Chemicals in toilet paper - could they be irritating to the vulva?

Yes, I use an unscented kind-to-skin laundry detergent and conditioner (for hypoallergenic people). I also wash my hands with a wash intended for the female "intimate area" and rinse very well. I also get my hubby to wash his hands with that before he touches me there. I wash with organic unscented no nasty chemicals body wash, shampoo and hair conditioner (stuff runs down in the shower). I have my own hand towel separate from the rest of the family. I dry my intimate bits by dabbing with the chemical and bleach free toilet paper. I wash down there (outside the outer labia) with Saginil wash (the partner to the gel specifically designed for vulvodynia) and I wash the vulva itself by wiping with coconut oil using an organic chemical free no bleach cotton wool pad. In the UK tap water has added chemicals including chlorine (a bleach) which increases the PH (makes it more alkaline) - the PH of the skin is around 5.5 (acidic) and the vagina is even lower, raising the PH of the vagina makes it more susceptible to infection (thrush, bacterial vaginosis). I read that after washing the skin with water it takes the skin 2 hours to get back to its natural PH. When I am out and about and cannot wash my hands with the wash I use, I apply coconut oil after going to the loo with those cotton pads. This all may seem rather obsessive compulsive, but my vulvodynia was cured after 1.5 years and I DO NOT want to have such a painful and debilitating condition again, especially now I have vagainal dryness.

After researching all this I have come to realise that the products that we use on ourselves on a daily basis are full of unnecessary chemicals which can irritate our skin e.g. glycerine, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), sodium lauryl / laurith sulphate, citric acid, parabens. Luckily there seems to be a backlash starting against this and there are lots of natural organic nasties-free products available.

Oh, yes, those chemicals I listed above - there have been studies

where they have put these neat on skin under a dressing and left it there for a few days. The skin was red raw and irritated when the dressing was removed. They even did this on a children's science programme here in the UK with SLS - if you had seen the man's arm after a few days you would never use products with SLS in again (it is in most washing products). I realise these chemicals are used in a very diluted form in products, but the concern is about repeated use (after all, we wash every day).

Ive noticed how urine can really affect the vulva,especially if its very concentrated. I have to make myself start drinking more water as that helps. I apply an ointment or vit e before putting on underwear because of being dry and the underwear being uncomfortable because of it. Sometimes I think its counter productive though as i feel it causes the underwear to stick to the skin. Any ideas about that? Im trying to protect the skin from friction ,urine and dryness,but I still get irritation.

Wear no underwear! I am lucky because I work mainly from home, so I wear baggy jogging bottoms in the cold weather, a skirt in the hot weather, with no knickers underneath. Best way for vulvodynia and VA. When I do go out and about I apply pure silicone lube to the sensitive area - this is very slippery and long lasting (I use the Astroglide Diamond silicone gel). It prevents friction - after I apply the coconut or Yes oil with the cotton pad, I put some silicone lube on the bit of skin posterior to the vaginal opening (again using the cotton pad), which is where I get sore and that is the area that is fragile for me (it used to split during intercourse until recently when I started massaging that bit with oils).

I have said before that I am sensitive to products on that area - water based lubes sting, but pure silicone lube is fine. So during intercourse we use a lot of Yes oil with silicone on top for its slipperiness.

Oh yes, and when out and about, I usually wear a panti pad in my knickers to stop any oil stains coming through - again, organic unbleached cotton. However, recently I stopped wearing pads and just wear loose fitting trousers and loose knickers. If I am wearing a thin skirt or dress in the summer, I have to use pads because the oil is very evident on the back of the skirt where I have been sitting! Silicone lube also helps with stopping the pad from irritating.

Suki I'm full of admiration at the research you've done and what you've achieved from it.  My thoughts with the pad and the generous amount of coconut oil I use is that some is invariably soaking in to the pad so it might well be 're applying itself' during the day.  But as I said once before, I did notice that one type of pad irritated but the one I use now (which also comes in a longer length so prevents any oil going through to clothing for me) is fine.  I think you may well be right, what you said about toilet paper etc. as well.  I use a fresh flannel to dry myself there every time, after the shower and that works for me, but I dab, rather than rub.

Yes, gentle dabbing is a must. Panti pads also contain bleached cotton or other chemicals that are absorbent. The adhesive can also be an irritant. Which is why I sought out organic unbleached ones.

I am a university researcher by profession, so I also apply that to my life too!

Ah - that's interesting:-))))

I keep thinking the seam of the pant will cut into me there if i dont wear underwear.

I havnt been wearing pads,just the ointment for protection and underwear,im causing the underwear to stick to my vulva because of the ointment which causes more irritation. At home i do the comando thing,especially when going to bed. If nothing natural works will have to try estrogen just on the vulva area to build the tissue back up.

I wear no knickers with baggy jogging bottoms or a skirt. With jeans I wear underwear because of the seam issue, as you say. But I wear loose jeans - no more apple bottoms for me!

What has been diagnosed? I think they can both cause itching, irritation and burning. If you have been examined and the doc says you have atrophy then it is possible that you have vulvodynia too, because the poor condition of the vaginal cells with atrophy can make you more susceptible to vulvodynia. If they say you do not have atrophy, then I guess you just have vulvodynia. Have you tried the cotton bud test? Does just the slightest touch with a cotton bud cause pain on specific area of the vulva? If so, that does sound a lot like vulvodynia. How old are you? You know, sometimes, not even a gyno can tell, that is why these things go untreated for so long! mine told me it was complicated and there are a lot of factors involved - tell me about it! It may be worth getting a biopsy too, like we discussed before.