Dermovate - what regime for maintenance?

Women's health
1

I don't have lichen sclerosis, but vulval lichen planus and have found this forum to be so helpful when I was struggling to find a diagnosis.

I saw the dermatologist a month ago and was discharged from the hospital.  The inflammation has all gone, I was to stop using the Dermovate and was told to examine myself every two weeks.  If necessary, I was to use the Dermovate again and also use an emollient every day.  The dermatologist did say it may well come back once I stop using the Dermovate.

So, now, four weeks later I'm beginning to feel a little uncomfortable and itchy again.  I'm quite happy to use the Dermovate again, if necessary, but wonder what sort of regime others are on as a maintenance.  Prior to being discharged, I was using the Dermovate twice a week.  I don't want to use too much, but, at the same time, don't want to get in the situation I was before I asked to see the dermatologist.  I'd appreciate any advice.

2

Hi Cheetah,

Glad your skin is feeling better.  After all you went through you now know what your condition was.  I use Yes everyday but use dermovate once a week or if I get sore from clothing which is usually what causes that I put a bit on after shower on an evening.  I got told to treat it like excema and use the ointment as maintenance.  Sometimes if we bath if the waters too hot I’m sure it causes soreness.  Hope that helps, I don’t tend to change things I use only the Yes and dermovate so as the skin is used to what I use.  X

3

Where do you live please ? In uk we are told to use Dermovate twice a week for life , we don’t ever stop it xxx

4

Sorry read it back, what I meant was if the once a week isn’t enough as I have a sore flare from seams then a put a bit on, I don’t use much though.  Some weeks I’ve not put any on though as the Yes was doing ok 

 

5

Hi I was eventually told that I had lichen planus and have been using Dermovate cream for years never been examined to see how this is so I go perhaps a week without and then the irritation begins again in ernest so back to the ointment.

6

Hi Cheetah, Glad things are improving. I have Eumovate a much weaker steroid which I use most days. This keeps things reasonably under control. Hope that helps.

The Eumovate is Clobetasone butyrate. Sounds similar to Clobetasol but much weaker.

Hope that helps.xxx

7

Hi, I think I would try get another cream to use which is not quite as strong, like Eumovate , the other steroid creams do their job when necessary but I personally dont think its good to use that kind of cream too often.

8

I am in UK. Seems we all get told different regimes with steroid cream and perhaps that's because LS presents differently for all of us. I am in remission, but occasionally get irritation and have been told to apply betnovate for a week if that occurs and in any case, use it for a week in every 4-6 weeks for maintenance. 

9

Hi Sue, can you tell me what Yes is please?

 

10

Thanks Chris, that's really helpful.  So, when the irritation begins again, do you use the Dermovate daily for a few days, then stop again?  I was using it twice a week before I stopped, so I'm wondering whether to go back to that.

11

Thanks for your reply.  That's really interesting to know.  I know that Lichen Planus is different to LS, but we all use the steroid cream to keep things at bay.

12

Thanks Sue, that's very helpful.  I realise that Dermovate is very potent, so want to use the minimum amount that I need to for maintenance.

13

Hi Sarb,  it’s Yes moisturiser for women’s privates lol.  It’s the moisturiser not the Yes lubricant.  They have their own website or you can get it on eBay.  It’s on prescription in the uk now, I aren’t sure if you are from the uk though.  It has no fillers in it which sometimes causes irritation.  It doesn’t come with an applicator though, I just use it on the outside skin.  It helps atrophy with the menopause as well.  X

14

Yo you sound the same Sarb.  I can go great then for some reason get sore.  It does calm it down though 

15

If it were me I would put a bit on, sorry to but in.  It’s just if it helps that’s good you don’t want it getting too sore,

16

Hello there, yes it seems to help me but to be honest I have used this Dermovate for several years I get some respite then it flares up again so I think just try to use the cream enough to keep it at bay.best wishes 

 

17

Thank you Guppy and Ann.  I was just wondering the same thing, whether I ought to see my GP and change to a weaker steroid if I'm going to be using it long-term.  I've not heard of Eumovate, only Betnovate,, so thank you for that.

18

Hi Cheetah, as the other responses you have suggest, probably your best way forward is to find that right strength of steroid to suit your condition, and then find the correct frequency of applying it.  I am a male with LS and have no choice to use Dermovate, permanently.  I can probably get away with applying it every 3 or 4 days usually.  Having looked up LP on here, it is suggesting your condition may eventually go away altogether ..

So find the ointment strength V's frequency of application balance, but I would suggest do not stop using it altogether.  Whatever frequency of application you try, and then keep to, always apply it thoroughly to get the best of out of each dose of the active ingredient.  Good Luck  ...

19

Thanks Sue - that's interesting - I am from UK, so will look into Yes.