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Hot tubs and swimming pool, irritation with lichen sclerosus

Posted , 6 users are following.

pammypooh
pammypooh

Does anyone else have problems using their hot tubs with flare ups with lichen sclerosus or in swimming pools

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • judy02533
    judy02533 pammypooh

    Posted

    That is a good question.  Since I was diag. 2 months I didn't get to swim at all this summer.  Our pool is a cholrine pool.  I hope next summer if my LS is in remission I can swim.  Do you swim if it isn't flaring?  I wondered if using vasaline would help?
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh judy02533

      Posted

      I had a salt water pool. BUT, You dont put salt in that type of pool its a completey different set up. Which didn't seem to cause me any problems. But I've moved and have a hot tub. Which I've had in the past. But sence my LS has gotten worse I'm having trouble with my flare ups. I use my hot tub to exercise. It kills me not to be able to it. May try a salt water hot tub out. Not sure how the hot water with the salt will effect the LS. Not sure how the salt water hot water works.. may have inquire about it before I try it out.
  • lyn4668
    lyn4668 pammypooh

    Posted

    I really want to respond to this.  We have  our own pool, only used primarily by my husband and me.  Last year I used it almost not at all because I was afraid of inflammation.  At the beach several times on vacation this year I swam in salt water and had no problem.  So this summer I thought I am just going to swim.  I use Desitin, a nappy type barrier cream and shower afterwards and use Cetaphil, an emollient cleansing cream, and then coconut oil,.   Have had no issue this summer with inflammation and I am so happy about it as the summer has been so hot. public pools must necessarily have much higher chlorine levels so that might be a problem but am so glad to be back swimming again.  Hope this might help.
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh lyn4668

      Posted

      I'm so happy to hear this. I've tried using Aquaphor ointment as a water barrier and Vaseline to. I've turned the temperature on the hot tub all the way down to its lowest settings. So I could continue to use it but seem to still have flare ups. But even with not using it for over a month now I'm still having flare ups. So I'm wondering if the hot tub is even the problem or if I'm just in a flare-up condition. Seen my doctor. Got Treated still having flare ups. .
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh

      Posted

      What kind of coconut oil do you use?
  • lyn4668
    lyn4668 pammypooh

    Posted

    I buy it at the grocery store.  It is organic coconut oil in solid form in a jar but it turns to liquid at body temp.  I switch that off with emu oil and, sparingly, aloe Vera in either 100 percent liquid or the 98 percent gel.  But I really believe showering with Cetaphil morning and night is so useful also.  I didn't believe these natural products would work but used them on the input of this forum but they do.
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh lyn4668

      Posted

      This is my first time on here. I wanted answers or help with the whole swimming and hot tub thing. But I'm finding all kinds of good advice also. I havent personally found anything that I could use in the shower to cleanse wirh that hasn't broken me out. But I've not tried that brand of cleanser either. So tomorrow I'll be buying some and the coconut oil to. So you switch between the coconut oil and other to oils. .Emu oil and aloe vera oil?
  • lyn4668
    lyn4668 pammypooh

    Posted

    after researching on the Internet I found several government studies documented aloe Vera as an inexpensive and safe and effective treatment for is and planus.   Just google it.  Anyway we were on a hiking trip to Glacier National Park and I was so inflamed and uncomfortable.  So I purchased aloe gel from a health store and Cetaphil which 

     I also read was beneficial.  It helped right away.  Emu oil, which I read about here, is a fatty oil used to treat skin conditions.  Keeping the vulva area clean and very moisturized is beneficial.  So every morning and every nite, even if I don't feel like it, I shower and liberally use Cetaphil and then use coconut oil or emu.  If I have inflammation I use aloe.  A lot of people in the forum use bicarbonate of soda after urinating or at nite in a bath and find it helpful but I do not.  These are all natural and benign products that are soothing and anti inflammatory.  

    • pammypooh
      pammypooh lyn4668

      Posted

      Thanks so much for your insight on this. I've had LS for 6 yrs. Last yr was told its going to the lichen planus. It seems I'm also breaking out or flare-up or get worse and more offten. Stopped using steroids altogether because of damage to the tissue and I've lost part of the my clitoris from the steroid use. Haven't had sex in 2 years turn 48 this year Thank God for a wonderful husband. He see me through this and 10 years ago he see me through cervical cancer he's my rock.
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh lyn4668

      Posted

      I got the Cetaphil cleaner and the coconut and aloe vera oils today. I've used them once so far. I had no luck in finding the Emu Oil. But I didn't go to health food store. We have several here. I'll see if I can find it this weekend. .Thanks
  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 pammypooh

    Posted

    Good question - I don't have an answer yet.  I do avoid pools and hot tubs with chemicals especially in public places.  Too risky.  Often I'm at a clean lake, but still don't dare to go for a swim.  I find it very hard to see people enjoying the river or a lake and not able to cool off myself.  Especially since we have such a hot, hot Spring and Summer.  For me it is the sitzbath that comes with me on our camping trips.  Better to suffer the heat than to suffer an infection or flare up, is my thinking.  
    • pammypooh
      pammypooh hanny32508

      Posted

      Will my Dr told me I was doing to many sitz baths when I flare. Funny because sitz bath and corn starch are a be relief to me when I'm flared up. Today I got some coconut oil, aloe vera oil also so Cetaphil cleaner to try. I did some research on the salt water hot tub conversion kits for my hot tub. I'm still going to try one out first. At are local hot spring hot tub dealer. They, Have several of there hot tubs set up in private rooms. So you can come in and try them out before you purchase them. After explaining my concerns on the chemicals and wanting to see if they offered something in the "Green way of natural chemicals" they told me alot of people change over to salt water clarifying systems. I can buy it for $ 239. At least I don't need to buy a new hot tub. If after trying one out and finding out it will be ok. I hoping at least it. I'm the only person who is using my hot tub. So I don't have to worry about cleanliness. I've got other health problems that the hot tub gives me great relief from. I stretch my muscle and exercise in it twice a day. I've not used it for over a month. My body aches so much. I miss using it and relaxing. I want to thank everyone for any advice you can share with me..
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