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HOW to apply steroid creams

Posted , 10 users are following.

lauren33630
lauren33630

Hi all. Sorry if this has been asked before or is available elsewhere, but so far I havent found the info I am looking for.

I was prescribed locoid cream about 5 weeks ago and given hydromol ointment to use as soap and a barrier. I was told to take the steroid for 4 weeks daily, then every other day and then twice a week.

However all the dermatologist told me was "apply to affected areas"

Now i am confused, because I dont have many white patches. I apply the cream to those patches and anywhere that I usually experience pain and or open skin and cuts (which I tend to experience the most around my labia minora and clitoris).

Anyway, I noticed that my labia is shrinking quite rapidly. What was once to me a bit of an embaressing amount of skin is receding at a daunting rate. I dont experience pain, itching or broken skin in on either sides of the labia folds..but the shrinking has made me wonder whether I should be applying the locoid to them anyway?

Thanks to anybody who answers. I appreciate this is quite specific and maybe strange to ask..but Ive heard the wrong application is often to blame for steroids not working and I dont feel like my Dr really gave me enough information! Any i put would be great.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • maree83776
    maree83776 lauren33630

    Posted

    Hi Lauren,  I'm so sorry you're going through this.   It is a horrible and stressful disease.  I would strongly advise you listen to a podcast on Vimeo uploaded by Dr. Andrew Goldstein "Lichen Sclerosus:The Unspoken Pain".  Google it, and it will come up.  He talks about how important it is for the steroid to be applied properly.  Ideally you should bathe the area for some time (can't remember how long) then apply treatment and massage into the skin. It is very important that it penetrate to the bottom layer of skin which is where the problem originates.  I usually shower, then apply. I guess his point is that the skin's pores need to be open and therefore, able to absorb the ointment more easily. I'm not a doctor, but if I were you I would be applying the ointment to wherever you have symptoms but it's probably wise to go back to your dermatologist.   I think Dr Goldstein said he thas 1200 women on his books and all of them (bar 1) were well controlled with his method of application and treatment.  The 1 that wasn't left his care and stopped his regime and ran into trouble.

    Good luck with it.  It's not fun for any of us.

    Take care smile 

  • maree83776
    maree83776 lauren33630

    Posted

    Me again. Just had another thought.  I'm in Australia so I'm not across all the creams you use over there however, I've never heard of locoid cream used for LS before. Again, i'm sure Dr. Goldstein said it had to be an ointment used as opposed to a cream because of how it penetrates the skin.  I'd be questioning why you're not on Clobetasol like everyone else here and why you're not on the approved regime that Dr. Goldstein goes by and by which most of the Dr's I've come across go by....  Maybe look around for another derm or contact Goldstein's office for other dr's in your area.

    Good luck

    • lauren33630
      lauren33630 maree83776

      Posted

      Hi maree... ive been symptomatic for a year or so now but only diagnosed those 5 weeks ago. So I was quite familiar with online talk and creams and quite surprised when given locoid. I am wondering if it has less potency?

      Because I am in the Uk and not paying for my own treatment I am not sure if I am able to see another dermotoligist like that... but I plan to ask about the creams and proper application and if still not happy I guess I will see what I can do.

      I do wash and massage but will listen to the video you suggested. Thank you!

  • justine89448
    justine89448 lauren33630

    Posted

    Hi, I don't have any white patches I put the steroid on where it's sore or itching. I do put on my labia minoria as I'm shrinking to however I don't think it's making much difference with that. I would question that cream you've got as I'm not sure it's strong enough. Most of us are on dermavate ointment(clobesteral) probably spelt that wrong sorry, it's the most potent steroid. If you google steroid creams a list comes up with strength etc.

    Hope this helps xx

    • lauren33630
      lauren33630 justine89448

      Posted

      Hi justine, I also wondered this as well but didnt want to seem like I had superior knowledge or anything because of some google searching. The steroid says it IS potent and is hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1%. Maybe she gave it to me because I am quite early stages and because so far the damage is limited and I am young. However it also wouldnt surprise me if she gave me this because the other ointments or creams or expensive.

      I know I just had my second worst flare up ever this week after reducing the cream so I am not sure if thats a good or bad sign. Thanks for your insight on the shrinking, I am questioning now whether we can really prevent that now.

    • Jessicat
      Jessicat lauren33630

      Posted

      Hi just replying to your concerns about why you were given the cream, I'm 20 and don't have any white patches so I think I'm at an early stage of the disease, and I was given clobetasol when I was diagnosed, so I think you should be given it regardless of any of these things, I would go back and suggest it to your gp. Also I'm in the uk and I asked to be referred to see a dermatologist and you don't have to pay for that as it is on the nhs 
    • lauren33630
      lauren33630 Jessicat

      Posted

      Hi jess, this is the dermotoligst ive already been reffered to that gave me the locoid. Im not sure that i have the right to ask for another doctor though as ive already been reffered?
    • cherylr
      cherylr lauren33630

      Posted

      Hi Lauren, I'm in Australia and here if I'm not happy with a doctor I have been referred to I research online for recommendations and go pre-armed to my GP and request a referral to the specialist of my choice.

      I found a Womens Dr. Who specialises in Vulval problems and I asked my Gynae to refer me to that Dr. which she had no problem in doing. Although I haven't needed to go yet as I have my LS in control at the moment.

  • Lodge
    Lodge lauren33630

    Posted

    I asked this very question a few days ago, as I was put on Locoid cream but had never heard of anyone else being prescribed it.  

    However, I have to say it did the job and the gynae used the word asymptomatic. I now use it as and when I start to feel the soreness and itch.

    It doesn't help with the atrophy though, which is very upsetting.  Everything down there just seemed to disappear very quickly, without me even noticing until it was too latecry

    Also because I went onto Oestrogel (hrt), the gynae took me off Vagifem as he says I wouldn't need both, but I have read that it is beneficial to use localised hrt alongside the other hrt for the treatment of vaginal atrophy.  

    When I eventually get around to visiting the GP I will ask about it, but am not holding my breath - they just don't seem that interested when you are post-menopause and only talk about taking you off hrt altogether.

     

    • lauren33630
      lauren33630 Lodge

      Posted

      Hi lodge i am 26 and not on hrt or anything like that but it doesnt sound hopeful. While readig up on this a few people have mentioned that some shrinking is normal at post menopausal age but obviously its different with LS as it can happen at much quicker pace.

      I will ask at next apt. In 2 month though as im still able to have sex and am still early days... i want to be able to feel confident that my bits arent as alarming to look at for any potential partners are they are for me! Once theyre gone am fairly sure there is no getting them back so Id rather prevent that if and when I can.

  • janice67377
    janice67377 lauren33630

    Posted

    Since you live in Australia, have you tried Emuaid?   It has been working for me so that I can limit using the steroid cream.  I've been told staying on steroid cream for too long can cause thinng of the skin, something that LS people surely don't need.
    • maree83776
      maree83776 janice67377

      Posted

      Hi Janice.  Strangely enough I had just ordered some this morning from someone who imports it from the US. It's made there.  Dr. Andrew Goldstein mentioned that people with LS tend to have thicker skin because of the scarring that occurs so the steroid is actually useful in helping this.  I was only diagnosed a couple of months ago and it had only affected my clitoris - nowhere else.  We don't have Clobetasol here without getting it made up in a Compounding chemist so I have been given a lesser  strength steroid called Diprosone. The scarring (white growth) literally melted away in 7 days and things have gone to looking normal down there HOWEVER, it still feels very active. I'm still applying the steroid twice daily until the end off this week then supposedly once a day for a while at which time I'll give the emuaid a go.   I would have hoped the irritation would go away altogether for a while at least.  Is that your experience? 
    • janice67377
      janice67377 maree83776

      Posted

      Hi Maree,     I researched LS big time upon being diagnosed only by sight by my OBGYN. I was having painful sex and figured it was menopause.  After she told me that it looked like LS, I looked up treatments others have used. It scared the begibers out of me but this one gal used the Emuaid and said she had good luck with it.   I have red irratation and my cliterus was fusing.  The emuaid defused the cliterus so I continued to use it after sex.   My exam this year showed that my vulva was beat red.  I don't have itching at all but the doc wanted me to try Betamethasone Valerate cream for 3 weeks.    I don't have any thickening of the skin but only one side that looks white.  I put the cream on that part & use the Emuaid on the rest.   My delima is that I can handle sex with zero to no pain if a condom is used.   Without the condom, I'm rubbed raw and the semen stings like hell inside & out.   Hope this is not too much information but every little bit helps.  I have not seen my condition go away but future holds that I see a dermatologist and I dread any kind of biopsy.  I fear the biopsy site will never heal. 
    • lauren33630
      lauren33630 janice67377

      Posted

      Thats really interesting because my partner has suggested the use of a condom due to rubbing because he is circumcised. Since my LS began I havent used any but immediately said no to him as I had read comments from other LS sufferers saying condoms aggrivated them further.
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