Vulvitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Etc

ASSISTENT DOCTOR - Vulvitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Etc

Vulvitis is an inflammation of the vulva, which is a soft skin fold on the outside of the female genitals. This inflammation is generally caused by injuries, allergic reactions, damp skin, or irritation. Find out what vulvitis, symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention, etc.

What is Vulvitis?

Vulvitis is an inflammation of the vulvar woman. Most people mistakenly know the vulva and vagina. The vulva is soft and gentle folds on the outside of the female genitals, while the vagina is the deeper tract that lies after passing through the vulva.

Vulvitis is not a disease, but irritation due to skin around the vulva is dry, experiencing certain infections, injuries, skin abrasion, and not as damp as it should be. This condition does not cause serious problems, but it arises discomfort such as itching, pain, and sore in the outside of the female genitals.

In some cases, this occurs due to the symptoms of sexually transmitted infections or fungal infections. Immediately contact the doctor when symptoms of vulvitis are increasingly disruptive and do not improve in a few days.

Symptoms of Vulvitis

Each woman may experience symptoms of vulvitis (vulvovaginitis) that vary depending on the cause and how long the condition lasts. The most common symptoms include:

Pain in the vulva
Itching
Reddish skin
The vulva condition is more sensitive, eg when washing after urination
Inflammation around the labia (vaginal lips) and the perineum area (skin between the vaginal and anus channels)
Vulva skin is dry and may be scaly
White patches and thickened
Bumps on the vulva
Burning sensation or blister
Irritation of the genital area
Uncomfortable during urination
Pain during sexual intercourse
Symptoms may deteriorate when you clean the vulva area with soaps that contain artificial deodorizer or other chemicals.

When to go to a doctor?

Consult your doctor immediately if symptoms cause discomfort and interfere with your activity. And, if you also experience whiteness accompanied by other symptoms that do not improve for days. Symptoms of vulvitis may indicate disorders or other diseases, including allergies or infections of the vagina.

Causes of Vulvitis

Some factors trigger a woman to experience vulvitis, but the most common cause:

1. Bacterial Infections

Some of the bacteria commonly found in the vagina are Gardnerella, Streptococcus, or Staphylococcus. Gardnerella bacterial infection causes bacterial bacterial vaginosis and the most common conditions of vulvitis.

2. Viral Infections

The viral causes of vulvitis are those that are transmitted through sexual intercourse. These include human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes virus.

3. Fungal Infections

The fungus Candida albicans may also cause inflammation of the vulva. Generally, this condition can be solved with antibiotics to kill the antifungal bacteria that develop inside the vagina.

4. Parasitic Infections

Exposure to parasitic worms such as curls, scabies, and lice can also trigger inflammation or irritation of the vulva.

5. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Such lifestyle factors do not observe the cleanliness of the vulva and the vagina can trigger irritation, including the habit of using underwear that is too tight and do not absorb sweat so that it makes vulva irritant. Irritated Vulvar skin can trigger symptoms of vulvitis faster.

6. Exposure To Certain Chemicals

Use of cosmetics or skincare that contains chemicals, such as:

Coloured or fragrant toilet paper
Vaginal Sprays
Female genital cleaning products that contain detergent
Creams and certain topical medications
Allergies to foam bath products or certain soaps
Use of sanitary pads
Allergy to chlorinated water in the pool or hot-spring pool
Using wet underwear for too long
Effects of biking or horse riding

Use of spermycide or cream sprayed into the vagina with a special applicator to slow down the sperm rate so as not to the ovum so as not to occur fertilization and pregnancy. These products may expose certain chemicals such as parabens, sodium sulfate, triclosan, and dioxane which are harmful and irritating the skin around the vulva.

7. Symptoms Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (IMS)

Trichomonas Vaginitis is a protozoa parasitic that causes sexually transmitted infections Trikomoniasis. This infection also triggers the symptoms of genital vulvitis to feel uncomfortable, itching, discharge in yellow, green, or gray from the vagina.

8. Specific Health Condition Factors

Certain health conditions may cause symptoms of vulvitis, namely:

Diabetes
Scabies or lice pubic
Herpes
Eczema or dermatitis
Incontinence, difficult to control the bladder so as not to withstand the when urination
Treatment of vulvitis should also be done based on the cause.
Vulvitis Risk Factors

All women have a risk factor in vulvitis, including:

1. Teenage Child

Girls entering pre-teens have the risk of experiencing inflammation in the vulva due to their lower estrogen levels. After entering the puberty, the infection stops as the vagina becomes more acidic and moist.

2. Women Postmenopausal

Women postmenopausal also ranges from inflammation due to decreased estrogen hormones that make the skin of the vulva become more dry, thin, and less elastic. This condition is more prone to trigger irritation and vaginal infections. In addition, all women who often use underwear or tights for a long time may also experience irritation in the vulva.

Diagnosis of Vulvitis

The doctor will do the diagnosis by conducting your medical history screening and pelvic examination to see the symptoms of blisters, redness, vaginal discharge, and others showing signs of vulvitis. Pelvic examination is also aimed at identifying the cause and subsequent treatment.

In other cases, the doctor may suggest a biopsy on the vulva to identify the organism with a small sample of the vulva tissue that will be further researched. Other tests such as examination of sexually transmitted infections (IMS) and can include analysis of urine samples are also needed under certain conditions.

Treatment of Vulvitis

How to overcome vulvitis depends on the underlying cause. In most cases, symptoms of mild vulvitis can be treated with home care.

1. Avoiding Certain Products

If symptoms are experienced due to irritation from the use of certain products, then do not use the products temporarily, such as:

Vaginal Sprays
Soap cleanser vaginal or foam bath products
Lotion
Female genital cleaning products that contain detergent
Sanitary Pads

Discontinue all use of products that trigger irritation and infection in the vulva skin area or you can replace the product with a more natural content.

2. Observe Vulva Hygiene and Vagina

Cleanliness of the intimate area should be thoroughly observed to reduce the risk of inflammation or other infections. Here are recommendations for vaginal hygiene and health, including:

Wash intimate area with warm water once a day
Rubbing or washing the vulva skin area too often will improve irritant reactions and infections
Do not scratch this area even if the itching symptoms are strong
Use underwear or loose pants

Some of these ways can help reduce symptoms and make you more comfortable with daily activities.

3. Using Natural Ingredients

You can use the natural way such as warm water soak mixed with garlic extract, tree tea oil essential oil, coconut oil, or sea salt. These natural ingredients have antibacterial properties and can help overcome inflammation. Do not soak for too long, it is only recommended about 10 minutes and immediately dry the skin area with a towel after bathing. Consult with a doctor if this does not address the symptoms effectively.

4. Topical Medicine

Topical medications commonly used to address vulvitis are:

Antifungal cream or antibacterial cream
Low dose hydrocortisone Cream
Topical Estrogen to help cope with vulvar inflammation

As long as you use treatments with topical medications, you should also maintain vaginal hygiene.

4. Oral Medication

Oral vulvitis drugs, including:

Oral antibiotics
Oral antifungal pills
Oral antihistamines when symptoms are caused by allergic reactions

Consult a physician when inflammation is accompanied by vaginal discharge and other symptoms do not improve after a week of home treatment.

Complications of Vulvitis

Basically, inflammation of the vulva is a common condition that can heal without complications when handled by lifestyle adjustments and vaginal hygiene. If left unchecked, this condition will trigger extraordinary itching symptoms at night that might interfere with your bedtime. This condition may also trigger discomfort that attacks women's psychological related sexual and social life.

Prevention of Vulvitis

How to prevent vulvitis is by maintaining the cleanliness and comfort of the intimate area of women, including:

Do not use underwear or pants that are too tight for a long time
Avoid various women hygiene products that trigger irritation and infection
Replacing wet underwear
Meet nutritional needs
Reduce stress
Rest enough every day

In addition, contact your doctor immediately when symptoms deteriorate. These symptoms may be associated with signs of other vaginal infections. That's a discussion of what is vulvitis. Vulvitis is an inflammation of the vulva that is generally easy to overcome with self-care.