Hi Everyone! I have been having issues with itching....any help and advice is welcome.....I have been to the doctor and there is no yeast infection.

Debbie

Sorry, can't help you there. That's one problem I haven't had. I guess maybe I can look forward to it???!!

Have they checked for vaginitis? I am just back from the doctor myself, he is testing me for vaginitis, I got it a lot in my 20s but haven't had it since. What did your doctor suggest? Maybe see a gyno if you saw a gp?

I know I am probably not helping much but I feel for you!

My doctor said that she could not see any reason why I was itchy....I just thought it might be from dryness.

Debbie Sza

Debbie,
If you refer to vaginal itching, using OTC cortisol cream externally helps immediately if no yeast infection found.
HTH

Thank you I will look into it.

Debbie

So she didn't tell you anything you could do to help it? I was just reading the vaginal atrophy thread and they have some good topical suggestions like using aloe vera gel or vitamin e oil. You might want to go check out that thread since many of the posts deal with dryness and discomfort. I know you can use hydrocortisone cream for external vaginal itching, but I don't know how long it would be OK to keep that up.

If your doctor didn't even make any suggestions I really think you should go see a gyno or find a doctor that takes your discomfort as something that needs to be dealt with! As far as vaginitist they have to run tests, you cannot tell by looking, and it takes a day or two to get the results, at least here. I am not saying you have vaginitis, just that it should be ruled out.

I am right there with you today, I am about to break out the aloe vera gel myself!

I'm getting this too and it's driving me NUTS! It's not thrush or bacterial vaginitis, which I've had checked, and I have no discharge or anything like that either. I've never had anything like it before, it's just weird.

It's kind of embarrasing to write this stuff, but I know we're all in the same boat so to be precise - the itching is not in the labia area, or even close to the vagina it's actually the skin on either side where the top of the leg joins the genital area. The only way I can describe it, is it feels like I got ants in my pants.

Surely this can't be because of hormones can it?

I have had that also, and upon inspection..with a magnifying mirror I sometimes see tiny flakes of dry skin, almost like dandruff. My itch comes and goes..its not daily, but enough to know that I have it. When I am having this, its most often in the morning if I am too hot under the covers and sweating..or I will notice it late at night..while sitting on the computer, if its hot. I dont know if sweating and heat aggravate it..but it seems so. And yet, there are times I am just as warm..but dont itch.

Mine is also not in the tender tissue, but in the hair areas...and not always in the same exact spot.

You bring this up to the doctor..and they dismiss it...I even got an eyeroll once, when I mentioned that I use skin lotion there, just like I use on the rest of me (not that it helps). Ya know, if they cant find a yeast or bacteria, then to them, you have nothing.

The cortisone cream helps..but I thought there might be something not for when I get the itch, but to solve whatever it is that causes it. If there is..I havent found it yet. I just try to not scratch and if it doesnt stick around long..I use nothing. If its itchy for more than a few minutes, I use the cortisone cream..just on the spot that itches. That stops the itch..but really wont solve the problem, I dont think.

Yes, this itching and dryness IS caused by hormonal changes. I'd been using a Victoria Secret body lotion for awhile but decided the scented fragrance probably wasn't a good topical cream for such a senstive area. Saturday morning I was itching so badly ( I think it's from too much progesterone) that I went to hubby's bedside drawer and tried the K-Y jelly. It soothed the dry skin & the itching stopped immediately. An easy fix that worked for me.

Ladies I had this very same problem a couple of years ago (the 'irritated' feeling). It ended up being caused by several things. First, as you already know, our skin gets thinner now that we're in peri, so we become much more sensitive to commonly used products. (Laundry soaps, bath soaps, shower gels.) My doctor recommended I try using products that were less "harsh" & to double rinse your undies in the washer. (also don't add fabric softener sheets in the dryer with undies, as they are scented...another irritant) He also gave me a cream, I just can't remember what it was, (sorry, it was about 2 & a half years ago), but he did tell me this particular problem is quite common... I now use products for babies since they have such tender skin, and haven't had any problems since. (especially in my bath soaps)

Another thing he suggested - non perfumed/scented SOFT toliet paper such as charmen - something that is less abrasive to that delicate area) (and in a pinch, soft unscented kleenex does fine too - like puffs etc)

And with summer approaching he also mentioned another huge NO-NO -- sitting in wet swim bottoms ...

I wish I could be of more help...

I guess I am new to this whole joyful experience. It all seemed to start about a year or two ago with every month VERY heavy and long periods. Then I had one period that was the queen of all periods. It lasted 14 days with the such heavy bleeding and clotting that I did not know how I was going to survive it let alone have anything clothes or linens left without blood stains. Now, that has been a few months ago and not another period.

A couple of months ago - I could not finish a sentence as I could not remember what I was talking about. Scared me quite a bit. I went through Katrina two years ago so I thought that this was just the final straw to all of this depression - LOSING MY MIND. But, now - 2 days ago I start this itching thing UNDER my skin. It is all over - but, mainly on my face and eyelids and scalp. What I have not read about here is what I am experiencing so I was wondering if this was the same thing. When I have an itch under my skin - I CAN'T GET TO IT. I scratch but, my skin is numb and I can't take care of the itch. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. And, every so many itches - I feel like a spider has crawled up my arm or leg and I HATE spiders - so, I am yelling and jumping all over the place.

What I would most like to know after writing a book - (first time poster) is this -
does anyone have the itching under the skin that when they scratch their outer layer of skin is numb and they can't get to the itch?

Hey ladies,

Yes this can be an embarrassing topic but right now, I'm feeling too peri-ed out to care . I've had the itching too along with the dryness and after sex, it gets worse. Within the last 2 months I have been on antibiotoc twice for a tooth that is being root canaled today so I know the yeast is probably the culprit. I started some natural treatment with plain yogurt inserts and over two days, it seems to have helped.

I go to gyn on Monday and I will have a laundry list of problems for him! Seems my peri has kicked into high gear the last 3-4 months with the periods all over the place and just that overall feeling things have begun to "shut-down"......

So try the yogurt (it's all natural) and I've also read garlic is a good thing for yeast although I'm not sure I want to smell like a plate of pasta!!!!

Hugs-in-itching, LOL
Momz

i have Lichen Sclerosis. i feel like i'm in an AA group admitting it out loud, i've always hated it and not wanted to talk about it till lately...

this thread reminded me of how i felt in the beginning of it. it was just an itch. i used to wake up scratching in the night! there was no sign of candida, no dryness, no discharge... i was tested and came up negative for all i was tested for, yet still my GP treated me for what i did not have. so i started looking for the answer on my own, and eventually had a biopsy that confirmed my self diagnosis of LS.

psoriasis also starts with an itch.

it would be well worth seeing a dermatologist if all else fails.