Oh man have I had a rough week! I thought I had a yeast infection. I get maybe one every two years. The first day of discomfort was kind of strange. I kept wondering if I was getting an infection. The second day the itching was worse, but everything looked normal (no weird discharge or anything). After the third day of really bad itching, I broke down and took my oral RX that I had left over from last year. I remembered that it could take a couple of days to work, but after a couple of days I was no better. So I took another one and waited. Then when I got into the shower one night I had a startling realization…
Let me start by saying that I have extremely sensitive skin. I have eczema and have to use special soap that costs nearly $6 per bar. I also cannot use any type of bath oils, bath beads, bubble bath, etc., because if I do I will get a UTI, guaranteed. I’ve learned over the years what I can and can’t use, and I usually stick with the things that I know are okay for me.
Well, the grocery store was out of my regular Skintimates shave gel last weekend, so I picked up some Gillette Satin Care. I didn’t really think anything about it. It was a vanilla scented kind and I love vanilla. I used it twice to shave down there. It wasn’t until I was about to use it a third time, that my eyes were suddenly opened…I WAS ALLERGIC TO THE NEW SHAVE GEL! Why did I not realize that before? So I just washed myself with my nice expensive soap, and I rinsed off real good with hot water. I did this again a few times over the next two days, and then my symptoms went away.
So I wasted a perfectly good prescription all because I was allergic to the shave gel. 
I really should have known better. It’s very frustrating to be so ultra sensitive to so many different things. I even have to use special laundry detergent (dye free, fragrance free, etc.). My mother is the same way, and I’m already seeing the same issues in my children.
I guess this was mainly written as a vent. I assume there are other women out there who have skin issues like I do, but my girlfriends don’t seem to battle with these issues. I thought that maybe some of you out there may be able to relate to this though…
monogabliss.com 
There are some very nice organic soaps that are very safe for sensitive skin like Bronner’s Magic Soap and sulfates/phalates/phosphates/parfum free soaps. And they aren’t too expensive. Heck you can find some of them at Wal-greens, Target, and Wal-mart. I’ve found through my own sensitive skin experience it isn’t the dye and fragrances I’m allergic to; but harmful chemicals such as sulfates/phalates/phosphates/parfum and products that don’t have those chemicals but contain gluten or wheat in some way (I have a food sensitivity and it affects ALL of my body). Try making your own laundry soap. There is a great recipe that includes a bar of grated Fels- Naphata soap, 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup washing soda. You can get all the ingredients at Wal-Mart or Target. You just put on 1 tablespoon (or a little more as needed) of this mixture in as your laundry and it cleans better than the pre-made laundry stuff. You could try using just plain white vinegar w/ maybe a few drops of essential oil for a fabric softener. I have to use bleach for my whites though but I get a phosphate- free bleach tablet and that helps a little (especially if I just use it now and then).
As for the shave gel, Bronner’s makes a very nice shave gel that doesn’t irritate down under. Trouble is it can get sticky and then slippery (which is odd..). But other organic companies make nice shave gels too. I think I’ll even do my own research to see how I can make my own. But my skin really clearer up since going for a more natural approach. I used to get nasty welts and rashes all over my body and face just from the soaps I used. And even the deodorant I used it the store did that. Now I use milk of magnesium and a paint brush (it sounds crazy. But it REALLY works and I don’t see those nice welts unless I get razor burn from dry shaving).
Oh no!! That sounds awful! I’m sure it’s a silly question, but have you seen an esthetician? I get a monthly facial and the combination of having someone tend to my skin and using the products that they’ve suggested (dermalogica sensitive skin) has totally changed my skincare routine around.