How to apply Clobetasol or Halobetasol

Hi Wil--I apply the clob ointment to the inner areas of the vulva--labia minora, clitoris (which is a little sore and trying to fuse on me, I think), around the urethra (I also feel irritation there from the LS), so--all of the mucosal tissues.  I don't have any white or red areas on my perineum or anus at this point, so I don't apply there.  My labia majora is not involved at this point, either--just the inner mucosal areas.  I do apply a little to the area around my vaginal opening (introitus) because I have some narrowing going on there.  I guess anywhere that we have symptoms in that "figure eight" area that LS commonly strikes is appropriate if we are symptomatic there.  

I don't think that this is a science yet, so our doctors may just be trying to figure it out, like we are.  We have to weigh the costs/benefits of treatment versus no treatment and make our decisions accordingly.  Treating comes with some risks, but not treating comes with a lot of risks, too.  

I have some slightly reddened areas next to the white areas.  Not sure if that's what you are seeing.  I assume that your doctors are keeping an eye on you for maligancy, which we all run a slight risk of with LS.

Regarding the discharge, I had similar sounding discharge a few years ago and it turned out to be bacterial vaginosis.  Have you ruled that out with your doctors?  It sometimes can have a very mild fishy odor.  It is very common in women (and sometimes passed back and forth between sexual partners).  The odor is sometimes more pronounced after intercourse and the next day.  Some antibiotics can treat bacterial vaginosis, but I haven't had any recurrances of it since following some research that I read which says that low vitamin D levels can make it more likely (can assess vitamin D levels with a blood test), so I take vitamin D.  I think that the probiotics that I take and fermented foods also helps the vaginal flora to maintain itself in a healthy way, too.  

I hope that sharing some of my experiences are of some use to you.  These are not easy issues to be dealing with!  --Suzanne

 

I was given Clobetasol for anal areas and it made my symptoms worse then my gynae said he did not think I had LS so I stopped using it. I soak in bath for 20 mins e45 actually shower cream not bath then I apply e45 intensive lotion (red top type) around the vagina and anus and so far had good results the redness all gone. Am using Vagifem for vaginal atrophy and so far things now going ok.The Clobetasol will thin your skin which is why you can see the vessels under your skin. This happened to me when I was using it, but if there is no alternative because of the symptoms, then I guess you still have to use it. I also guess people get urine infections as the cream could get in the urethra. I am sure the instructions on using the cream as well say do not apply to the areas your gynae told you, and think your dermatologist correct. Sometime common sense has to prevail as there is so much conflicting info between doctors gynae and dermatologists. Hope this helps

Will, those discolored patches (red or bruised-looking) are just part of LS. I kind of agree with your doctor about not applying clob inside the the vagina. LS is in skin, not mucosal membranes. There's no danger of thinning LS affected skin, because it's actually way too thick with deadeded cells. Like Suzanne, I'm tempted to slip around the edge with the application, where the bridge across the 'fourchette' is slowly tightening. I have used it on the big red area around my anus, but not on the actual sphincter, which is a different type of tissue and that redness really cleared up nicely.

One of the biggest obstacles to solving LS, as Dr. Goldstein said, is that Dermatologists have more training that gynaecologists on the disorder, but aren't accustomed to examining any areas under our panties.

It's very clear wherever you read that LS is never inside the vagina. That would more likely be lichen planus or, as Suzanne says, an infection. Then you're really in gynaecolocy's territory.

I've had a yeast infection this past week (treating it with the slow-working cream, which is gentler on LS than the Bomb – one-night suppositories) and it seeems to be causing an LS flare (white perineum again and a long split). I've suspected that all the years before my diagnosis those many yeast infections (caused by sugar, stress and the friction of sex) were giving the LS repeated boosts. I blame the current outbreak of yeast on a combination of rubbing Premarin cream on for three nights, a stressful day, and an ice cream cone.

A lot depends on where the LS is! I had it around the rectum quite badly, the typical keyhole shape described in many articles, so I had to use it there. The splitting and fissures I had healed well.  However I have to be really careful not to let dermovate near my ureathra as it makes me very sore.  Nowadays I usually get on fine with daily applications of 1% hydrocortisone, but last week for the first time in two years I had to use dermovate for three days and it felt like I had a UTI. I think experience will be your best guide

 

A lot depends on where the LS is! I had it around the rectum quite badly, the typical keyhole shape described in many articles, so I had to use it there. The splitting and fissures I had healed well.  However I have to be really careful not to let dermovate near my ureathra as it makes me very sore.  Nowadays I usually get on fine with daily applications of 1% hydrocortisone, but last week for the first time in two years I had to use dermovate for three days and it felt like I had a UTI. I think experience will be your best guide

 

the new gyn I saw today told me to apply the clob to the whole vulva area, the white skin, raw skin , thin skin, all of it. but I do not have any problems in the tissue around my urethra, she said it was fine.  I asked about my anus and she said no because she did not see LS there right now, but Im sure it was there in the beginning. Definately not in the vagina, just around the opening of the vagina.