Is it relevant a correct intimate cleansing in the treatment of vulvar dermatosis?

Background: Vulvar dermatoses are inflammatory disorders of genital skin causing itch, pain, dysuria and dyspareunia. Objective: To compare the efficacy of two intimate cleansers as adjuvants in the treatment of the two common vulvar dermatoses: Lichen sclerosus (LS) and lichen simplex chronicus (LSC). Method: 32 patients with the diagnosis of LS or LSC initially treated with Mometasone furoate 0.1% cream were then randomly assigned to receive either cleanser A (cleaner based on amigdalus dulcis, malva, jojoba oil, PCL solid, Hyaluronic acid) or cleanser B (cleaner based on Cocoyl Wtheat Amino Acids, Maltodextrins, Aveena sativa, Caprylic Glycol) twice a day in association with lanolin cream one application daily for 30 days, following which the lanolin cream was applied only when needed as a rescue treatment. The amount of the rescue cream used, rubbing, applicability and pleasantness of the product were classified before and after 60 days of treatment. Results: The differences between the two treatments for rubbing, applicability and pleasantness of the product were statistically non-significant, while “as needed” use of the emollient lanolin cream was significantly superior in a total number of doses in the B group versus the A group (8.25 vs 5.28 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The parameters showed a high score for both the cleansers, demonstrating the acceptability of these products by the women. The best results of the cleaner A can be attributed to not only to the pool of moisturizing and emollient active ingredients but that of the soothing effects as well. This shows that the role of intimate cleanser is not only for vulval cleansing, but can also play a therapeutic role of moisturization and emollience.