Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Pruritus vulvae - Management
Basis for recommendation

The information and descriptions of the underlying causes of pruritus vulvae is based on published expert opinion [Nunns, 2002; Doxanakis et al, 2004; Margesson, 2004; Bohl, 2005].

Contact dermatitis

  • The information that contact dermatitis is the most frequently encountered and avoidable condition seen in clinics that specialize in vulval disorders is based on published expert opinion [ACOG, 2008] and is supported by one small observational study. In the study, of 141 women with chronic vulval symptoms who were referred to a dermatologist, dermatitis was identified as the commonest cause (54%). Other commonly seen conditions were lichen sclerosus (13%), chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis (10%), dysaesthetic vulvodynia (9%), and psoriasis (5%) [Fischer, 1996].

Lichen simplex and lichen planus

Lichen sclerosus

  • The description of lichen sclerosus is published expert opinion [BAD, 2010].

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement