with Borax, for more details.
Hi, you mentioned that LS was uncommon, I was told by my gyne consultant that it was vey common especially in women who are post menopausal, also I have an old medical book bout 30 years old, it has several pages about LS & LP . I Think it should be spoken about more, as alot of women have it and may confuse it with thrush.
Thanks Anna, I have read the Borax thread. I am going to continue to use the Borax as it just felt "good". It is a pity that the medical community say "No" but then you can't expect them to say anything else. It would be professionally inadvisable to agree to people using something that has not been rigorously tested.
Hi Chinney, According the the Mayo Clinic: "Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon condition that creates patchy, white skin that's thinner than normal. Anyone can get lichen sclerosus but postmenopausal women have a high risk."
And Lichensclerosus.org says, "Thousands of men, women and children suffer from LS all over the world. It is impossible to get an accurate figure and estimates vary from 1 in 30 to 1 in 1000."
So, it's not really a common condition, but who knows, it could be on the rise for whatever reason. You are right - it definitely should be spoken about more!
Hi Chinney, my reply was blocked for some unknown reason. I quoted the Mayo clinic and lichensclerosis dot org, who both describe it as uncommon. However, who knows, it could be on the rise. You are correct, it should be spoken about more.
I have been using Borax rinses for a year or more now. I use it in the bath about 1/6 of a cup and/or a couple of pinches in a sitz bath about once a month. Day to day, I rinse with a pinch of Baking Soda in water at least once. Always moisturize with a mixture of coconut oil and Celadrin ointment also once a day. But of course I need to apply the Beta Clobetasol twice per week.My gynaecologist is happy with what she sees and that if good enough for me! I am nearing 80 and have been successful in keeping the LS at by now for 5 years. Life could be worse!
Thank you so much for that Helen. I think that looks like a good routine and one I shall probably try to follow. At the moment I seem to be having a different idea on what I should do every day. I need to try and get into a routine.
Yes my gynaecologist told me it was common!
Just to add a bit more on that reply, my gynaecologist told me it was common and I the casual way he talked about it confirmed that. But having said that I don't think our Drs are very familiar with it.
Hello Anna, I have had LS for some time and use a mixture of steroids, Bicarb, coconut cream and Lavender oil. Having had fairly severe symptoms in the past, I have for the past several months been symptom free. However, I have very extensive fusing and having read so much positive about Borax, decided to give it a try. You say that Borax has reversed fusing for you and I am desperate to achieve this. I have been using it twice daily, applying with a cotton bud for about 6 weeks but so far have seen no change. It is no worse though. I use a solution made up to saturation level. I have a dermatology appointment next week and have to make a decision about whether or not to have surgery. Just wondered how long it took before you saw changes or if I am doing something wrong.
Hi Wero, I can't remember exactly how long it took, but it was at least a couple of months before the unfusing even started. I was afraid that my fusing was never going to come back. And then one day when I was applying the borax solution (morning and night), I noticed a very faint ridge starting to form. Week by week, it slowly enlarged until my labia had returned. I also had a long, raised line of scarring down the inner edge between the majora and minora labia on the other side, which I was convinced, could not be reversed. Well, the raised scarring has smoothed out, and the area that used to be a rough white has slowly changed to pink. It’s still a little pale, but improves steadily. I started using borax about a year and a half ago, so you can see how long it has taken for results.
I also continue to take baking soda baths several times a week, wear cotton panties, moisturize with coconut and emu oils, watch my diet, and avoid tight fitting pants. I have read that emu oil helps with scarring, so I believe everything together helps, but the borax is the most significant.
I don’t know what kind of surgery you are considering, but if it’s not an emergency, it wouldn’t hurt for you to give it more time before you resort to a painful procedure. If your vagina has constricted, have you tried gently stretching it with dilators?
Thank you Anna for your reply. I was issued with dilators about 10 months ago and use them around twice a week. They have definitely helped and have stretched the skin but not actually released the fusing. I am not able to have penetrative sex and this is a bit miserable for myself and my husband. I do not want surgery and will persevere a little longer as you have given me hope. I believe surgery would be minor and just a case of cutting the skin where it has adhered. It has caused the labia minora to appear very small and was partially covering the urethra, this is now free and I can pee straight. I have ordered a portable Bidet today and will start borax soaks as well.
Thank you again, I think I am doing most things right but maybe am a little inpatient. There really do seem to be a lot of success stories. x
Great! The borax soaks should be very helpful to you. I started with just swabbing on the solution until people began talking about soaking in a tub. I do the tub soaks a few times a week, alternating with baking soda. At this point, I'm just adding the borax solution to a spray bottle and spray it on morning and night. It's a habit I got into, in addition to the soaks. It's pretty quick and easy and I think of it as a maintenance dose. At this point I haven't yet heard of a cure, but just keeping it at bay is almost a cure.
Good luck to you, dear Wero, and please let us know how things are going!