FLARE UPS

That sounds awful, D. Looking back at the flareup that took me into emergency and then sent to a gyne that finally diagnosed LS after 61 years, I do wonder if it's just the Clobetasol that has kept me from having another for a whole year. Honestly, the other big influence has been celibacy. In my case all that friction just stirred it up so much.

When you say inflamed, I interpret that as "blowtorched – red". I find that the most difficult aspect to get to calm down. I have that around the back most of the time, but it gets really uncomfortable if I eat a lot of chocolate. (I'm learning.)

It sounds like you should be using your prescription (Clobetasol or Dermovate) daily for awhile. Then taper off to twice a week.

Mine plays up when I have a Crohns flare and does not go til I am okay again. I use Advantan fatty ointment and Dermeze which is like a Vaseline for moisturising. There are ups and downs and hope you will have some peace soon. I have atrophy as I have had it for many years. All the best Dsauce06763 !

I would say the worse ones i had lasted anything between 1 and 2 weeks, my worst one consisted of actual blisters.  My gp tested me for herpes i was really upset and indignant!!! Needless to say it wasnt and after a week of salt baths followed by a week of dermovate it  cleared up.  Hang in there.

Hey pal,

1-2 weeks.  I would use the clobetasol to get it under control then manage your symptoms with a mix of clobetasol and other things that comfort.  I was given an Rx for an estrogen cream (estrogyne maybe) & it makes the skin a bit plump & heals things faster.  I also soak in Epsom salts & if I have no time, I just pour warm water with Epsom salts over my junk each morning.  Good luck.  Doesn't this suck?

Hi. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering so. I don't really suffer with the flare ups that people generally report. I use Lippu oil on a daily basis to moisturise and normalise the labia tissue. I use Charika soap whenever I shower. I don't have any symptoms, unless I stop using these products. LS is going to have at its root an immune deficiency. So, whilst I manage my symptoms, which means that I don't experience any discomfort. I also address my diet,( eat lots of greens, fresh vegetables, cleansing foods) water intake I meditate every day and have regular massages. My labia are still white, but there is no discomfort at all, no itching, and no lichenisation. Within a couple of days of using the oil (it needs to be oil not the ointment) my labia tissue had normalised. Also, as soon as I applied the oil the first time, I experienced a soothing. Let me know how you get on. Also, avoid scented pant liners. Good luck. Jane.

Hi Jane,

I'm glad you mentioned massage therapy. I have a long shiatsu massage every three weeks and I credit this with 'balancing' my energy somewhat. If I have an emotional upset, I go for an extra treatment. I'm settled into a three-year realtionshoip now, but during my dating period, I was a MESS! Stress sucks.

Hello I am sorry your also not good I am myself so sore I have steroid cream and Deprabase and I am totally fed up ,I thought I had it under control but this flare is bad do you know if fruits like mango grapes could do harm as I am trying to loose weight  what do you think causes a flare I am at my wits end x

Hi Carol, My experience is that being upset about it makes for a downward spiral. Worrying about every bite you eat is stressful. Not that weight loss isn't good – being overweight is bad for LS. All those moist folds of flesh...

I know when I was going to a Chinese doctor for my psorisais flare during menopause (I was unaware of LS at that time, although it was lifelong and busy causing atrophy the same year), she asked me whether I craved sugar. At the time I was eating daily chocolate bars and mountains of fruit for lunch. She warned me against eating too much fruit – it's still sugar.

Yeast /candida is not the same as LS, but I believe they help each other thrive in a bad way, so sugar is like fuel. I haven't tried to give up sugar, but I really don't eat a lot. If my psoriasis being 100% clear is a measure of success, I'd credit my diet. LS is harder, but it's not terrible right now. Not clear, but not terrible.

After 12 months on Clobaderm, which seemed to send my foo foo pink again and settle the labia/anal itching.I am now on HRT and I had a labia removal on the left side ( another issue) i have recently started getting horrific burning inside my bits and bobs ..especially during and after sexy times ..i didnt consider this being a flare up ..but afte reading this it seems it might be .

I ruddy hate this condition ..

grrr 

Try using Epaderm or Hydramol to protect yourself when you pee and shower, everyone is different. Also somethings work sometimes but not others.

I find keeping everything clean by washing after every pee using extra sensitive baby wipes when I am out or even using the disabled loos which have a sink next to the loo to make it easier to cleanse.  I always pat dry with toilet paper and remoisturise with Epaderm after so that I am protected from the urine the next time I need a pee.  I have not had a serious flare up in a year.  If I am slightly sore at any time I treat with Dermovate (Clobetasol) straight away and it clears up really quickly (in hours not days).  I had no active Ls at my last check up with the Dermatologist.  This works for me.  Good luck.

When I found out I was having a shoulder reconstruction we bought a bidet. The best thing we have ever bought! It prevents straining and you wash the front and the back in separate presses of different buttons. Toilet paper can be avoided if you choose. You can dry as well if that works better than using toilet paper. You can use cool water or warm but I choose the cool because I think that might be a better idea. I never put anything else there except for Advantan fatty ointment or Dermeze. When I had a Crohns flare recently, everything flared! I love the bidet!

Thanks so much for the question....!

Really helpful to think about but I am so sorry you're suffering.

I get a flare up for a day or so if I 'cheat' food wise. Cheating is allowed when following Paleo so any return to wheat  or other grain seems to do it...but increasingly I am not tempted to choose pizza or pasta. I notice I no longer crave this food group. So now I'm slowly working on quitting dairy.. but leaving in fermented and stilton for the probiotic value.