will power?

I posted a number of threads on this site but for some strange reason they got erased (hence the number showing 153 posts but only about 30 or so are showing)....not only mine, but others during the same time frame got erased (between January and May). Anyway, there is a cure for this--it's Capsaicin cream. It has to be diluted in a 4:1 ratio with shea butter. There is a professor in CA who presented this at a Dermatology Convention years ago, and I found his findings on the web. Everyone who tried this after my initial post found relief. It is now 9 months later, and I can honestly say that I don't have this problem anymore. The cream worked immediately, but at first you may have to use it daily, and then you can go to a few times a week, then weekly, then monthly (I'm now at monthly usage). It burns horribly the first five minutes, but this is normal, and the reason why it has to be diluted, because even at the 4:1 ratio it's so strong.

Anyway, I still visit this site because I know how desperate I was for relief and a cure, and want to share my experience with others.

Ann. There's a mod who deleted any post that mentions capsaicin cream. I think they thinks it's their duty to help us suffer. They give no reason why they delete.

. Anyway I've copied your post and will post it to let others know. Actually the mod is probably in the medical pro is embarressed about how crap they are at their jobs. Isn't it funny how useless dermotolagists semm to be? I mean have they actually cured any skin desease?

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[quote:c00d898b76=\"Ann G.\"]Anyway, there is a cure for this--it's Capsaicin cream...[/quote:c00d898b76]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll still visit my GP, but armed with this information I feel a lot better.

The thought of rubbing capsaicin on my anus is kind of scary. I like the occasional pizza with lots of jalapenos, so I have some idea that it'll be pretty uncomfortable to say the least!

There's so much information online regarding capsaicin and pruritus ani! I've found a number of medical journals and periodicals etc that have given exact details of the studies that have been carried out. Ann, thanks so much for your advice!

I'm interested to know what strength cream you've been using, I've found 0.025% and 0.0125% (half) on sale. The medical study that is most well documented used 0.006% (half again, or I guess 3:1 if I buy the 0.025% cream and dilute it).

I've also seen a medical journal that suggests:

1. Use 1% Hydrocortisone for a week.

2. Use capsaicin cream thereafter if required.

I followed Dr. Berger's instructions and used the .025% capsaicin cream and had my pharmacist dilute it 4:1 (to equal .006%) and compound it with shea butter. I live in the US and have a great relationship with my doctor, so he agreed to write me a prescription when I showed him the article, but I understand that some people have had to try to dilute it themselves because their doc wouldn't write a prescription.

Dr. Spock (Moderator), thank you for informing me why our posts were deleted, because I was hesitant to post again. However, since so many people tried this cream after my initial post, and like me, found relief, I want to keep letting others know about it.

Dear Anne G,

I have used capsaicin cream today diluted with aloe vera gel to the ratio of 4:1 and i have to say it was the most horrendous experience!! The burning sentation lasted over an hour and i have to physically apply a cold flannel to my anus for half an hour or more after to help with the pain. I'm sure I read somewhere on these threads that aloe vera gel was ok to mix with capsaicin cream? Maybe it wasn't the best mix hence why i'm suffering now? i cant feel my anus at the moment! is this part of the process?

I originally went to my doctor like you suggested with the medical report and he pretty much laughed at me (not the best support) he was very unwilling to give me the cream at first but I managed to persuade him out of sheer desperation. The chemist would not dilute it for me as my doctor had not written that it needed to so i was left to dilute it on my own methods. I am hesitant to use the capsaicin cream again as i can't bare the thought of going through all that pain again but should I have seconds thoughts whats the best substance to mix it with? Ive heard that Aqueous cream is good? What make of sheer butter do you use as I know there are lots of sheer butters with other chemicals in them that might counter act against the capsaicin cream...

I know you are not an expert on this but you have thrown a life line to us sufferers!the more advice you can give us the easier it will be to beat this.

Many thanks for keeping this thread alive!

Ann, I think you mean 3:1. If you start with .025% then...

1:1 (half and half) creates .0125% strength

2:1 creates .0083% strength

3:1 creates .006% strength

4:1 creates .005% strength

Interesting that Joma found this to be a pretty horrible experience. That's about what I'd expect when rubbing chillis on my anus! I've noticed that some capsaicin creams used to relieve muscle and back pain are .075% - are you sure you haven't got this? If not, maybe you're just particularly sensitive to this ingredient?

I guess a big part of this treatment is numbing the affected area, or at least overstimulating the nerves to the point that an itching sensation can no longer be felt. I'm about to get myself some cream - I'll let you know the results!

Its definately 0.25% but seeing as im mixing it myself the quantities might be a little off. I have yet to do 'round 2' as I know what to expect but they say the more you use it the easier it gets, lets hope so! Im trying it mixed with aqueous cream next, and lets hope it works....im so fed up with it....

good luck!

Hi Joma:

Here is the info I copied straight from the article of the experiment that Dr. Berger did. I hope this helps lend credibility for all of you. I was afraid to try diluting it on my own, which is why I went to a compounding pharmacy, but had my doctor not written a prescription I would have resorted to doing it on my own also. I do hope this helps.

\"Several topical capsaicin products are available; however, they contain a much greater percentage of the extract (0.035%-0.025%). Dr. Berger recommends a milder formulation of 0.006% extract, which he has specially compounded at a local pharmacy.

Patients should apply the ointment to the affected area once a day. After a few weeks, they may be able to reduce the application to once every other day, but the itching may return if they stop treatment.

Dr. Berger has only treated about five patients with the ointment. His interest in the therapy was sparked by a 2003 study by Joseph Lysy, M.D., and colleagues at Hadassah University, Jerusalem.

They randomized 44 patients to either a 0.006% capsaicin ointment or 1% menthol ointment for 4 weeks. A 1-week washout period followed, after which the groups were crossed to the other therapy (Gut 2003; 52:1323-6).

A total of 31 patients experienced relief during capsaicin treatment and did not respond to menthol. Capsaicin treatment was unsuccessful in 13 patients. Only four dropped out, because of a burning sensation at the site of application. Most patients said the burning feeling lessened with use. After 11 months' follow-up, 29 patients were able to reduce their use of the ointment to once every other day with maintained efficacy.

Dr. Lysy decided on the 0.006% concentration after a dose-finding study. He created the ointment by diluting prescription capsaicin ointment of 0.025% (Zostrix) in a 1:4 ratio in white, soft paraffin.\"

COPYRIGHT 2005 International Medical News Group

HI Ann G,

Thanks for that, I actually took that article with me to the doctors, only for him to say it was not conclusive enough and didnt recommend it for me, blah blah blah.....I have since used the capsaicin cream again but it was just unbearable....it was 20 minutes of absolute grief, and do not wish to experience it again. It might be it's too strong but if I dilute it further, i run the risk of it not working at all...

I'm unlikely to get support from my GP again so I'm tempted to go private now and see if I am able to get it made up into a solution...I'm not sure though that it is going to work for me.

I am thinking this is something I will just have to live with for the rest of my life. Thanks for your continued support on these pages though as im sure you have given hope to a lot of people.

Joma,

I am so sorry to hear that your doctor didn't take it seriously. Why not try diluting it further just to see if it works? For me, the burning is really bad for about 5-7 minutes (sometimes so much that I feel nauseous), but because of its effectiveness I only have to use it once a month! In the beginning I used it twice a day, then once a day, then once every other day, etc....and now 9 months later I'm down to once a month.