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Question:
I have not been able to find any help for my problem, so I hope you can give me some direction. For the past couple of years, the skin of my vulva has been tearing with any pressure, even washing myself in the shower. It's tearing just like old silk tears, especially right at the top of the vulva where the clitoris begins. I am almost 59, and I have asked my three sisters, the oldest of which is 69, if they have this problem, and only I do. My gynecologist just said it's a function of aging, but since my sisters don't have it, I need to find out how I can toughen the skin up again. Can you help?
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Answer:
by Konstance McCaffree: (07/28/2006)
Thank you for your question. I am glad you figured out a way to ask the question on our site, and now hopefully someone can give you some help.
As I look through the description you gave of your history, I can see that you have asked some good sources. I am guessing that it is related to menopause and genetic. There is nothing connected to childhood sexual abuse that would cause the skin to become thin and easily tear.
Even if you had asked the dermatologist, she may not have known what creams to give you but the creams for a yeast infection will do nothing to help the thinness of the skin.
Since it is probably hereditary (and just because your sisters don't seem to have it, doesn't mean it is related to anything else). It is very usual for women as they grow older to have thinner skin, especially in those tissues that are supplied with estrogens during their reproductive life.
You certainly could ask the dermatologist for something that would help enrich the skin with estrogen cream. There are also some over the counter creams that those of us who are older (and that describes me as well) can use to help the skin be less paper thin. You might look in your pharmacy, and even ask the pharmacist for a recommendation for the creams that seem to work best. You might also go to a health food store where the creams may be available.
Creams that have topical estrogen in them, may, over a period of time give the skin more thickness, since it is the slow removal of estrogen over many years that has probably caused this condition in you (more serious than in your sisters).
Other things that you can do in the meantime to make using the vibrator more comfortable (and even the vibrator on the skin can increase the blood flow to the area which is healthy for the tissue) is to 1) find some very soft cloth, even silk or soft, soft cotten and create a buffer between the vibrator and your skin. You may have to use several layers before it will no longer cause the skin to tear. 2) Use K-Y jelly or some other water soluable gel that will cause the area to be more slippery and not so dry. You can use lots of it, and putting this gel and other creams on it can possibly reduce the friction and keep the tearing from being so obvious.
All skin responds to rubbing and the vibrator. We just don't always feel it or see it, since it is microscopic. Yours is responding more and it can certainly be reduced in time.
Hopefully, these suggestions help.
Editors note: I am aware of several cases in females where the thin, tearing skin was either caused or exacerabated by a condition called lichen planus. I suggest you do some research on this topic (start with the Vulvodynia Foundation) and if it is of concern to you, discuss this with your health care practitioner. Sincerely, Patricia Fawver, Ph.D.Reviewed by: Patricia Fawver Ph.D. in Sexology
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