Minimal symptoms before flare up?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Just wondering if anyone has a similar situation to me -- (I'm in my upper 20s) I got diagnosed with Lichen about a year ago. I had very slight hypopigmentation (only noticeable to the physician when I pointed it out) but my main symptom was tearing during sex at the perineum. Biopsy came back with a chronic inflammation.
Now, I don't have any of the typical symptoms - my skin doesn't turn white, it doesn't look overly fragile, it doesn't itch, etc. My only current symptom is the tearing with friction at times. So I struggle with knowing when to use the clobetasol with a flare up to PREVENT the tearing. Does anyone have any advice?
2 likes, 4 replies
mel34062 OptimisticGirl
Edited
Hi, I am wondering the same thing as well. I too have LS and when i have sex, it feels sore and raw at the bottom of the vagina opening. I checked and I get tears (paper cut looking ones that is sore and slightly raw feeling). I feel like certain positions feel uncomfortable and may cause these tears. Anyone can help with how they prevented tears. To be honest, I'm afraid to have sex.
what have your flares look like? when are you directed to use the clobetasol?
OptimisticGirl mel34062
Posted
Personally, it's hard to define what my flares are - I don't necessarily have any visual changes. I guess sometimes my skin will just become too fragile and tear if there is repeated "dry" friction. I use a small amount of estrogen cream (up to a few times a week), but I was instructed to only use the Clobetasol when I have a flare (and was told that using the steroid continuously could damage my vulva - although I'm sure this depends on each person's severity). Which, in my case, a flare is when I tear. Somewhat frustrating that I don't have any "warning signs", but I suppose I'm also grateful that I don't have more symptoms! Maybe someone has advice for us on anything else that we can do to our help our skin.
Also, in regards to sex, I've learned to use it as an excuse to require foreplay (since extra lube is always helpful 😉 )- have to find the positive in life somewhere!
beverly52803 OptimisticGirl
Posted
I use a milder steroid than the Clob twice a week only where there is discomfort. Works well. Only when the LS spread a bit was I prescribed the Clob , but eventually it became too irritating and I went back to Triamcinolone. Definitely discuss this with your dr (who is hopefully a specialist). According to my dr using it consistently keeps the LS under control. You just need to find the level of steroid and the frequency of use that keeps your specific symptoms under control. There seems to most definitely be various ways we experience this problem.
kia15889 OptimisticGirl
Posted
Hi,
I struggle with the same thing, everything down there looks normal (apart from when it's red/inflamed after sex) and I will sometimes tear at the perineum. not all the time though. I'm in my late twenties aswell! so I was told by my Dr to use the strong steroid cream for 2 weeks every day, then go down to every other day for 2 weeks. Then use my lower % cream about 2x a week to keep it a bay. its so frustrating because mine only flares everytime I have sex. the steroid cream also gives me thrush to deal with as well! there no knowing if I'm going to tear, I've torn with some partners and not with others and my last flare lasted 4 weeks and I spilt and couldn't have sex for weeks! I'm hoping this current flare goes away soon,luckily I haven't torn with this.