s/o of "not a yeast infection"; embarrasing and frustrating rash

[Anonymous]

I'll apologize in advance because this is awkward and embarrasing, but I'm going crazy and need some advice. I've had an uncomfortable burning sensation around the vaginal and rectal areas for months. My GP thought it was yeast for a long time, but when it didn't clear up after a lot of antifungals (Diflucan on 3 different occasions), she referred me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist is stumped but says it's not fungal. She biopsied it just to be sure and the results bore that out. I've tried anti-inflammatories and other creams with no real lasting results. I did have to take a lot of antibiotics over the course of a few months, if that provides any clues (but again-- doesn't seem to be fungal).

I have wondered about vulvodynia or just thinner skin "down there" due to hormonal changes of peri-menopause, but sometimes my skin is actually quite red around the rectal area. The redness comes and goes. I don't think that either volvodynia or thin skin would look like a red rash. It has never been itchy. It does feel a lot like a bad burn (like a chemical burn or something).

Any ideas or suggestions?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Is it possible you're allergic to your detergent or toilet paper?

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. I switched detergent and that didn't help. I did think about the TP issue since the irritation is in only that area and not any other part of my body. I switched TP for a week, but that didn't seem to make a difference. Also, when you have to go out an use TP in other places, how would you manage that? How long would it take to see a difference?

I don't think it's that, if only because it comes and goes. Sometimes it's mild and sometimes it looks like welts. Again, it wouldn't seem like an allergy since it's limited to that part of the body, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Any other ideas? I do appreciate the input.

[Anonymous]

I had a problem with eczema down there, but it improved with a corticosteroid that my derm prescribed. Have you tried something like that?