Affecting both young girls and adult women, vulvitis is defined as inflammation of the vulva, the causes of which are numerous and need to be explored. The treatment will be based on the diagnosis established after clinical and laboratory examination. Explanations.

Vulvitis is defined as inflammation of the vulva which includes the labia minora and labia majora at the entrance to the vagina and is the visible part of the female genitalia. It very often causes a burning or itching sensation which can be very uncomfortable. Fairly common, vulvitis affects about 70 to 75% of women at least once in their life, especially for vulvar yeast infection which is by far the most common cause of vulvitis.

There are many causes of vulvitis:

• Fungi (mycosis), the most common in young girls as well as in adult women. It is due in 90% of cases to Candida Albicans and is favored by antibiotic treatments, by taking cortisone or diabetes;
• Microbes (vulvovaginosis) with the presence of large numbers of germs in the vulva, but also at the entrance to the vagina and in the vagina itself, such as streptococcus, staphylococcus or eccherrichia coli. But they are sometimes germs linked to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonococci, mycoplasmas. But also viruses: genital herpes (herpes simplex), condylomata acuminata (papillomavirus) or parasites (trichomonas);
• It is sometimes a symptom of a more general disease such as psoriasis, lichen or vulvar cancer which is very rare. 

There are also risk factors for developing vulvitis:

• Diabetes which promotes infections is a risk factor;
• Taking antibiotics can cause vulvovaginal yeast infection;
• Wearing too tight underwear;
• Excessive hygiene;
• Total hair removal.

Symptoms of vulvitis vary depending on the diagnoses made. The main diagnoses found are:

• vulvitis linked to candidiasis (fungus) such as Candida Albicans. The symptoms are mainly pruritus (itching sensation);
• leucorrhoea (white curd-like discharge), pain on contact, redness and edema (swelling) locally. Intercourse is painful (dypareunia);
• Vulvitis related to bacterial infection such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, gonococcus, etc. The symptoms are then a foul odor, yellowish leucorrhoea, redness and swelling locally. Intercourse is painful (dyspareunia);
• Vulvitis linked to a parasite such as trichomonas which is the most common. The symptoms are a fishy smell, local pruritus (itching), pain during intercourse and bleeding afterwards;
• Vulvitis linked to a virus, most often that of herpes simplex, which evolves by outbreaks called genital herpes. Symptoms are pain, redness and severe swelling of the labia minora and labia majora and the presence of small blisters on the mucous membranes.

These diagnoses are established on the basis of the symptoms present, the risk-taking (no condom with a new partner), and are most often confirmed by a vulvovaginal sample and an analysis of the germs present. Note that in 30% of cases, no specific germ is found and treatment will be based solely on the symptoms present. Other diagnoses should also be mentioned, but more rarely:

• Dermatological pathology such as eczema, lichen, dermatitis, cancer of the vulva, etc. ;
• Stress and significant fatigue;
• Excessive personal hygiene;
• An allergy to certain soaps, washing gels, bubble baths, fabrics and perfumes;
• Pubic pediculosis, that is, the presence of lice in the pubic region;
• Irritation associated with urine, especially in women with urinary incontinence.

In children

In young girls, vaginal infections can also contaminate the vulva and cause vulvitis (irritation linked to the use of toilet paper containing perfumes or chemicals, to prolonged exposure to chlorine in swimming pool water, to wearing synthetic underwear, etc.)

In pregnant women

In pregnant women, itching of the vulva is also common, most often due to a yeast infection.

In elderly women

Finally, in older women, itching is often linked to vulvar dryness in the absence of estrogen in the tissues.

The treatments will depend of course on the diagnosis made, bearing in mind that yeast infections are the most frequent (70%). They will have to be done on the basis of a vulvovaginal swab and a cervico-vaginal smear at the bottom of the vagina which will identify the germ or the parasite in question, whether it is a microbe, a virus or a parasite.

Advice can also be given for local irritations (no too tight underwear, no excessive hygiene, use of hypoallergenic soaps, no total hair removal, etc.). Finally, Aloe Vera gel is renowned for its moisturizing properties to relieve itching.