Continual labial itching

[gypsy1]

I've had labial itching in this area since I was at least 14 (I'm 50 now). The itching is confined to the area at the top and sides of the large lips nearest the clitoris, but not INSIDE the lips, strictly on the outside skin of the large lips. Whether I shave my pubic hair or not doesn't affect the itching, it itches either way. When my pubic area is hot, the itching is intensified, as it is when the area is wet from swimming or bathing. Wearing a wet bathing suit can be extremely aggravating. Sometimes sexual foreplay increases the itching. The last two or three days before my period usually causes the itching to increase; then once my period begins the itching sensation lessens considerably. After the period is over, the itching sensation starts again.  The type of underwear doesn't affect the itching. Neither does changing my detergent, or soap, or towel material. I have no infections. The itching does NOT involve the vagina or the vulva, just this area of skin at the top of my labia. I have mentioned this itching to my gynocologist periodically, and he is noncommittal about it. I've used anti-fungal creams, anti-itch creams, moisturizers and tea tree oil at various times. All of these things stop the itching for a day or two, then it returns. I've also used Diprolene cream, which is prescribed for my hives. The Diprolene also only works for a day or two. I'm curious to know what might be causing this since I've had it all my adult life, and if there's a way I could get rid of it once and for all.

[MsGaPeach]

Okay, it's been about a year since my last "I'M CURED!" posting.  I regret to say that, after several months of bliss, the infamous itch came back!  It seems to flare up with excess heat, friction, and perhaps my period, especially when the weather is hot.  Sigh...

I have tried different treatments only to have temporary relief.  Here are the things that gave me temporary relief:
-Bac-tine antiseptic spray (provides a coolness that overrides the itch).  It's an over the counter first aid product.
-Hydro gen par oxide (may burn if you've scratched a lot, but it stopped the itch so I could sleep)
-Clot-rimazole and Beta-methasone Dipro-pionate cream (prescribed by my GYN) -- This helped for only about a month or two.
-Cold low-fat vanilla yogurt (this does not leave greasy build up like some creams).  The yogurt is cool without any burning or tingling and left a fresh smell.  Provided overnight relief.

Each product above was used after a shower and thorough gentle cleaning of my vagina.

My GYN said she didn't see any skin problems.  ARRRGGG!!!

I will try switching to baby shower gels and continue with the yogurt and see if that helps.  I'll let you ladies know how it goes!

[woneringwoman]

I've had the itch for 2 years and I've talked to my doctor about it and gave me a cream for ir but it did not help. Im trying to get rid of it as soon as posible.
Any sugestions?

[notsoitchy]

I had this itch for about 15 years.  My left labia majora was all enlarged and extremely itchy and painful.  I tried a couple different doctors and all kinds of herbal self help stuff with 0% difference.  Mine seems to get worse with my period.  I did a lot of research on it and it is amazing how many women suffer from this.  I finally found a forum where one women found the problem and was cured.  So I took all this information in to a gyno.  They did a biopsy of the area and it came up as hypertrophic squamous mucosa with mild hyper parakeratosis.  That's a mouth full.  I reserched it under this name and found nothing so fa,r unless I researched each word.  The gyno told me that it was the same thing as squamous cell hyperplasia, which I found easily.  She gave me a strong steroid ointment to heal it and a numbing ointment to releave the itch.  She also gave me an antihistimine stonger then benadryl to take orally at night.  I have been using them know for 1 1/2 weeks.  My labia has almost returned to it's original size and the itch is just barely there at night.  My suggestion is to call around and find a gyno who is familiar with this term befor you see them.  I sincerely hope you find the answer.

[coolgal123]

I have been having this labial and anus itching since young. I have had thrush tested before and it got cured for a while and again the itchy started. But I was afarid to go to the gynocologist again and think is normal and will never be cured permanently.

I am actually from Thailand and now I live in Australia. Coming to Australia I dont which gynocologist is good to see.

I went to a femake doctor in Perth, very caring and told my problem. She made me have a test done last month  thursh, bacteria and uninary track test and it seem I had bacteria infection.

I was given a cream to insert to vagina and after using that I still have the itchy .

I went back to Thailand for a holiday and met a gynogologist. I had a test again in Thailand to confirm I dont have anymore infection. To my surprise I was negative in all the test. But I told the doctor i always have the itchy feeling in the labia.

First I though it might be my hair. But the doctor gave me Betnovate cream to apply on the effected area. To my surprise just in the first application i could feel the different. The itchy was not there but I need to use this cream 3 time a day for a while to see weather it stop completely when I use it. I was reading throught the Betnovate cream and it seem to be treatment for eczema and other type pf dermititis. I am not sure I got eczema but this cream really help me and I will continue using it.

Below is the website about the cream
http://www.mydr.com.au/cmis/PDFs/CMI5756.pdf

Hope this help.

[starlite414]

I suffered from the same itching as  gypsy1 & I guess most of you. I had itched so much that the skin of my labia had turned to a leatherery state & went from a healthy pink to 'blood loss' white. None of the gyn's I went to knew what it was or how to treat it. I figured I was doomed to suffer with this the rest of my life. I had tried everything & nothing helped. Than I finally found a gyn that sent me to a specialist gyn that specialized in the labia. This woman was a god send!! She GOT RID OF THE ITCHING!! It is a dermatology problem & this doctor knew what it was as soon as she seen it. I don't remember the medical term for it but it is called scratch & itch syndrom. She prescribed Nystatin & Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP. Either go to a dermatologist or to your gyn & tell them that is what it is & ask them to prescribe the cream for you. Make sure it's the CREAM as this stuff also comes in gel form. It will take about 6-8 weeks of treatment with the cream. You need to start appling 3 times a day, every day for a week. Than twice a day for a week, than twice every other day, than twice every 3 days. Than start once a day for a week, than once a day every other day & so on. It takes about 6 -8 weeks for the whole process, but it's worth it to be ITCH FREE!!  You need only to apply a little, not a big 'gob' of the stuff. You also need to switch to a "Free" laundry detergent. Soap does irritate. She also told me that (if you can do it) underwear holds moisture in & creates bacteria & helps it to grow. Not wearing underwear is the best. I've been itch free for over 7 yrs now & it's wonderful. The blood is back & my labia is pink again & not leathery. Every once in a while I feel it trying to come back but I put the cream on for a few days & it keeps the itch at bay! My gyn is more than happy to give me a script for the cream if I need it. If you live in Arizona in the Phoenix area the specialist's name is Dr. Rebecca Lavy. She is great!!!  

[karebear735]

I have suffered from an intense itching of the labia for 10 years. Try everything I can. I have been to 5 doctors. Nothing makes it go away. Clobetasol helps but doesn't fix the problem. I wash all the time. It helps for a few minutes. I have used hydrocortisone creams, antibiotic ointment, dandruff shampoo(this helps for awhile), alcohol(burns but takes the intense itch away for awhile), soak in the tub with a little vinegar. All these things are very temporary relief tactics. I really think I will just suffer from this for the rest of my life. I have had a skin biopsy that showed nothing. This is not nothing! At times I want to scream, I am so aggrivated that I don't know what to do anymore.