Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentWhen to Call a ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
When to Call a Provider
Prevention
Vulvar dermatitis is theinflammationof the skin surrounding thevagina, called thevulva, which causes redness, itching, and rash. There are many different causes of vulvar dermatitis, including heat and moisture, allergies, or a reaction to irritants like scented soaps, lotions, toilet paper, spermicides, laundry detergent, and clothing.
Most cases are relatively mild and can be treated at home with proper skin care and over-the-counter topical medications.
Learn more about vulvar dermatitis, including the causes and symptoms, and how the condition can be treated and prevented. It also describes when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Sydney Saporito
Vulva Anatomy: External Female Genitalia
Symptoms of Vulvar Dermatitis
Vulvar dermatitis occurs when the folds of skin around the vagina become inflamed and irritated. The inflammation is sometimes calledvulvitis.
Dermatitiscan affect any area of skin but frequently affects areas where there is persistent heat and moisture, such as under the breasts, in the armpits, and around the groin area.
Symptoms of vulvar dermatitis can range from mild to severe and may include:
What Is Vulvitis?
Causes of Vulvar Dermatitis
There are two types of dermatitis that can affect the vulva or any other area of the body. Both involve an abnormal response of the immune system.
Contact Dermatitis
The two types are described as:
Though allergic and irritant contact dermatitis have similar symptoms, one involves IgE and the other doesn’t. For this reason, people with irritant contact dermatitis may be less responsive toantihistaminesused to treat allergic contact dermatitis.
Common triggers for contact dermatitis of the vulva include:
What Is Vulvovaginitis?
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)is a chronic (persistent or recurrent) skin condition that causes inflammation, redness, flaking, and irritation of the skin. It often starts in childhood and is commonly seen in people with other atopic (allergy-related) conditions like food allergies,allergic rhinitis(hay fever), andasthma.
Eczema is thought to be due to a combination of genetics and exposure to certain things in the environment early in life that causes yourimmune systemto regard them as harmful.
Certain things can trigger the outbreak of eczema, including:
Vaginal Swelling: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
How to Treat Vulvar Dermatitis at Home
Depending on the cause and severity of your symptoms, you may be able to treat vulvar dermatitis at home.
The home treatment plan may involve some or all of the following measures:
How to Stop Vaginal Itching: 16 Home Remedies
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Most cases of vulvar dermatitis can be self-managed if you start treatment early. Even so, some cases are harder to treat and may respond better to prescription medications.
See your healthcare provider if:
Upon investigation, your healthcare provider may find that other conditions are actually causing your symptoms, such aspsoriasis,bacterial vaginosis,lichen sclerosis, asexually transmitted infection, or ayeast infection.
Why is My Vagina Itchy?
How to Prevent Vulvar Dermatitis
Vulvar dermatitis cannot always be prevented, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting it.
Summary
Common Causes of Vulvar Pain
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pichardo-Geisinger R.Atopic and contact dermatitis of the vulva.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am.2017;44(3):371-378. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2017.05.003Murina F, Vicariotto F.Vulvar contact dermatitis: effect of a treatment with a anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing product on the course of the disease.OJOG. 2016;06(02):117-121. doi:10.4236/ojog.2016.62014U.S. National Library of Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Female genital eczema.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Minnesota Department of Health.AboutStaphylococcus aureus.Marfatia YS, Patel D, Menon DS, Naswa S.Genital contact allergy: A diagnosis missed.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.180286Vij A, Sood A, Piliang M, Mesinkovska NA.Infection or allergy? The multifaceted nature of vulvar dermatoses.Int J Womens Dermatol.2015;1(4):170-172. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.08.005
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pichardo-Geisinger R.Atopic and contact dermatitis of the vulva.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am.2017;44(3):371-378. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2017.05.003Murina F, Vicariotto F.Vulvar contact dermatitis: effect of a treatment with a anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing product on the course of the disease.OJOG. 2016;06(02):117-121. doi:10.4236/ojog.2016.62014U.S. National Library of Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Female genital eczema.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Minnesota Department of Health.AboutStaphylococcus aureus.Marfatia YS, Patel D, Menon DS, Naswa S.Genital contact allergy: A diagnosis missed.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.180286Vij A, Sood A, Piliang M, Mesinkovska NA.Infection or allergy? The multifaceted nature of vulvar dermatoses.Int J Womens Dermatol.2015;1(4):170-172. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.08.005
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pichardo-Geisinger R.Atopic and contact dermatitis of the vulva.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am.2017;44(3):371-378. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2017.05.003Murina F, Vicariotto F.Vulvar contact dermatitis: effect of a treatment with a anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing product on the course of the disease.OJOG. 2016;06(02):117-121. doi:10.4236/ojog.2016.62014U.S. National Library of Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Female genital eczema.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Minnesota Department of Health.AboutStaphylococcus aureus.Marfatia YS, Patel D, Menon DS, Naswa S.Genital contact allergy: A diagnosis missed.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.180286Vij A, Sood A, Piliang M, Mesinkovska NA.Infection or allergy? The multifaceted nature of vulvar dermatoses.Int J Womens Dermatol.2015;1(4):170-172. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.08.005
Pichardo-Geisinger R.Atopic and contact dermatitis of the vulva.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am.2017;44(3):371-378. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2017.05.003
Murina F, Vicariotto F.Vulvar contact dermatitis: effect of a treatment with a anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and healing product on the course of the disease.OJOG. 2016;06(02):117-121. doi:10.4236/ojog.2016.62014
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.
National Eczema Association.Female genital eczema.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.
Kantor R, Silverberg JI.Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660
National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.
National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.
Minnesota Department of Health.AboutStaphylococcus aureus.
Marfatia YS, Patel D, Menon DS, Naswa S.Genital contact allergy: A diagnosis missed.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.180286
Vij A, Sood A, Piliang M, Mesinkovska NA.Infection or allergy? The multifaceted nature of vulvar dermatoses.Int J Womens Dermatol.2015;1(4):170-172. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.08.005
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