Just had this a year or so--are the changes likely permanent?

I was diagnosed without a biopsy - I am in the UK, it was the changes to the anatomy that was the  significant factor

I flare up if anxious /stressed /annoyed, so i try and keep tranquil and smile as much as possible. On the various threads on this site you will find a mass of helpful hints on how to feel as comfortable as possible- from protecting your skin with a barrier cream to prevent urine from burning the skin, dabbing dry not wiping using non coloured non chemical lavatory paper, no smellies in the bath or on the undercarriage ,pure white cotton knickers- pants- going commando wearing skirts, no tights

Often the onset is when there is a sudden change in hormone levels combined with other factors, stress- health changes- life style changes

The steroid treatment is with high potency steroid ointment or creams used daily - a pea sized amount - or according tothe medics prescription. I am not sure you can buy the Dermovate or your equivilent over the counter. Some are changing their diets or even fasting to boos the immune system I use LOADS of moisturising creams to keep the skin soft and pliable- Good luck try not to worry and get tense

Best Wishes

SueDM

I'm sorry to have to hear such a familiar story from you.

First off, both remission and sex are still possibilities at your age, in my experience. LS varies hugely. We have very young women on this forum who've had really fast atrophy and fusing.

Over-the-counter cortisone cream won't get you there, except maybe much later as maintenance in remission. Most of us (except the pioneers in alternative therapies and the rare woman who can't handle the ointment) are prescribed the most potent corticosteroid ointment/cream which we use in such tiny quantities that a 50 g. tube lasts a whole year. This is forever. People used to worry about it thinning the skin, but there's a new study that disputes that. Anyway, when we're fighting pain, burning, itching, and loss of vulvar architecture, the standard way seems to me the best way.

My personal take is you should find an ob/gyn or a dermatologist who will know by looking that you have LS. You're right to be worried that the biopsy migh be difficult to heal. We had a woman on here this week who did heal hers with manuka honey and hot soaks.

My LS started when I was a baby. I had tears in my perineum and frequent yeast infections throughought my twenties and was pretty much celibate through a bad marriage in my thirties. But in my forties I had remission and plenty of great sex.

I had a huge flare-up at menopause and was not diagnosed. I noticed the partial fusing of my clitoral hood and figured I hadn't been scrubbing enough with soap. I could not have taken a worse direction. That and seven years of celibacy as a Buddhist. But after I met someone in my fifties I found sex was possible and enjoyable for a few years until I was 61, when I had a catastrophically bad flare and had to give up sex. That would not have happened if I'd been treated before. The flare finally got me diagnosed by an astute young gynae and prescribed Clobetasol.

I expect you'll hear from others with LS who have the same auto-immune disorders you have. There's definitely a pattern. I only have psoriasis, which is what I thought LS was for so long. My psoriasis is 100% clear, but the LS is just kept from being uncomfortable or progressing fast with the cream.

You'll find lots in past discussions (below) on diet, clothing, washing, etc. here.

Basically never use soap down there, wear loose cotton panties and loose trousers, eat a healthy diet (you probably have to do that already). I've found chocolate to be the worst thing for it, but that might be just me.

I hope you'll keep coming here and that you'll get straightened out and back to making love comfortably.

Vagina  - not vagine

boost not boos

SueDM