hi everyone I have just been diagnosed with Ls ! . Took a while but took myself to the local sexual clinic as my dr and nurse kept treating me for thrush !!! Knew it wasn't !!. I had diagnosed myself from reading the Internet !. Was happy to know finally what was wrong ! But nhs paints a unrealistic picture of it ! From when you start reading the other , real info about it ! About how horrible , painful , disfiguring it can be ! Not to mention ruining your sex life . And the risk of skin cancer !. At first it really freaked me out !. Then I thought right you bug ( as that is how it feels ! Like a bug burying under your skin and making me itch like my hubby does at night before he goes to sleep ! Lol. It found its way in to my body and I am going to make sure I find away to get it out !!. It is all new to me so at the moment I am reading like mad !. I understand that it comes from an unbalanced system ! They say that your gut is your second brain so I am going to start with healing my gut !. I am taking probiotics , also you need to clean out heavy metals ! That cause your body to be toxic ! So you need rose hip and then L-glutamine to heal leaky gut . They say skin conditions are a body screaming out , I am toxic !. So heal with diet of unprocessed foods , relaxation ! Cause a big problem to flare up your Ls is stress !!. Also coconut good for itching and moisturising !. Please help me with any of your findings ! Till I find out more , love Jackie x
Hi Jackie sorry you have LS but you have come to the right sight for knowledge. The ladies on here are terrific!! I joined a year ago when first diagnosed, also a self diagnosis. Doctors were very frustrating and I was told so many different things as to what I had. I got lots of useful information and help from this site. One thing is clear that everyone has a different level of LS and symtpoms and that there are no answers except to try everything. My best advice is to try one thing at a time for at least 1 week to 10 days - if not helpful break for 2 weeks then try again. I got myself into quite a mess trying all sorts of products and solutions desperate to make it go away - which in the end I didn't know what was or was not helping. I am now comfortable with just using Ovestin Cream to help vagina and wash with warm water only. I don't use Clob any more as that made me worse but for others it's a godsend so don't go by individual cases. I agree stress and lifestyle facts can contribute but are not the cause it's an autoimmune disorder. Mine did come to light after a very stressful period in my life but I think it was there anyway just not exposed. I have difficult days but then I have good as well so those are they days I get lots done and go out and enjoy myself more. Good luck!
Hi,i have 3 doctors and none of them agree if i have it or not.I have also read it can be caused by past skin issues.potent steroid to treat it is the treatment of choice.You will find much info about this online.Hugs!By the way,I am presently just useing hydrocortisone 1 percent over the counter,also a and d ointment.Sitz baths in warm waater 15 to 20 minutes when theres a flare with symptons.you can buy a basin that fits on your toilet at medical stores for this.I then air dry laying on a bed.only white cotton underwear.when possible at home go comando..no underwear under your nightgown,helps air to circulate.Dont itch the scratch,just creates a itch,scratch cycle,lots of water.Wipe front to back with toilet paper with water on it.No soap when washing.Cut down on acidic foods.I also believe vit d,e and calcium citrate have been found to help.The low dose cortisone has been approved for use daily as needed by my doctor,you should check with yours first though.Also ask about the stronger steroid. X
How things have changed! wHen a gunk consultant confirmed my L.S. ten years ago he told me wear NO underwear, tights or trousers and NOT to bath or wash my undercarriage with water but prescribed cream to wipe it with. I duly obeyed for a year or two during which my skirts got longer and longer as I endeavoured to keep out the cold draughts and stop the wind blowing my skirt up to reveal all LOL
What was he ON?
Eventually I began wearing my husband's loose cotton pants inside out. to avoid chafing by seams and succumbed very thankfully to the Oliatum baths prescribed by my skin consultant for my excema and Lichen Planus. (Anyone else have that?)
Then the LS , LP and excema all cleared up. So I stopped the oily baths and started to enjoy bubble baths again. BAD CHOICE! As LS reappeared and included round the back passage. Creepy!
All is fine agai now that I have reverted to Oliatum
I mentioned this about two months ago. Did any of you try it? What about Aveena have any of you tried that. It is rather expensive but very helpful for other skin complaints I gather.
i mentioned
Sorry, I thought wrote "Gyny" consultant but it printed as "gunk"
Gunk works for some of them lol
You have the right attitude , I admire you and your determination to combat this .Diet has a lot to do with it, I have found cutting out sugar and bread has helped me. It's good to try detox your system, simply cutting out sugar has stopped the itching for me, it's all trial and error i'm afraid, you may have a lot of setbacks but don't give up, Steroid ointment is often the last resort in many cases, it does work and the skin does improve but only use it sparingly , the least amount you can possibly use. I just use it twice a week , just a tiny amount , I wash my lady parts with dermal lotion mixed with aqueous cream, my condition is stable most of the time, I am in my late 60's so sex is out of the question (too painful),I don't know your age but I hope you find a way to have some sort of sex life. Hope you find a regime that works for you, don't loose heart, if it takes longer than you thought , good luck.
it never goes away it always just sits there waiting
Hi Jackie, I was diagnosed with LS last night. I only found out what it was through this site and so took myself off to the doc's for confirmation. My last doctors told me there was nothing wrong and like so many, I just put it down to thrush. I've been given a steroid cream and told to wash my undercarriage with double bass cream and water. I've been told that if it doesn't clear up within the three month treatment plan then l will be refered to a gyny. She said I didnt need a biopsy as she could see the white spots. I have arthritis and I'm taking Methotrexate for it. I am 44 and in the u.k. Is this something that heals itself? Has anyone else used similar with good results? It would be lovely to find out a little more and helpful to read how others of you are getting along.
Pam 
x
Hi Jackie, I find sugar to be a massive problem for me.. if I'm eating well I'm fine but as soon as I overload on chocolate or sweet things I flare up.. then I'm back to using dermavate every day or sometimes twice a day. I use perrins natural cream to combat the itching when really bad and avoid wearing underwear whenever I can.. you sound as though you have got your diet well planned out and wish you luck with it. LS is an awful condition but with correct management can be controlled. Please keep us posted on how you get on - Jo
While my mother was taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, she got psoriasis, which she'd never had before, all over her arms. The rheumatologist took her off the drug right away. Only mentioning this because Ive had both psoriasis and LS most of my life (I'm 64). My gynae said the two are 'related'.
Thank you, I will mention this to my rheumatologist on my next visit. I have only noticed it while I've been on the Methotrexate so the two could be related. My next appointment is in May so for now I will take the meds and see how it goes. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again for replying x
hi Christine , no I do believe it is possible to go away ! But will be a long and difficult task ! I believe from all my research that if you balance and alkaline your body it is impossible for it too survive in your body !. Just will take a while ! But by being patient and positive I will beat it ! Love Jackie x
hi pam , it is hard at the beginning knowing what to do and not to do !. First of all I read up on the condition and it freaked me out , I was so upset !. But then thought I carnt change it ! There are so many more worse things to have !. I will just have to get on with it !. I have had it for a bout 2 years but only had the severe itching for about 6 months !. I was given dermavate , which I have used every day for 6 weeks in the evening . Although I didn't want to go down the steroid route ! I think it is important to get the Ls under control ! So decided I would give it a blast with steroid cream to calm down the itching ! As while you are itching you are causing the skin damage which can cause the clitoris and vagina to fuse ! That was what worried me the most !. I was quite lucky as apart from itching I didn't have any sore patches . So I don't have any skin damage . I have just been back for my 6 week check up and the Dr said the Ls had reversed right back , which was brill . I found though I had a massive argument with my partner and it felt like it had gone back to square one ! So stress is a big trigger for me !. But after a couple of days it all settled back down again . I am now supposed to ween of the steroid cream ! But after reading what other people have said I have decided to try manuka honey 24 as honey has a lot of healing properties !. Will let you know how it goes . Also propolis is good for healing , aloe Vera for itching ! I will try if have no luck ! It's a it of alimination game !. Also diet change , I have been juicing and my white skin has come back pink and normal looking again !. Think you do need to get it into remission though ! Before you try other things as it can get nasty ! Good luck and keep me posted , love JackieJackie
Im thinking a low acid diet when possible and i now take calcium citrate which is supposed to help with how acidic a persons urine is which can caus inflamation etc
hi judy , I am doing quite well , just come of the steroid cream after 6 weeks and not itching too much . Like you say , i itch when I eat sugar and bread and stress really does make me flare up really bad !. It is so nice to talk to someone who knows how you feel !. I am 47 and my sex life is really good and I am really lucky as I don't have any narrowing or sores just itching and bit warm down there at times !. I have started using honey ( manuka 24 ) used it last night and apart from being a bit sticky was ok . I found juicing really helps me as all my white skin has tuned back pink and moist ! Don't know if it is the juicing , but I will try anything ! I know I have a lot more energy as I was always so tired before ! Do you find that ? I feel sorry you carnt have sex ! Have you got an understanding partner ?. That's what worries me most as me and my husband have always had very good sex .i am determined to get there ! We have to be positive ! More is being done about the condition . Love Jackie x
hi daphne , know I haven't tried any of above , I am washing in plain water which is working well . No I haven't had lichen planus ! Is that similar ?. I still wear my leggings ! But changed to cotton knickers . How old are you ?. I get most of my itching in the vulva and back passage ! Not nice !. Keep in touch love Jackie x
hi Jess , I know it is trial and error !. Wish I didn't have it ! But I do so just trying honey at the moment , but it takes a while before you know whether it is good or not !. How old are you ?. Do you suffer with any narrowing ?. That's what worries me !. I am sorting out my diet and doing relaxation which helps . Just keep on trying stuff ! Love Jackie x
hi lee , thank you for all your advise !. I can use the loo fine it doesn't hurt me to pee or the other !. I just itch like mad ! It is just like some thing under my skin !!. Although it has calmed down after 6 weeks on dermavate ( but that made me sore after 4 weeks ) so I used less . Love Jackie x
Hi Joanne thank you for your kind words of support . I am trying but so new to me ! But over Xmas will get my head stuck in to things !. Sugar is a problem for me along with bread . It is an awful condition ! But won't let it get me down !. I have ordered Perrins , what do you think to it ? How long have you had Ls ?. Will keep trying things !. Love JackiesJackies