title: Vulvar dermatosis.
abstract: Vulvar dermatoses are inflammatory conditions responsible for chronic or recurrent itching and soreness. The lesions are either circumscribed to the vulva or associated with extragenital localizations which may help to assess the diagnosis. They should be differentiated from infectious or neoplastic diseases which may have clinical similarities. As opposed to the majority of all dermatoses that have a benign and regular course, lichen sclerosus or lichen planus could exceptionally foster the occurrence of an epithelial cancer precursor which may evolve to squamous cell carcinoma. Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment of vulvar dermatosis. We do not know if the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus and vulvar lichen planus prevents squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Tarnier Cochin, 89 rue d'Assas, 75006 Paris, France. Electronic address: micheline@barracco.net.
authors.forename: Micheline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moyal-Barracco
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Tarnier Cochin, 89 rue d'Assas, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wendling
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: dermatosis; lichen planus; lichen sclerosus; lichen simplex chronicus; psoriasis; vulva