Eczema "down there" - might be TMI

[Yael]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the gross topic, I just wanted to see if anyone had some advice, and failing that I’ll just have a vent...

I have severe eczema on my hands and medium eczema in other spots like my lips, eyes, underarms, elbows, knees, back etc. I also get eczema "down there", and it mainly just gets very sore and itchy.

I think I’ve had it there for a while, but only in the last year have mentioned it to my dermo's, who said anywhere its damp and there in friction you will end up with it. I can put mild hydrocortisone there, which does help.

Before I was pregnant I was probably only putting cream there once a month, and since becoming pregnant I have it constantly, it really hurts (I often scratch there in my sleep and bleed, and then it hurts to go to the toilet and just to walk around and stuff). I have to put it on daily, and still have the issue.

Although i can put cream on (and I’ve been using the slightly stronger stuff), I don't like putting it on everyday as it does thin the skin and I just feel it’s not such a great area to put it.

I don't remember having more discharge so early in pregnancy, last time I only felt like this for the last few weeks. Does anyone else have a lot more already? Is this normal, or an eczema issue??

Does anyone else have eczema there?

Gosh i hate it so much... of all the places I have it, its the one place that really upsets me.. it hurts a lot more, i can't do much about it, can't exactly scratch when its driving me crazy out in public, can't go to the toilet without pain once I’ve hurt myself there, can't have relations with my husband as it hurts there... and I feel like a freak whenever I mention it to my dermos or my obs or gp.

And it’s not something I go telling anyone normally.....but its really getting me down.. It the one place that makes me cry all the time.

Only other thing I can think of doing is changing my undies all the time, wearing a pad, and getting a Brazilian wax which for some reason seemed to help, although i only had it for the birth last time, and wasn't having major eczema issues so it might just be coincidence.

Ok, thanks for the vent.

Yael

[Danni]

sounds horrible Yael

You are definitely likely to have much more increased cervical mucous in the beginning of pregnancy so thats probably the cause.

i would wear a liner and change it frequently to avoid keeping it "damp" down there...

Can you try talc to help soak up any excess moisture?

[Yael]

I've heard of the rolled oats thing, might as well try it

Mine is so severe i'm currently having UV therapy on my hands 3 times a week.. even my dermo describes mine as shocking

The UV is working on my hands, but there are associated risks with having it on other parts of your body (i.e. skin cancer), and mines not so bad elsewhere that i have to try it... but bad ebough to be very upsetting.

Danni - thanks, i don't remember the added discharge this early, but my memory is pretty bad that far back, so i probably did have it then.. Looks like i better go find some liners somewhere in the house...

[Danni]

I have a box here with one missing! I didnt like them

Would you like it?

[chrysalis]

Hi Yael
sorry to hear you are suffering
my ecsema has worsened with pg although nowhere near as bad as you describe
i have recently tried dermaveen bath mix it is an oatmeal based product and has been really really good. i have been bathing every second day in it in cool water.
its relatively new on the market i got it from the local chemist.
maybe it could help.
cheers
B

[Alan]

Hi Yeal
I have heard of good results from using oatmeal.
One trick you could try which may stop the itching for a short time (shopping trip, driving, visitors)
Put ice fingers inside your pad. The coolness of the ice may stop the itching.
To make your own ice fingers
Get a bix of single use plastic glives ( the ones that the MO's / Nurses use. Cut off the fingers part fill with water tie a knot in the end and freeze them.