Tight fit causes vulval itch
23 November 2001
Vulval itch often has strong links with intimate fashions and hygiene routines, according to a study by a Sydney gynaecologist.
Dr Jennifer Bradford found that some of the culprits in persistent vulvo-vaginal rashes include tight clothes, panty-liners, synthetic underwear, G-strings, perfumed soaps, obesity, antifungals, hair removal products and even sedentary lifestyles.
These and other irritants generally had to be stopped or modified before treatments could work, she said. Women's clothing and vaginal habits are often responsible for the ongoing nature and resistance to treatment of many vulval presentations, according to Dr Bradford.
Dr Bradford specialises in genital dermatology and runs a vulval clinic with dermatologist Dr Gayle Fischer.
She detailed findings from her study, which looked at 500 women with vulval problems, at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' annual scientific meeting in Melbourne.
She found 73 per cent (of the 500) had one of 3 conditions — atopic vulval dermatitis (56 per cent), chronic candidiasis (thrush) (10.4 per cent) or psoriasis (7 per cent).
‘These diagnoses are associated with atopy so women who get this condition are more likely to be allergic-type people; if they have asthma, hayfever, eczema, psoriasis, they are more likely to be candidates,’ she said.
‘Most women with vulvo-vaginal rashes are atopic and predisposed to the effects of common skin irritants.’
Irritative factors — physical or chemical irritants (see list below) — were of great importance in 75 per cent of cases.
‘This contact irritation, most of which was associated with female personal habits, had to be stopped or modified before standard dermatological treatments would work,’ Dr Bradford said.
Types of irritants
Physical
- Tight, occlusive or synthetic clothes (26 per cent of cases), i.e. G-strings, bike shorts, pantihose, step-ins.
- Panty-liners (worn daily by 9 per cent in the study).
- Wearing pads for many days due to prolonged menstruation.
- Scratching (6 per cent).
- Obesity (5 per cent).
- Hair removal (4 per cent).
- Irritable bowel syndrome (3 per cent).
- Sitting for long periods (2 per cent).
Chemical
- Topical antifungals (8.5 per cent).
- (Perfumed) soaps and cleansers (8 per cent).
- Oral antibiotics (7 per cent).
- Hormones (oral and topical, 6 per cent).
- Antiseptics (5 per cent).
- Commercial sex lubricants (2.5 per cent).
- Condoms (1.7 per cent).
Last Reviewed: 23 November 2001
- Medical Observer Weekly 23 November 2001
