u/Individual_Wave9183

I can't be the only one here who has both of these problems but it seems rarely discussed on here.

I'm 5 weeks into treatment and about 2 weeks ago I had those familiar prodromal herpes symptoms for the first time in a decade. I mentioned to my doctor that the clobetasol was suppressing my immune system locally and maybe it would be good to do a longer low dose preventative course after the acute course since I was going to be using the clob for at least 3 months.

I don't know if he disagreed with my logic or if he didn't appreciate me having ideas as to my own treatment, but he said he'd prescribe the 7 day course and give me refills for if it came back.​ Well it came back within days of finishing it. So I got my refill from my pharmacist who was reluctant to refill it again so soon and told me if it happened again to see my doctor about a referral to a specialist. Well, once again I felt it coming on within days of finishing that course but I just decided to give it a few days to see what happened, and now I have several full blown herpes lesions (albeit less inflamed than they otherwise would be due to the clobetasol).

I'm super bummed out about it because during those 2 courses of antivirals I really thought things were looking good and now it just generally looks bad again and now I have to let my doctor figure out how these two diseases work together to create a vicious cycle (I'm tapering the clob now so maybe my immune system can attack the herpes but also it could trigger my autoimmunity so then I could ramp up the clob again for the LS and then just keep a herpes infection going etcetera etcetera).

I found a single case study online with an elderly woman who did a 30 day course of both antivirals and clob, so I feel vindicated, but it costs 50 bucks to download and print it.

If anyone has any advice about how to treat these things or how to manipulate your GP into prescribing the treatment that you know you need because you're more of an expert on your condition than they are while making them think it was their idea, I'm all ears.

So, I've seen some recommendations for products from Italy and Australia that are specifically formulated for use on the vulva, but I'm in Canada so it would be onerous to aquire those. I've looked into products for use on the face that have ceramides and lipids but even the fragrance free alcohol free ones have glycerin in them, which I know is irritating to my vulva.

I'm using single ingredient oils right now. So far I've tried coconut oil and jojoba oil.

Anyone have a recommendation for a more comprehensive sensitive vulva compatible skin product that's available in North America?

I'll even hear your favourite grocery store or healthfood store emollient since I'm still experimenting with those in the mean time.

Yes, I am using clobetasol as well.

Thanks!