Women with eczema, be careful, an itchy feeling down there could be a flare-up.
In 2023, the CDC estimated that 8.9 percent of adult women had eczema, which represents about fourteen million people.
Now, experts warn that many of these women may also be unknowingly suffering from a type of skin condition that affects their genitals.
“It’s not at all unusual for the genital area to be affected” in eczema, says Dr. Sonya Kenkare, a dermatologist at the Illinois Institute of Dermatology.
A 2021 Korean study estimated that around 45 percent have suffered an attack on their nether regions, in a condition known as vulvar eczema or dermatitis.
In the United States, that would represent approximately 6.3 million people.
Millions of women could suffer from genital eczema without knowing it; Watch out for dry, scaly rashes, experts say.
If you have a dry, scaly, itchy rash on your external genitals, including your labia, clitoris, and vulva, then it’s a telltale sign that you’re having an outbreak. If the area is very itchy, you may also “start to see thickened skin due to repetitive rubbing,” Kenkare tmy old self.
However, experts say the condition is difficult to detect as the symptoms mimic those of other conditions, such as sexually transmitted infections, candidiasis and contact dermatitis.
Kenkare said there are ways to differentiate between each.
If you have an STI, you probably experience other symptoms besides itching, such as pain during sex, abdominal pain, or fever.
But if you’re not sure whether the itching is related to eczema or an STI, then a safe bet is to get an STI test to be sure, Kenkare said.
If you have a yeast infection, you’ll still be itchy, but you’ll probably also have a thick, white discharge that probably wouldn’t be there with an eczema flare-up.
To determine if you have contact dermatitis, which is like a unique version of eczema, you need to evaluate what you’ve been in contact with recently that might have caused your discomfort. This condition is usually like an allergic reaction to something new.
So if you don’t have a history of eczema and recently bought new underwear, jeans, or period products, then you could be dealing with contact dermatitis.
Eczema skin breakouts often appear red and scaly. These outbreaks can range from itchy to painful
If it’s eczema, then there are a host of things that could cause genital breakouts, Smith said. This includes stress, weather, and irritating products like scented tampons, Dr. Anne Smith, an OB-GYN at Yale, told SELF.
You may also flare up in response to things you’ve put into your body, from cigarette smoke to vanilla extract .
For some unlucky people, their first outbreak might occur in the vagina, Smith said.
But usually, you’ll notice spots on the face, elbows and nipples before the condition appears between the legs, she said.
The condition can also affect men; However, studies show that it is less common at younger ages and is easier to detect.
Dr. Margaret Cocksboard certified dermatologist, shared on a TikTok Follow the following tips to prevent your symptoms from worsening down there. To clean yourself, use warm water, gentle cleansers, and avoid all scented products, from sanitary pads to douches and wipes.
Also, using something that helps keep moisture in the tissues, such as Vaseline, can help, because it will prevent the vulva from becoming as dry and may relieve some of the itching, Kenkare said.
A clinic that focuses on treating people with vulvar dermatitis said that most common mistakes She sees patients include using scented wipes, using a hair dryer on the genitals, and using strong, scented soaps.