rash from pads

[toni-molko.livejournal.com]

I’m wondering if anyone here can help me

For a while now I’ve had a horrible itchy rash around my vagina. I used to get it (although with less of an obvious rash, just a lot of itching) around the end of my period for a few days, but slowly the amount of time I would have it for increased until for the past few months it’s been constant even between my periods and flared up terribly. The doctor suggested that it came from wearing pads, because of the timing of it, and that it’s just become so inflamed now that it won’t go away without treatment. So she prescribed me some corticosteroid cream…but the thing is this can only treat the inflammation in the short term – it won’t actually go away completely unless you get rid of the cause.
So this is where I was hoping someone might have some ideas.
I do sometimes wear tampons, but I find them uncomfortable unless my period is very heavy, and since I’m on the pill my periods are much lighter than they used to be, so tampons are generally out. Also, I’ve been skipping my periods with the pills to avoid having to use pads, partly because of the general irritation, even when I didn’t know they were causing the rash, but this has put me in an even more difficult position, giving me a kind of never-ending period for the past few weeks. There are other uncontrollable factors such as hot weather causing general sweating and chafing pretty much everywhere. I’ve heard about cloth pads, but I don’t know anything about them, how to get them, how expensive they are or anything. Do people think they would help if I could get hold of them? I don’t see them in supermarkets, nor do I see any sort of ‘non-allergenic’ pad, but I can’t afford to buy expensive pads anyway (another reason why I skip my period so often).
Does anyone have any other sort of remedy?

Comments

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Cotton pads could help tremendously. I make my own (you can, too--check out diy_pads), but I also like some commercial varieties. My favorite commercial washable pad is made by Glad Rags, but they can be a bit pricey (not so bad when you realize that they last a long time--spending 30 bucks on a few pads that will last years is better than spending more than that in a year on disposables).

I react quite badly to disposable pads. Using the homemade cotton flannel pads has helped tremendously.

Also, don't use too much detergent or fabric softener when you wash your pads and undies. I use a small amount of detergent (we're talking less than a quarter cap), lots of water (no overstuffing the machine), and use vinegar for the rinse cycle. air dry if you have space, otherwise use your dryer (no dryer sheets, though). That all helps quite a bit.

When I'm really rashy (sometimes I get my period unexpectedly while I'm out and have to buy or borrow pads), I make sure I air out my rear end as much as possible. It's not so easy when I'm on my period, but when I'm done menstruating, I go breezy. I also avoid over-rubbing with toilet tissue and I rinse my genital area with a diluted apple cider vinegar solution after I'm clean. I also pat dry with a soft, soft washcloth. This seems to help quite a bit, too.

Good luck.

[toni-molko.livejournal.com]

I often use diluted apple cidar vigegar, especially if the pH is feeling a bit off, but another reason why this rash is really pissing me off is that the vigegar stings like crazy, so I just have to wash with water instead. :) But thanks for the other tips as well.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

It stings when I do it, too, but I notice that my irritated rashy bits heal much more quickly when I use vinegar rinses. I just dilute the solution a lot and work my way up to a whole splash in two cups of tepid water. ;)

Also, if I can air out my rashy bits, I either use prescription steroidal creams, like the one you were prescribed, or ordinary calamine lotion. I only use calamine externally, of course, but it soothes a bit. I don't use it often, but if the itching is bad, it is a better alternative than compulsive scratching.

[toni-molko.livejournal.com]

wow, I did the same typo twice...:-o

[bikinikiller.livejournal.com]

actually, cloth pads are not hard to come by at all! I just learned how to make my own, and they're ridiculously simple--take about half an hour each, less time with practice.

there are many websites that give information and templates to make your own, like this one (http://pacificcoast.net/~manymoons/howto.html). it says to use flannel, but you can use old pj's or towels if you want.

if you don't have the time or inclination to make your own (which is practically free) you can buy them online-- some sites are lunapads (http://www.lunapads.com), rhythm and blues (http://www.rhythmandbluespads.com) and glad rags (http://www.gladrags.com). a full set of any of these will cost you somewhere between 40 and 60 dollars--but they're reusable for years, so it'll actually save you money on pads, as well as that ointment.

[toni-molko.livejournal.com]

that website was VERY helpful, thanks

[springstreet.livejournal.com]

this didn't happen to me with storebought pads until after i switched to lunapads and the keeper. now i get the rash from non-fabric pads whenever i wear them. i hope making the switch helps you - it's so miserable!

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

I was getting really bad irritation to the point where I couldn't go to school and sit in class for 4 hours because I'd end up in the bathroom in tears for most of the class.

I found that Kotex products are the worst for me, to the point where I'm pretty sure I'm straight up allergic to them. Carefree are ok when I'm in a bind. I use playtex Beyond tampons (they seem to fit the best & leak the least) and Natracare 100% natural panty shields. They are unbleached & don't have any of that plastic crap on them. When I got my first box I was so excited to feel them! They were like the softest baby blanket cotton!!

Anyhow, you can find patterns & instructions for DIY ones on the net and lots of websites & health food stores sell LunaPads and GladRags.

Good luck!

[aechei.livejournal.com]

if the tampons are just uncomfortable because they are drying out and irritating the insides, you could try divacup. www.divacup.com mine just came in the mail and im really excited about it. i cant stand pads, but i totally understand the reasoning behind your aversion to tampons.

personally, i hate laundry, so the cloth pad gig would not work for me. i am the sort who does launder when she runs out of underwear. like today. must do laundry.

[lileprechaun.livejournal.com]

If you want to shop around for pads, this website (http://www.sehlat.com/aux/padtable.html) has a list of many of the cloth pad companies out there. I highly recommend TLC pads; they're some of the cheapest around, well made, and Lisajaney is a dream to do business with. If you can't spring for pads right now, then definitely make your own. I know a couple of women who have made them out of old socks, flannel shirts, or receiving blankets. HTH :)

[toni-molko.livejournal.com]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have no idea how much that site helped me! I had no idea there were suppliers in australia, and not only that, that one of them has heaps of retail outlets including one where I live, so if I can scrounge up a bit of money I may be able get some proffessional ones after all, since I won't have to pay for shipping. THANK YOU. *is very excited about the idea of getting cloth pads*

[lileprechaun.livejournal.com]

Glad to have helped :^) Good luck on your cloth pad endeavors; I hope you like them as much as I do ;^)