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Clobetasol Cream, does it work for you?

Posted , 9 users are following.

Guppy007
Guppy007

Since being diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus last February,  through trial and error, I have discovered, sometimes painfully, what works for me with regard to using Clobetasol  cream.

When I initially had the typical white LS plaques, which were on the inside of my Labia Minora,  I used Clobetasol and it worked quickly, and effectively, and I think it took around a week for them to clear up, using it twice a day, and fortunately they have never returned. Also when I have had pain, and soreness on my clitoris, I will use it twice a day for around four days, and I have found it to work really well for clearing this problem  up quickly.     

However, Clobetasol did not work for me when I had a sore area (a lesion) about half an inch away from my Vjay.   I applied the cream carefully, and the next day I had a seriously nasty red rash running everywhere, and up the crack of my butt!! and so I stopped using Clob in that particular area after that, and the next time I got a tiny sore in a similar area I bathed in salt water and used baby cream, Desitin I think it was initially, and I think I used vaseline before bed, but  only for the first couple of days, after that I switched to bathing and then using hardly any talcum powder on a powder puff to make sure that there was no moisture down there whatsoever, and this worked really well.  I have found sore areas need cream initially, but then  they need to be kept dry, and after a few days my sore area cleared up!  So for me, using Clob on my Vjay works, but for on the surrounding skin not so much.

With regard to maintenance, I dont use the cream.   My Vjay looks normal, no white patches, cuts etc and so I don't see the point of applying cream to areas that show no visible sign or symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus.  I do believe in the routine of spraying after using the bathroom, drying and lubricating, this I think stops fusing from occurring and so it is an important routine to have, of which I always stick to rigidly!..so this is what works for me.

1 like, 36 replies

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  • mary_58782
    mary_58782 Guppy007

    Posted

    Although I prefer the cream, my doctor told me that the ointment is more readily absorbed.

    You and I use similiar routines. At times I also have a fungal infection and the steroid cream makes it a lot worse. It occurs in my creases.

    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 mary_58782

      Posted

      Mary, I have read that the ointment is supposedly slightly better, and so I will have to ask for that next time I think.
  • andrea58721
    andrea58721 Guppy007

    Posted

    My experience has been if I use the ointment more often, it can irritate the non-white areas - cause or irritate the red spots, which is what you're describing. And my doctors have confirmed that: "Don't use the ointment more than twice a week, unless something really drastic happens." Also, I think you can get really precise about where the ointment goes and just get it onto the white areas.
    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 andrea58721

      Posted

      I agree, you can get really precise with using a magnifying mirror, but goodness knows how some women get on that are not able to contort their bodies into the positions needed sometimes to apply the cream.(smile)
    • andrea58721
      andrea58721 Guppy007

      Posted

      I know....!

      I think a wall mirror is the easiest - keep a strong light nearby.

  • lynne1945
    lynne1945 Guppy007

    Posted

    I am still finding my way as to what works for me as I am only in my 3rd flare up since last years diagnosis and this one is ten times worse than the others. It's what made to sit up and say HEY! I better get learning how to control my symptoms. 

    Very interested about the clob to clitorus as that is a nasty little issue for me, sudden stabbing pain there sometimes and then intense itch but no other itching anywhere else or ever have had. So I didn't know to put clob on there, especially as there is nothing to see on examination. So I have always just put more emu oil on. Now I will put a tiny amount clob on a Q_tip and hope it doesn't burn. Thanks for that.

    my other bathroom routines are the same, I use soda bic. In my spray bottle.

    • judy02533
      judy02533 lynne1945

      Posted

      I have been using the same routine for bathroom .  But in the pastweek on hereI read that too much baking soda can upset the natural chemistry.  Do you all spray the bs every time you go to bathroom?  Do you dry with toilet paper or use soething else?
    • judy02533
      judy02533 lynne1945

      Posted

      Lynn, what about putting the emul oil prio to putting the clob on?    My doc told me to put moisturizer on first. I read a few others say the same thing.  It may be a good idea because of the irritation.
    • lynne1945
      lynne1945 judy02533

      Posted

      The soda bic soothes me I believe and I only use a pinch in 120 mis warm water and then dry with hypoallergenic loo paper, (no perfume, additive of any kind) then a drip of emu oil smeared round whole area. I have been advised before to apply Clob after bath, air dry thoroughly and apply to clean dry skin and rub in for 60 to 90 seconds to aid absorption into the deep layers of skin. Then apply emu, coconut, whatever to lubricate. At first I did it twice daily to my lesions and it DID burn to beggary, so after six days I cut it back to once after bath and now I am doing it every two days and the Estogen every other night.  Because my whole vulval area is quite burny when I sit, but my area looks pink and healthy (so I never put clob on there)someone here advised a light rub over the whole area. Gosh, it's hard to get to grips with it all. I am just reading everything avidly and gently trying things that work for others now and again. 

      Thought of something today while thinking back re LS and signs I have had it ages:  hubby bought me a bike 10 years ago so we could go for jaunts together. OMG after three short attempts I felt so sore and burnt I gave up, thought Its probably cause it's been years and maybe older ladies bits just aren't up to bike seats! 

    • norma54754
      norma54754 judy02533

      Posted

      judy, if you are a little concerned about using baking soda, an alternative is a sea salt solution. Just dilute a pinch in a small spray.

      Sea salt reduces acidity and balances the alkaline/acid ph.

      It has a similar mineral content to that in skin cells.

      It helps protect the skin barrier and reduces inflammation.

      Bicarbonate/Baking soda solution is very popular but my preference is a  sea salt solution.

      I do a sea salt soak a 2 or 3 times a week to keep the vulva area healthy.

       

    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 lynne1945

      Posted

      I have not had the stabbing pain thank goodness!! but I would imagine the Clob should help with that..good luck.  Make sure you wait at least an hour or so after applying the Clob before you apply the Emu oil.
    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 judy02533

      Posted

      Judy, I have not heard that before, my understanding is that the cream needs to go on first to penetrate and then an hour or so afterwards lubrication can be applied...I am not sure the cream would be quite so effective on top of the oil.
    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 norma54754

      Posted

      I use sea salt, I think because it just seems the most natural of the two, but both are good I think.
    • judy02533
      judy02533 norma54754

      Posted

      Hi Norma, is one better that the other ...do they both help balance.  I have been spraying with water and bs about 3 or 4 times day . I do fine with it, but I had read that it can upset the balance.

       

    • judy02533
      judy02533 Guppy007

      Posted

      Guppy, I read on one site to put moisurizer on first, then clob.  My specialist also said to put moisturizer on first and then steroid.  I continue to put steroid first because that is what you ladies recommend. But I now use a less strong steroid. When I tried clob I had a bad reaction.  But I think if I were to use clob again, I would try using moisturizer first. 
    • norma54754
      norma54754 judy02533

      Posted

      Hallo judy...neither is ideal  ph. but sea salt is better than bicarbonate of soda on the ph scale.

      On ph scale..

      Nuetral is (7)

      Blood is (7) but skin and vagina area is approx.(5)

      Both sea salt (8) and bicarbonate of soda(9) are alkaline.

      Personally I don't spray with anything and would use plain water if I did as it is less alkaline at (6)

      I am aware that others do things differently so it is a personal thing.

      I soak in a sea salt solution of 1 tablespood to approx 5pints of warm water, 2 or 3 times a week.

      This is not a strong solution but the mineral electrolytes in sea salt are similar to human skin with healing qualities and antiinflammatory.

      The vulva needs a slightly acid skin and too much alkalizing means the skin struggles to maintain the natural ph balance which makes it more vulnerable to yeast and bacterial infections.

      Sounds strange but rinsing with black coffee would be closer to the natural ph of the vulva area.

      Gives a whole new meaning to morning coffee. lol.

      Tha

       

       

    • bindey
      bindey norma54754

      Posted

      Agreed! I used to rinse with apple cyder vinegar in the past when having bouts of thrush. Seemed to work then and I no longer have thrush.

      Personally i just rinse and dry after each loo visit and don't mess around more than that. It may be important to remove urine.

      But I think the whole clob thing and focusing on a 'problem' re-inforces it. But I've served my time so am up for a change. 

      Am going to apply frankincense oil to my throat area, as this chakra maybe where I am weak, and, support for the thyroid might help my LS.

    • bindey
      bindey

      Posted

      diluted ACV
    • bindey
      bindey judy02533

      Posted

      I really think it unbalances. The vagina is an acidic area and so is the vulva also intended to be, to ward off microorganisms (a lower threshold of acidity than acid in the stomach...but a similiar mechanism being protection at a gateway)
    • bindey
      bindey

      Posted

      'it' being bicarb....which is more alkaline.
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