What Causes Itching Sensation On The Crease Between Thigh And Vagina?
Off and on for months I have had a persistent itch on the right crease between my thigh and vagina. The crease feels rough with several small bumps. Recently it has become unbearable, red, and has spread to the anus area. It feels sometimes like it's burning, especially after wiping with toilet paper. I sometimes get a sharp, prickly feeling kind of like the feeling you'd get if you were to pull on one of your arm hairs. It becomes more aggravated with heat and moisture in the shower. My period has just ended and I often feel moist down there. I do have irregular periods. I also live in a humid state and I do exercise every other day. There is no smell associated with it. Not sure if it is some sort of rash like a "diaper rash", or a yeast infection, or something entirely different. Thanks for your help.
Candidal intertrigo;topical antifungal+steroid combination;Oral fluconazole
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the Image.
The image is not clear and I can hardly make out any difference between the affected and unaffected sides. If possible, you may upload another image.
Anyways after going through your description of the condition affecting groin on right side and considering that you live in a humid weather and are also into physical fitness, this seems like an candidal intertrigo which is very common in groin folds specially if conditions are favorable for its growth i.e warm weather, sweating and humidity. This may have been favored even more by recent usage of sanitary pads which would also trap sweat against skin.
If I was the treating doctor I would suggest you to use an otc topical antifungal e.g clotrimazole 1% cream, preferably the one which comes in combination with a topical steroid e.g beclomethasone dipropionate 0.025% e.g Canesten-HC cream, which contains a combination of clotrimazole 1% and beclomethasone dipropionate 0.025%.
Alternatively, you may mix a moderately topical steroid e.g triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream with Monistat cream, in equal proportions (1:1) and use it twice daily. Headache is not a side effect of monistat cream.
Avoid coconut oil in this region, it would rather encourage yeast growth.
An oral antifungal e.g fluconazole tablet, once every week for 2-4 weeks would result in faster improvement alongside topical creams. Fluconazole is a prescription drug and I suggest that you talk to your practitioner for the needful.
An oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
Once your skin feels better after 2 weeks of topical treatment you may then start with an antifungal dusting powder e.g clotrimazole dusting powder, dusted twice daily in groin folds, which would keep the folds dry and also prevent yeast from proliferating again.
Regards