Box 1.
RCOG guidance on care of vulvar skin.57
| • Most women with a vulvar disorder (e.g. contact
dermatitis, vulvovaginitis) need advice about vulvar skin
care and how to avoid contact irritants. • Washing with water can cause dry skin and make itching worse. Use a small amount of soap substitute and water to clean the vulva. • Shower rather than bathe and clean the vulva only once a day. Overcleaning can aggravate vulvar symptoms (e.g. symptoms of contact dermatitis). An emollient may be helpful. • Avoid using sponges or flannels. Just use your hand. Gently pat dry with a soft towel. • Wear loose-fitting silk or cotton underwear. Avoid close-fitting clothes. Wear loose-fitting trousers or skirts and replace tights with stockings. You may prefer to wear long skirts without underwear. • Sleep without underwear. • Avoid fabric conditioners and biological washing powders. Consider washing underwear separately in a non-biological laundry detergent. • Avoid using soap, shower gel, scrubs, bubble bath, deodorant, baby wipes, or douches on the vulva. • Some over-the-counter creams, including baby or nappy creams, herbal creams (e.g. tea tree oil, aloe vera), and “thrush” treatments, may include irritants. • Avoid using panty liners or sanitary towels on a regular basis. • Avoid antiseptic (as a cream or added to bath water) in the vulvar area. • Wear white or light colored underwear. Dark textile dyes (black, navy) may cause an allergy, but if new underwear is laundered before use, it will be less likely to cause a problem. • Avoid using colored toilet paper. • Avoid wearing nail varnish on fingernails if you tend to scratch your skin. |
RCOG: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.