Zinc Oxide and genital P... help again...

[bwayseth]

Hello... Still stuck with my genital P. :(
Can't afford to go back to the doctor right now, or for the high cost of a new prescription (He prescribed Dermatop, which worked but only for a while, I now want to go back and get Elidel, or Protopic)

However in the meantime. people were telling me to get Desitin, and I had already got some earlier from a suggestion on here, but I realized it was only the 10% zinc oxide. So I went to get the regular kind ( I believe I read someone say get the one with 40%, or something)
Anyway... I found this other stuff called Zinc Oxide Ointment USP
by "fougera"
And there is no percentage, but it says Zinc Oxide 200mg- (in each gram).

It says it's for diaper rash, and dries the wetting of poison ivy/oak/sumac.

CAN I USE THIS?
IS THIS A WRONG CHOICE?

BP

[Enigma869]

Hi BP...

I'm not a physician, so I cannot tell you whether or not you should use what you have. I can tell you as someone who has been fighting a losing battle with genital P for nearly 15 years, the zinc oxide (I've used every strength available!) did nothing for me. In fact, the stuff is so messy and nearly impossible to get off of your skin that when you begin to itch again, it really makes quite the mess!

Not that having P anywhere on your body is a good thing, but having it in your genital area is the absolute worst possible area for sooo many reasons. The biggest reason is that it is VERY VERY difficult to treat. You cannot use potent steroids in that area because it will thin out already thin skin and hurt like heck. Most of the milder creams simply aren't strong enough to eliminate the problem. I'd LOVE to hear from those who have got rid of (or at least got an ounce of relief) P in this area and what specifically they used to make this happen.

John from Boston

[sbylica]

I believe that I have had genital psoriasis that has been off and on for about 18 years. I FEEL your pain.

Topical steroids have worked for me, but I don't want to stay on them.

Let me tell you about my experimentations w/ zinc oxide. Great for irritation, but I am not sure whether it really helps clear it up. Great to add to your arsenal of products to try to control the thing.

The OTC products I have used are the baby rash cream and the one for poison ivy, etc. I don't like either. They are both too oily and are not moisturizing enough (sounds odd, but it's true).

What I want to find is some plain zinc oxide powder and experiment mixing it with other things which have helped for itch and moisturization like aloe vera w/ menthol and anesthetic, the main ingredient in Psoriaflora (oregon hollygrape root extract), and so many other products that I cannot list.

If you happen to know where I can find pharmaceutical grade zinc oxide powder for cheap, please e-mail me @ da_shellius@yahoo.com. Please remind me in your e-mail that you are from this message board.

Thanks,

Shelley

[sbylica]

I forgot to add that a mixture of 1:1 zinc oxide cream (the one for poison ivy)and sunburn aloe vera gel (has menthol and anesthetic) helps when the irritation gets unbearable. Even in that ratio, the oilyness is still very extreme, but it is still something that helps.

Shelley

[SCCatman]

one thing that my derm had me do is sit around either naked, or with just thin wocen cotten briefs on, with a small fan gently blowing in the area to keep it dry.
Keeping the house cool so I don't sweat helps also.

This caused me to lose my job at WalMart.
(just kidding, I work at home)

Dennis

[GitOverIt]

there are two types of Desitins sold....one is pure 40% zinc oxide Desitin.... the other is Creamy Desitin with only 10% zinc...I have used Desitin for years! If the 10% is not strong enough buy the 40% and mix the two.....if the 40% is too stiff add some olive oil or jo jo oil ( or eucerin, or vaseline etc) to a clean jar or covered plastic container and mix!!! This is also a natural deodorant....it enters through the pores and also acts as a deodorant all over the body............ inc bad breath probs. I swear by it for itching, cutting redness, soothing etc....... it's the only thing that got me through some miserable times....having had inverse (before I got healed) it was my saving grace! It is not a cure! but it will alleviate a lot of misery.......by cutting it with a creamy or oily solution it cuts down on the water sealing abilities....needed for babies and diaper rash....but it is great for psoriasis when used as I described!

[alli]

This caused me to lose my job at WalMart.
(just kidding, I work at home)

Dennis[/QUOTE]

Dennis, thanks for the giggle. However, for those that suffer from genital P, you have my sympathy. I turned my husband on to boxer shorts years ago when we lived in the tropics and we called a sailboat home. He always had some kind of jock itch/rash going on. Damp bathing suits and heat did not help the situation.
Hope no one minds me talking about underwear here.......he prefers to wear jockeys during the day, but I notice the minute he gets home( as long as we don't have company coming or family in town), he strips down to the boxers.
he hasn't had a problem in years.
Disclaimer.....he didn't have psoriasis....just an annoying rash type situation,
but this helped.

[seedoubleyou]

the zinc oxide (I've used every strength available!) did nothing for me. In fact, the stuff is so messy and nearly impossible to get off of your skin that when you begin to itch again, it really makes quite the mess!

My experience, as well. Not only did it not help with my raging inverse, I found trying to remove it (while cleansing) from already irritated & fissured skin only exacerbated the problem!!

I'd LOVE to hear from those who have got rid of (or at least got an ounce of relief) P in this area and what specifically they used to make this happen.
John, if you'll do a search of my past posts (which shouldn't be too difficult as I've not had the time to post much recently), I've detailed my treatment regimen many times. Fingers crossed, perhaps something that's helped me may help you, too -- even if just a bit. Lord knows, I feel your pain!! :o

Dennis, as always, thanks for the *giggle*!! :D

[GitOverIt]

one more thing....I should have mentioned!
I am not a shower person....I prefer tub baths....with epsom salts, or baking soda soaks and I also have a hot tub where I soak in the fall, summer and spring....haven't used it all winter since it is outside (and we would have to keep it running all winter to keep the pipes from freezing)

Maybe the people that have had trouble removing the Desitin were taking quick showers?

I find the soaks much more conducive to helping the plaques of psoriasis!

You can remove the Desitin under water by gently soaping up with an all natural soap....(meaning no perfumes or additives or baby shampoo by Burt's Bees) I have never had the problems described by other posters in removing the Desitin!

If there's a will....... there's a way! :D

[condor]

Bacteria count is a factor!
Being in a humid, moist, warm, atmosphere (your underwear).

Try appying plain vinegar, before, during and after your baths; Keep yourself clean.
Keep doing this until it entirely clears up!
Keep clean clothes on.
Change your bedding often.

[jennab711]

My undies r dry. they r in my drawer for, oh, 7 years now. Gave them up with pregnancy!!!!! all you girls should know what i am talking about, underwear at 9 months pregnant...........why deal with it? I have had genital p for a few years as well. scalp, and placque all over. I have a derm at BMC, i have 2 in boston..........told me to use my clobetasol every couple of days. I use desonide every day, while it is flared. It only comes and goes every couple of days. But the steriods r strong there, in the pubic area, not vaginal. dryness IS key. I firmly believe not wearing underwear plays a huge positive factor in my p. SORRY-TOO MUCH INFO-----but it does help me alot.

[condor]

There's nothing like irritation setting up shop in your joy department, is there!

Moistened flesh is an attractor of bacteria, and this is definitely a factor.
Do all you can to create an antbacterial environment.

I also have lost the underwear.







Steve

[Maracel]

I've used Boudreaux's Butt Paste (available at Long's, Walgreen's, WalMart for about $4.99/tube). It has zinc oxide and Peruvian Balsalm, which is very soothing for genital psoriasis. It can be found in the diaper rash section.

[TomDermitch]

It may sound simplistic- but I've tried most everything mentioned here with little success. I do agree about staying dry being imperative. When you perspire -you also secrete sodium from your pores which exacerbates the irritation and inflamation. Try cleaning off the genital area throughly with a 'Wet One' towelette and then paper towel completely dry. Always gives you at least a couple good hours of virtually complete relief. Note: Talcum powders etc. don't seem to work for whatever reason. Give it a try! :D

[condor]

Again; Try vinegar. Apply daily before or during a bath, and let sit for 10 minutes. And again after a bath-and just leave it on. It is anti-bacterial, and acidic which is an environment the bacteria do not like. It works, with repeated application. Really!

[jejacobs]

The problems with steroid creams/ointments were mentioned above, but there is still the alternative of trying Dovonex. You definitely have to be more patient with it, but I've found that it is helpful in many areas (though I think you're not supposed to put it on the face?).

There is a newer 'cream' form which I find absorbs into the skin better than the vaseline-like 'ointment' form.

[m83]

Try cleaning off the genital area throughly with a 'Wet One' towelette and then paper towel completely dry. Always gives you at least a couple good hours of virtually complete relief. Note: Talcum powders etc. don't seem to work for whatever reason. Give it a try! :D

sweat seems to be a huge trigger for my buttcrack inverse, and I sweat even in winter due to overheated transit and public spaces (god knows how I'm gonna get through summer). I can't walk around NYC with a towel wedged in my crack. or can I...? :D

the idea of using a 'wet one' which is soaked largely in alcohol makes my ass burn just thinking about it. yeeee-gouch! maybe for dry p but wet inverse? nuh uh.

oh and someplace I read that talc is carcinogenic. but what the hell isn't?

[JayHod]

Again; Try vinegar. Apply daily before or during a bath, and let sit for 10 minutes. And again after a bath-and just leave it on. It is anti-bacterial, and acidic which is an environment the bacteria do not like. It works, with repeated application. Really!

Is this just everday vinegar we're applying here? I wanna be completely clear on all of this! hahaha

[condor]

white vinegar or cider vinegar.
I buy 1 gallon containers at the grocery store.

Use anywhere you have a breakout or burning.






Steve

[jelliepair]

I too cannot imagine using vinegar or a wet one on my inverse P. Both have got to be painful. I had always called the Inverse P my "Fat Girl Rash" not knowing it was also P. It was actually a relief to find out I dont suffer from this alone!! (Sorry!)

I have had so many creams (with and without steriods) prescribed and I bought the desitin (what a mess) and have tried a couple powders with zinc. Nothing seems to help when I have a bad flare - nothing. Sometimes it hurts and it weeps and it can have an odor - It is the most uncomfortable and embarrassing thing I can think of.

I have been taking biologic meds for the past couple years now and they definately help but once summer starts there seems to be no cure. I cant stand not wearing panties but find that cotton is the only choice in the summer - that and frequent bathing. I have to shower 2X a day in the summer (which may seem odd since dry is supposed to be better) otherwise it gets worse.

[quickcobra2003]

All,

I do not know if they still make it but I used Lotrimin powder (the creme did not work) to help my inverse p. It is for athlete's foot, but it did offer a great deal of relief for me.

Robert

[m83]

Sometimes it hurts and it weeps and it can have an odor - It is the most uncomfortable and embarrassing thing I can think of. oh good it's not just me. there's definitely a nasty, sour odor (which is NOT from what you'd think it'd be; I keep my butt very clean thanks) and it also is wet/weepy. mostly it just burns and stings, though today was OK. at least it doesn't itch anymore, which happened on my first attack of it in December when I thought I'd go insane with bloody scratching.

I have been using Protopic 0.03% for a month now with middling results. my dermo put me on that after several steroids proved ineffective. I have another appt next week so I guess we'll have to try something else. grrr...

ok it's a lot better than it was a few months ago, so I can't complain too much.

[cntrycolektr]

Hi: I am new to this site as of this evening. I have not gotten around all of the sites and threads but saw this one which is on of the areas that I am interested in. I am a female and have had ongoing P on my scalp for years. At one point I had an outbreak on my finger that lasted quite some time. Very occasionally, I get a spot on my body - Mostly it is just the scalp. Here is my question about G. P. - I have suffered from vaginal infections for years. It nevers seems to be identified as Yeast or bacterial. I have just heard that a dermotologist took a sample of vaginal tissue from a friend of friend to check for "vaginal P." (which she didn't have) Something I have never heard of. Sorry to discuss the sypmtoms so grafically - swelling inside and out, intense burning and itching. There has been no rashes other than redness. Is this like the symptoms that you ladies have had? Any other info would be appreciated. I am very excited to be able to talk with fellow sufferers - thank you.

[ct69646]

you said no more prescriptions but I have desonide lotion and it works pretty good for the face and that area.

.05% desonide

[seedoubleyou]

Here is my question about G. P. - I have suffered from vaginal infections for years. It nevers seems to be identified as Yeast or bacterial. I have just heard that a dermotologist took a sample of vaginal tissue from a friend of friend to check for "vaginal P." (which she didn't have) Something I have never heard of. Sorry to discuss the sypmtoms so grafically - swelling inside and out, intense burning and itching. There has been no rashes other than redness. Is this like the symptoms that you ladies have had? Any other info would be appreciated. I am very excited to be able to talk with fellow sufferers - thank you.

Hi & welcome ...

The procedure you mentioned (in which a tissue sample is taken) is what's called a "punch biopsy." I had this done, myself, on the perineum (area between vagina & anus).

Not sure where you're located, but if in/near a major city, you might try looking for a doc at a teaching/research institution (ie, hospital associated w/a med school). Believe it or not, there are ob/gyns who specialize in treating disorders of the vulvar skin, specifically. I saw a such a specialist at UTSW in Dallas for a 2nd opinion (my rheumy is there, also) following my p DX. There are numerous diseases that can affect the skin in that area with symptoms VERY similar to psoriasis (eg, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, lichen simplex chronicus, to name a few), and some can be permanently disfiguring. Obviously since you have known p elsewhere (though minimal), psoriasis would be immediately suspect.

In my case, symptoms were/are a fiery, red "rash," intense burning sensation, some itching, but -- worst of all -- FISSURING. Like you, I have little other skin involvement -- scalp & occasionally ankles & elbows.

Feel free to PM, if you'd like; would be happy to help, if I can. :)

[cntrycolektr]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cat!!!!!

The nearest big city to me is Spokane, Washington. My best bet may be Seattle. Either way, this gives me something to start with! Can I ask what you were recommended to use to ease the symptom? Thanks again.

[RichJ]

hi cntrycolektr,
welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[cntrycolektr]

Thank you, Richard. It is nice to "talk" with other sufferers.

[RichJ]

hi cntrycolektr,
your welcome. it is a wonderful place to find help and people with p

have a good weekend all

richard

[seedoubleyou]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cat!!!!!

The nearest big city to me is Spokane, Washington. My best bet may be Seattle. Either way, this gives me something to start with! Can I ask what you were recommended to use to ease the symptom? Thanks again.

You are SOOOO welcome!! :)

Just saw your post on another, similar thread, also. Sincerest apologies -- have been away from the PC for the past week but will do my best to respond shortly. Alot of "playing catch-up" to do!! :rolleyes: