Intimate hygiene in atopic vulvar diseases in women with a history of somatic diseases

Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Bychkova A.E.

1) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia

Background:  Contact dermatitis of the vulva is one of the most common diagnoses in clinics dealing with vulvar pathology. Vulvar pruritis is the most frequent complaint of women visiting a gynecologist. Current causes of vulvar pruritus include not only comorbid conditions, vulvovaginal infections and diseases, but also an increase in vulvar irritants due to urbanization and aggressive intimate hygiene.
Case report: This article presents two clinical observations of patients receiving treatment for allergic dermatitis of the vulva; the women had uncompensated diabetes mellitus and took the drug empagliflozin. In the first case, a 64-year-old patient V. presented to the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation of the National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, with complaints of vulvar pruritus for a long time and erosions in the perineal area. After examination she was diagnosed with vulvar neurodermatitis which was caused by empagliflozin. In the second case, a 51-year-old patient R. presented to the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation of the National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, with complaints of itching in the vulva and anus, profuse curdy discharge from the genital tract for 6 months. She was diagnosed with vulvar neurodermatitis, recurrent candidal vulvovaginitis, exacerbation. Both patients underwent complex therapy including the use of intimate hygiene products, namely Saphorelle Gentle Cleansing gel and Saphorelle Intimate Moisturizing cream emollient. A visible clinical effect on the vulvar skin was noted after the therapy. It is recommended to continue proper intimate hygiene and perineal skin care with the Saphorelle products regularly.
Conclusion: Vulvar hygiene is based on the choice of a mild detergent capable of improving skin homeostasis from a physiologic pH value of 4.8 in the vaginal vestibule to 6–7 on the outer surface of the labia majora. The new line of the Saphorelle products supports the natural pH and microbiota of the vulva, fully complies with modern requirements for intimate hygiene of female genitalia and can also be used for vulvar diseases in the complex therapy of dermatoses and contact dermatitis according to the soak and seal method.

Authors’ contributions: Apolikhina I.A. – developing the concept and design of the study, editing the text; Teterina T.A., Bychkova A.E. – preparing the material, writing the text.
Conflicts of interest: Authors declare lack of the possible conflicts of interests.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Patient Consent for Publication: The patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data and associated images.
For citation: Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Bychkova A.E. 
Intimate hygiene in atopic vulvar diseases in women with a history of somatic diseases. 
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024; (8): 185-194 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2024.200

Keywords

intimate hygiene
intimate hygiene washes
Saphorelle
vulvar hygiene
allergic dermatitis of the vulva
contact dermatitis of the vulva
diabetes mellitus
empagliflozin
vulvar dermatosis

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Received 08.08.2024

Accepted 14.08.2024

About the Authors

Inna A. Apolikhina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Aesthetic gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4; Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, Institute of Professional Education, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), i_apolikhina@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4581-6295
Tatiana A. Teterina, PhD, Obstetrician-gynecologist, USD, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4, +7(963)961-67-44, palpebra@inbox.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-2302
Anastasiya E. Bychkova, Obstetrician-gynecologist, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Oparina str., 4, a_bychkova88@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4855-8188
Corresponding author: Tatiana A. Teterina, palpebra@inbox.ru

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