Women that have vulvar itching on an ongoing basis should have it checked, as it is likely the sign of a condition that requires treatment to effectuate resolution. When left untreated, some of the underlying conditions can progress, become more difficult to treat and one in particular known as lichen sclerosus can lead to vulvar pre-cancer/cancer.
Causes and Treatment
There are several possible causes of vulvar itching. The three most common include vulvar skin dermatoses, contact vulvar dermatosis, and constituents in aberrant vaginal micro-flora including yeast, inflammatory vaginitis, non-inflammatory vaginosis, bacterial vaginosis and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis. At the Fowler Gyn International they have advanced diagnostic testing, which establishes that the presence of altered vaginal microflora patterns.
The most common skin dermatoses is lichen sclerosus. Others include eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatisis, and lichen planus. These conditions are not contagious or infectious, not connective tissue disease, and not hereditary. It is thought that people get them just because of their genetic make up. Once diagnosed, they are chronic condition and usually require maintenance therapy to keep them suppressed. It is best to get an evaluation by a vulvovaginal expert such as Fowler Gyn International or a dermatologist skilled in these conditions.
Vulvar contact dermatitis, is a condition that arises when the external genitalia of the skin is exposed to a specific irritant. However, once the initial irritation occurs, it makes the vulvar vulnerable to irritation by other agents. Determining the source of the initial problem is therefore not always easy to do. In an effort to treat vulvar contact dermatitis, FGI recommends an effective set of skin care products known as FeminaRx Pure Skin Care Collection. The collection is a mix of feminine care products such as soaps, skin cleansers, moisturizing lotions, and lubricants, which are all quite non-allergenic, neutral and hypocontactant.
Alterations in the internal vaginal micro-flora can also cause vaginal itching. The vagina contains a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria; however should an imbalance occur that results in the bad bacteria dominating, this can lead to itching and irritation. At Fowler Gyn International a vaginal fluid analysis test or VFT is able to accurately diagnose this problem. Vulvar itching due to altered micro-flora often requires vaginal rejuvenate therapy, in order to restore the normal micro-flora ecosystem.