Vulval Skin Conditions

The “vulva” is the term used to describe the visible part of the female genitalia. The skin of the vulva is sensitive and can be easily irritated by everyday products including soap, bubble baths, shower gels, talcum powder, cleansing wipes, perfumes, deodorants and antiseptics. Such products may make your skin sore and uncomfortable.

Lichen planus is a fairly common (1-2% of the population worldwide), itchy, non-infectious type of rash that usually occurs in adults over the age of 40 years old. Occasionally it can affect mucosal skin (mouth and external genitalia) leading to discomfort and ulcers. Very occasionally it is associated with skin cancer in the vulva.

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition which can affect any part of the skin, but in females it most often affects the vulva skin and the skin around the anus. It can start in child- or adulthood and affect girls or women of any age. Lichen sclerosus can also affect men.

Vulvodynia means pain in the vulva, the female genital area. In vulvodynia, pain is felt in the vulva when there is no obvious visible cause for it and other diagnoses have been ruled out by examination and investigation.
Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a condition where there are pre-cancerous cells in the skin of the vulva. In most cases it is caused by the Human papilloma virus (HPV)