Would anyone know if itching at the labial area .. not vaginal.. is a perimenopausal symptom?

I have it too but I am post.  More help needed on this topic!

is the area burning also?  I had the burning about 8 yrs. ago or so but was from hypersensitivy to a certain soap..which triggered the balances of good and bad bacteria (vaginal) to be upset..was several years before things got back on track..many visits to a specialist gyn. who dealt in that..have either of you used any new products lately?  I don't remember the itching all that much mostly burning ..labial and then vaginal too..new laundry soap, personal soaps, bath additives.new drugs..anything?  new foods ?? mine like i said was triggered by that soap..yea, and knowing one shouldn't really use soap "there"..it was an antifungal soap..a little girl i knew had ringworm..i was worried about getting ringworm, so tried this soap ALL OVER...well the soap sure killed fungus (i never got the ringworm) but also killed off all the good bacteria too at the same time..also had a friend who itched there..hers turned out to be using too much laundry soap and not rinsing it enough..the underwear in super hot water..she also used a real cheap body soap  and didn't drink enough water..thats what her dr. said..she changed to an unscented lotion type soap, drank lots of water and triple rinsed the underwear..to get my area back to normal had to use many many trial and error vaginal creams, labial creams..(from a pharmacy sometimes to be specially compounded) .eventually all came back to normal, but i think it was close to almost 4 yrs. to get there...i'll keep watching here and see if i can try to offer some more suggestions..also i'm sure others will know something too....

Hi Sue...

When I read this, I also thought of some type of vaginal infection (which does not always have to be accompanied by burning), where the PH gets out of balance for some reason.  Besides what Wildflowers listed, antibiotics can also be a culprit.  I was put on a low grade antibiotic by my dentist for periodontal disease (Periostat), which resulted in "the itch".  I have been successful in alleviating this problem by taking acidopholus with the antibiotic, which I have to take daily.  Good luck.  :)

Sue,  i forgot all about the antibiotics..i'm one of those that can take antibio. and not get a yeast or any kind of infec...we're all different...and now that i recall (thanks Vickie..you prompted the long term memory area lol) the ph does get out of whack..theres a prescription (cream, vaginal) that i took back then..can't recall the name..but unfort. that didn't cure it (my problem) but it might yours...have you ladies asked your doctors yet?  now as i think back..mine started as itching..for a day or 2 then went to burning..i went to 5 drs. here, before finally finding the specialist out of the city that helped, but it took several yrs...after finding him..

Monostat, I think.

isn't monostate for yeast infections? over the counter?  The ph balancer i took was a prescription..something like a simple name of ph .......you'd think i'd remember that as i i had to use it several times in those years..after trial and error with a diff. prescrip..try the balancer to see if it would work once again...i think the ladies should first check with the doctor..my opinion to have a culture done and go from there..just from past experience..that area gets out of balance really quick..i never self treated  ..but then again for me once out of balance..hard to get it right again...also had to use the instant ocean baths..its a ph regulator for the skin..soothing..but didn't work..that was one of drs. recom.  you buy the instant ocean at a pet store..same stuff you use for salt water aquariums..but before doing that ask your doctor....

I have had only one or two vaginal infections in my lifetime, so I sure am no expert on it, but I think Monostat is a common treatment for that, although I am sure there are various other medications.  I think Monostat used to be by script only, but in the past few years, is also available OTC.  One thing I learned is that it is better to get a script for it because it is cheaper...no tax on script meds, as with OTC.  

I also believe most vaginal infections, where the PH is out of balance, are considered to be some type of yeast (bacterial) infection (such as have been described... drugs, soaps, laundry detergent, anti-biotics, underwear).  My understanding is that cultures are taken by doctors to rule out other possibilities, such as STD's.  

I also think anyone with this problem absolutely needs to see the doctor before trying to self-medicate.  I was just making a suggestion to you about a common medication for vaginal infections (available both by script and OTC) whose name you couldn't remember.   :wink:

vickie, you're right several yrs. ago monostat and gynelotramin (sp) were my prescrip. only..also the cultures..if you can get a really specialized dr. in this area (mine at the time has and still does have his own lab on the premises, and HE did all the readings) the cultures will also show the imbalance of whatever..too much this not enough of that..will also check for stds's too..never had one of those tho..also he told me (gee how my memory comes back at times hehe..that estrogen in the normal vaginal discharge..can be an irritant for some hypersensitive people.....

Thanks, that's very good information, Wildflowers.  I don't think any doctor has ever told me about too much estrogen being an irritant.  I have also never had a doctor go to the trouble to find out what specifically is out of balance (at least to my knowledge), so it seems you were very lucky to have that doctor.  Of course, like I said, I have not had much experience with that, so now I have learned something new.  Thanks again.  :)

vickie..this doctor specialist that i went to was (at the time) one of only 7 drs. like him the the US..people would fly..from all over the world to see him (women)..i used to see the ladies in their native clothing..would fly in..see him and fly out the same day..he also saw regular (?) women too..i used to think..why would anyone who is okay want to make this 2 hour drive...well once i was "cured"..i went to him for about 2 yrs more just for regular pap checks...my insurance now doesn't cover him..cuz i don't live or work in his city....so my gyn. i go to (for 16 yrs.) was trained by this special guy..so i do have some faith in my gyn. lol..yea, i could probably tell you more than anyone would want or care to know about unbalanced vaginas....lol....

Hahaha...don't jinx my good luck by giving me anymore info!  :biggrin:

Vickie...i won't...but if you ever have any questions..just ask hehe....

Hahaha... I sure will.  :wink:

SueCon,

I am sharing a recipe for some natural oils which helped a friend with labial itching.  

I had vestibulitis and it helped that and my friend was diagnosed with vulvadynia, but itching was the main thing.  

(My gyn said these oils helped vestibulitis (pain at the vaginal entry way)....and it has or something has helped this almost disappear. )

I asked my doctor's nurse if this oil would possibly work for my friend as my friend was confiding that this problem was driving her crazy and to please ask my doctor if this might help her and she tried it and she said it worked better than all the prescription things she had been given.   She has been tested for everything under the sun including cancer and fungal things but nothing shows up.   They just guess at allergy since they cannot figure it out.

The mixture of oil recommended by my doctor is jojoba oil, teatree oil, and German Chamomile Oil.   When I did some research on them, they are antiinflamatory, antibacterial, and and not clog the pores..actually help unclog them while supplying missing sebum that decreases with age.     They are soothing to the skin and I have read protect from chlorine which is in our water.    

Mix 5 T. jojoba oil, 6 drops teatree oil and 2 drops German chamomile oil and apply several times a day.Easy to do and once it gets better you can just apply once a day.   A little goes a long way...it last a long time so it is relatively inexpensive once you buy the supplies.    Get one of those little travel size plastic bottles as you can take it with you....also use a funnel to put it in this little bottle.

Just an idea of something to try.   You get these oils at a health food store.

NancyV

NancyV  

Just wanted to share briefly my experience with this itching issue.  I've never had my problem officially diagnosed, but based on my observations, it's triggered by low estrogen( I can't tolerate any estrogen due to migraine) and can be painful to the extent that it hurts to sit and walk.  Yeast medications are not helpful in my case, because  I believe the problem is triggered by hormonal imbalance/deficit.  My dryness/pain started at the very beginning of perimenopause.  When at my wit's end recently, I noted a post on this site (under vulvodynia, I think) about organic oil - tea tree and jojoba oil.  I purchased some at botanicals.net and it actually helped me!  It's worth a try if nothing else helps.  All the best and God Bless..

over the counter yeast medications never helped me either..i'm sure i posted my problem (yrs. ago) here somewhere about the burning etc...one thing you might try while trying the herbals..is to watch the sugar intake very very closely..yeast lives normally on our skin..its supposed to..but yeast feeds on sugar..and also one person might be able to eat a candy bar and have no effect regarding yeast...and some can't even have a small amount..keep us posted...i also switched from wearing jeans..to wearing sweats and skirts or dresses for quite awhile..so as to keep the constant irritation from jeans etc..away from the area..to let it have time to heal..or "calm down" as the specialist said..

Phall,

I did some reading up on Jojoba Oil which said it is a lubricant that does not clog pores, activates the formation of new skin cells, regulates moisture balance and is a natural antibacterial and antifungal.  The article said that studies at U. of Michigan supported the conclusion that common bacteria and fungal candida albicans were not capable of growing in Jojoba Oil.

What I read on Tea Tree Oil is that it is an effective bactericide killing a broad spectrum of bacteria and a range of stubborn fungi.  It is safe for healthy tissue and does not inhibit normal cell growth and rejuvenation.  Its solvent nature allows it to penetrate layers of the skin.

I thought what I read was interesting into why it may be helping me and my friend who had tried everything.

(Oh, I added the tiny amount of the German Chamomile which has a natural antiinflammatory effect.)

I am glad the oil helped you...I am surprised that these oils are seemingly so effective.   I am glad my doctor recommended them to me for vestibulitis and they may help other skin conditions as well apparently.

Nancy V -

You're the lady I need to thank for the information on the natural oils  - Bless you!!  I literally was at the end of my rope when I read your post several months ago - the natural oils really helped me.  Sounds like you have an excellent dr.  Years ago, when I first experienced this pain out of the blue, my dr. was unable to make a diagnosis.  The pain was so severe it radiated down the inside of my thighs.  Think my dr. thought I was nuts!!!  Also, thanks for the "recipe" - the oil mix I purchase over the net is quite expensive.  I will try the health food store and see if I can mix my own and save some $$$.   It's healing properties sound so good I may try the oil on my facial wrinkles!  Thanks again!

Phall,

Glad I could help.

Regarding wrinkles, my reading says in a dermatological test that Jojoba Oil increases the skin's suppleness by 45% and 8 hours later the effect was still present.

Also it goes on to the say "it was also found that Jojoba Oil softens and smooths the skin with fine line reduction.   In one test 20 women's skin compliance (?) increased by 37% after 30 minutes and remained for a hour.  Continued use results in reducing superficial facial lines....26%, 18% and 11% after l, 4 and 8 hours in conducted tests."  

The Native Americans used Jojoba for medicinal purposes and the Isralis are doing with for treatment of acne and ezcema with positive results.  It is extremely effective in treating scalp disorders.  

Sounds like it would be good for the ole mug!

It makes me feel good that what helped me has helped someone else!

My, god...Have I found some important info here. I have started having labial itcing that is literally driving me crazy. There's some burning, also. Someone – I think it was phall – wrote that she had severe pain that was radiating down her thigh. Bingo! Me, too. When I went to my gyn, he said that the "pain was irrelevant." I was also showing some bad bacteria on my Pap smear, although the Pap itself was normal. He prescribed a high-price prescription drug which did not work. Still itch, still have burning ay the labia, and still the pain down my thigh. I use an antifungal soap, which I will now throw out. I'm also going to dry the herbals to see what happens. I'll keep you all posted and thanks so much for your help.

Celtic..you've probably read my posts here about the vaginal burning etc.etc..that is exactly how mine started..with an antifungal soap..i'm of course no dr...but, been there etc...sounds like an imbalance of some sort to me..i'd try the herbals first, if that doesn't work..find a dif. gyn...i went thru 5 drs.(in one year) before finding the one that helped me.(2 hours away from me)...i did not have any pain down the leg tho.

You people have been sent to me straight from heaven!!  Just when I think i have truly lost my mind I sign on wondering how am I going to post this without all of you thinking I am a lunatic!! Lo and behold I am not the only lunatic!! Just kidding!  Celticquill,  I have exactly what you complain of.  Mine actually started as a burning in the back of my thigh for about a week and just two days ago started as burning in my vaginal area.  It is external burning--hard to describe but I know many of you know what I mean.  I sat in the tub last night crying thinking I have totally cracked up on Christmas day!  With a house full of men it is not easy to explain what the problem is.  I think I will try the herbal route also. I have not been to my doctor yet.  Let me know of anything that helps.  I have tried to really make sure I am in cotton, no pantyhose.  I did re-wash all of my underwear in plain water.  Please keep in touch ladies. Thank all of you for your honesty in this delicate subject.

Maureen..i sat here reading your post, and as "reflected" back to those years, i know just about exactly what you're saying!  I never had the leg/back pain tho..mine was the BURNING. (labial, then at the opening..the vestibular areas) .and  i was treated for this for around 4 yrs.. .it's not a delicate subject for me..so feel free to ask any questions.  There are doctors that treat this..thats all some of them DO..but they're rare..I don't know if we can post drs. names here or not..dearest, if you read this please answer.  Or i could email you his name. (he may be able to give you drs. names in your state)  At my time of treatment there were only 7 drs. in the United States.  This dr. does not treat menopause..not because as he says he doesn't believe women need assistance, its because he doesn't know how..vaginal problems are his speciality.  Another thing i learned back then..most women that have or get this sensitivity are of northern european background, fair skin, freckles, sun sensitive etc..i am half irish and half swedish..can't get much lighter complexion than that..have freckles..if i'm out in sun a lot..i don't tan..(not that i try)..i get red, the red fades back to white..my advice..try the herbals, see if they help..but don't let it go for long..i only waited 2 days before going to the first doctor..it took one year to find the right dr. and 4 years to get "normal" again...and by the way..for the past 8 yrs. no problems..

Thanks so much Wildflowers.  I am glad it is a thing of the past for you.  I figure I will give it through New Years and if it it still bad then I will call my doctor.  It does sound like something a lot of doctors do not know a lot about.  I'm glad you found a specialist. I live in Georgia so maybe I will start  to ask around.It helps to know that others have been through this.Thanks again for your input.

Wildflowers, I forgot to ask--What treatment worked for you?PS. I am very Irish with freckles also. I would also venture a guess that "celticquill" is Irish also!

So good to know I am not alone with this problem. The last three months...just a couple of days before my periods started....I have gotten this terrible vaginal dryness and itching....it hurts too! This month I was so dry I even bled slightly when wiping with toilet paper...(sorry to be so graphic ladies) I am assuming that this is being caused by low estrogen right before my periods....When my period starts it gradually gets better but never goes totally away. Intercourse has become uncomfortable also because I am also very dry inside the vagina. Has anyone dried any of the over the counter vaginal moisturizers? Do they work? This is driving me buggy...the only relief I have found so far is sitting in the bathtub....unfortunately I can't spend all my time in the tub....LOL! Perhaps I will try the natural oils you ladies have been talking about....Thanks!

Maureend,

My gyn is in Alpharetta Ga. who specializes in vestibulitis.   He is one of the rare ones who know about these inflammatory skin conditions in women.

Just e-mail me if you are  interested in his name.

what worked for me...after all those yrs. of trial and error of medications..it finally came down to the last part of getting balanced ..(getting one part balanced at a time)..was the drug diflucan..used for yeast infections..I didn't during the whole time have any yeast infections..(but you have to have a certain amount of yeast in vagina to balance everything) but as being super sensitive..that was a  hard part to get balanced..even a little too much yeast (for me, everyone is diff., on what their body can handle)the diflucan is a pill..supposed to be for "normal" when i believe they would take 3 pills and it (yeast inf. would be gone)..i had to take the diflucan for several weeks..i don't remember the dosage..but it was used as a balancer..then gradually reduced it (per dr.)..and it finally worked..the best time (no irritation burning at all) back then was when i HAD my period..imagine..looking forward to a period...now i have a question for you ladies...is the area that burns (vestibular) red? oh, and another word of advise..do not (unless a specialist says to) use cortisone creams/ointments there..it thins the skin (plus never helped)..my reg. gyn. prescribed that during the yr. before finding specialist...specialist said that was a big no no..the idea after getting balanced (per specialist) is to "toughen up the area" another thing..i'd read that before periods..women can get out of balance with yeast..which will trigger out of balance in the good/bad bacteria etc.etc...

Wildflowers,

When I had all the pain, the vestibular area was red with ulcers on it even.   The vaginal estrogen cream had really made it very bad and painful and totally prevented intercourse.

My doctor does use Diflucan to treat this as part of the treatment plan but he uses the pill form as he thinks most creams except for the natural oils like jojoba and the others I've mentioned actually irritate the skin.

I know I am very sensitive to sugar also and the times on vacation when I have had more sugar than normal I had yeast infections show up.   So I think the yeast thing is related as well as part of the balance necessary for healthy skin.

This aging and menopause thing seems to make whatever sensitivity you have worse.

When this happened to me I didn't know such a thing existed and causes untold suffering.    My doctor thought I would need to be in a support group since some people don't get better unless committed to doing all the natural things he suggested ....I said no way, I am going to help this heal and I will find anything that helps this (including buying these ultra loose white granny panties with legs!) which I wore for  a while.  

NancyV

Nancyv..yup those granny panties..LOL..had some too..and you're correct about the sugar stuff.. I watch my sugar intake..well put it this way..i know if i've consumed too much for my body ..its a feeling..(that quickly resolves itself..if i back off of sugars) ..i'm sure you know what i mean..i didn't have the ulcers..but the area at times could be red/inflamed..i'm sure you know what i mean (this will sound weird)..when the doctor says finally..while viewing the vestibular area...BEAUTIFUL..the balance is right..no more red etc.etc...no more burning..for years (the 4 of treatment) and for several years after, I couldn't then wouldn't use any bath additives..now that was something i used all the time..getting into plain bathwater..was almost disgusting for me..i find the past few years..i can use bath additives..i stick with one kind tho.(thats probably in my mind) .sometimes..i'll use an additive..i agree with the natural treatments too ..whatever works..at my time the only thing natural rec. was instant ocean sitz baths..a ph balancer (didn't work for me tho)...perhaps..more research has been done since my time of this..

Hey Wildflowers,

I changed soap to a natural olive oil ( Kiss Your Face) soap as well.  I had been using Ivory which some react to believe it or not.    I even just took showers for a while and stopped putting additives in the tub when I did take a tub bath.

I found when I had pain that the Aveeno oatmeal baths helped and did not irritate and caused the pain to lessen.

Not many people are so expert as US on this subject....lol!

Most of my health problems have been the embarrassing type where you couldn't discuss it without people "wondering" about you....lol!

Except for here.....!    Thank good goodness for PS and computers so there can be some dialog.

Hi everyone--

Just found this thread... OMG!  Finally I might have found some answers to this itching/burning problem. My doc gave me a prescription cream and it helps, but does not get rid of the itch. I also found that when I take Allegra (prescription allergy pill, antihystimine thing) for my hayfever, it controlled the itch to where it was manageable. I have been taking the Allegra everyday even when I didn't have the allergy problem, and boy do I notice the difference when I skip a day, back to the same old nagging itch. Terrible thing when you're out in public, huh. Don't know if taking the Allegra is good long-term, but I was desparate. I will definitely try the oils, thanks for the recipe!

Kitty in SoCal

NancyV..now you said you were in the se, i'm in the sw..2 more and we've covered the 4 corners of the states!  I think this problem is far more common than anyone will ever know..i myself like i said don't get embarrassed talking about it here..but i know..to discuss it when someones not had it is difficult....almost the attitude.."well, i've never heard of that"..as if to say it's not true..although when i had mine..i didn't work..daughter was little..so didn't have to do the co-worker thing..when people say to me the never heard of theory..i just say..well, theres lots of things in life, i've never heard of and i believe it could be true..usually stops them..so between us and maybe more will join with advice..we possibly could help someone!..oh the oatmeal thing..did that..never helped either..seems when i was in the tub..everything "felt" okay..once out..and skin was dry..the burning would start again..also it never kept me awake at night..never felt burning then (thats strange huh, come to think of it).but upon getting up in the am..within half an hr. would start..and sometimes was constant..and sometimes with small breaks..of minutes in between...of not burning..but to the ladies that are now having this..Nancy and I are 2 that found help and  it went away..don't give up....

Thanks so much for all of your advice ladies.  As always the advice and info I get here is invaluable. You are so right about the granny panties--I was home most of the day wednesday and went sans panties. I just wore cotton sweat pants around all day.  I also read somewhere about crystals in the urine that can add to irritation. I took their suggestion to rinse after each urination --like the old episiotomy days!I am going to follow your suggestions about watching the diet for sugar also. I have had more than usual with the holidys here.Thanks for your honesty and openess ladies. Just talking about all of this really helps.

This is in response to Nancy's recipe on Dec. 6 for the combination of oils for vaginal itching/irritation.  I purchased these oils yesterday at a health food store and cut the recipe in half as it makes plenty.  I used this last night and was so happy this morning to discover it worked overnight.  This was after 3 weeks of trying a prescription of Premarin creme from my doctor that did not work.  I was so happy this morning, I almost cried.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to Nancy for sharing.  The oils cost a little over $40.00, but it is worth every penny!  

Wilma..Hurray for You!!!!!!!!!

Thanks wildflowers!  I have to share something funny with all of you.  When I was asking the saleslady for the location of all of the oils, she said, "can I ask what you are using them for".  I told her that it was a recipe I had gotten from the internet.  She quickly said, of these are not for eating!  Then, of course, I told her what the recipe was really for.  She seemed amused, but wished luck.  But for any of you that wonder if this combination works, it truly does!  

Wilma, congrats to you. I am so glad it helped you.  Kudos to Nancy for sharing her pearls of wisdom!!

I bought the oils but have not mixed them yet--need to get to the store to buy a dropper. The oil did not come with one.I bet the lady at the health food store had a good chuckle over that Wilma.  Again, I am so happy for you.

 I don't know if any of you have ever read Louise Hay's books. She writes about what illness and aches and pains in different parts of our bodies may represent.I looked up yeast infection. The cause may be "denying your own needs and not supporting yourself. Her affirmation for that is "I now choose to support myself in loving, joyous ways.I also looked up vulva(she's got everything!). Cause may be"represents vulnerability" The affirmation is "It is safe to be vulnerable". I thought this was interesting after all of our discussions.  How many of us can relate to this? I know I can. Just some food for thought ladies.

Wilma,

Wow, am so glad this worked for you!    When I looked up on  the internet about why it might help the skin, it made sense (possibly)...

Maureend,

I heard it said that this condition is about being open to receive....may be and definitely  food for thought.

Georgia Dove~~~~

I, like Wildflowers, have never had this itching/burning/backache while asleep. You're right. You have to be up for awhile for the problem to commence. Anyway, I'm from the NE...hint (the place that got 7 feet of snow over the holidays!) Still digging out. Changed my Gyn and GP...That was my New Year's resolution. Happy New Year to all Surgers!

I think I may have found the answer for my dryness and itching problem....Neutrogena body oil...I use it on my legs in the winter...and it is sesame oil...very light. It does have fragrance though so may irritate those that are sensitive to perfumes and the like. But one day I decided to put some in my bath and I felt so much better...Then the next time right before I was ready to get out of the bath I squirted some on the vulva and vaginal opening and rubbed it in just slightly before getting out of the tub....it absorbs quickly and wasn't messy at all. I did try Vagisil intimate moisturizer but it is water soluble and did not last. Had to keep reapplying....The oil works wonders for me and I only have to use in once a day. I haven't had to reapply after the bath. I am so much more comfortable now...worth a try anyway ladies...it may help you too....Take care:)

My earlier post about the oil mixture recommended by Nancy still do bring lots of relieve from dryness/itching problem, but it seems to return.  For the last two days I have tried the oatmeal bath, cooking 1/3 cup of oatmeal with 2/3 cup water in microwave, then put it in a wire strainer and let bath water run through it.  This has also seemed to help with my dry skin in general.  Has anyone else has luck with the oatmeal.  This is my third attempt to alleviate this problem.  I'm still using prescription Premarin cream, oil mixture and oatmeal bath.  All three are bringing relief.  Gook luck!P.S. Curtailing sugary foods has helped also, but I crave these and just make cheese or peanut butter crackers, etc. to snack on.

wilma..i personally never found the oatmeal baths to help..and i went thru boxes and boxes as it long ago was rec. by specialist.. also believe the boxed kind might help you more (if you're finding it now that it helps by straining it etc..) you can buy the generic kind..same thing..doesn't have to be aveeno..and its several dollars cheaper than name brand..also if you have a yeast prob.  cheese is one thing they say to avoid..cheese supposedly contains yeast...

Wildflowers, Thanks for the info.  I eat cheese very sparingly (only about 1 slice per week)  Eat lots of yogart (daily) as this seems to help.  I've only had two yeast infections that I can remember (i'm 50).  Both times were a result of taking an antibiotic.  Whatever is going on now, I know is a direct result of perimenopause, because of other symptoms (depressed feeling, dry skin, mood swings)  I'm divorced, but date a wonderful man who is very supportive.

Wilma,

I know there is a hormonal connection as I have a little tenderness come back when I am depressed when having a phantom period.   I think when the hormones drop, the serotonin drops and you feel pain or other problems more.  

So if I feel it waxes and wanes with the hormones so it won't be so bad all the time hopefully for you.  

It seems to me at this time of life we don't get by with as much....  have to be real good when we feel real bad....   Sugar and chocolate do me in...

I got relief with the Aveeno oatmeal baths when I had pain and was not messy at all and did not clog up the drains.  

Thanks Nancy!  Just when I feel some relief, it comes back.  I go back to my doctor tomorrow and will discuss this issue as well as others.  I'm still going to use the oatmeal bath, or will hunt Aveeno, depending on price and I still like the oils as a temporary comfort, just have to reapply each bathroom use as I'm drinking lots of water also.  Thanks again!

Wilma, you should be able to find Aveeno without too much trouble.  The grocery stores here sell it near the bubble baths and shower lotions.  You have a choice of a bottle with a thickish liquid or little packets of powder.

Best of luck to you!

wilma..aveeno is in just about every pharmacy, grocery, discount stores..the packets..about 8 yrs. ago were around 8.00 for i believe 6 packages..if you go with the store name brand its a few dollars cheaper..also comes with little tiny packets of an oil..i never tried it with the oil...i threw those out..but the oil and aveeno might work for you..i personally found the aveeno to be very drying..instead of the opposite..

I was just in BJ's and they had it, too, a combo pack of the packets and the bath lotion stuff.  Probably Price Club and Sam's would have it, too.

There were 2 big lotion bottles and about a dozen packets of powder for $8.99 which was quite reasonable, I thought.