Intimate hygiene with vulvar lichen sclerosus
Intimate hygiene with VLS is not more complicated—but it does require a few adjustments that make a real difference to symptoms.
How to wash the vulvar area with VLS
The first recommendation I give my patients is also the simplest: less is more. Vulvar skin affected by VLS is sensitive and easily irritated—the less we expose it to unnecessary products, the better.
Lukewarm water, not hot
Heat intensifies vulvar itching. Lukewarm water—not hot—is the right temperature for intimate hygiene with VLS.
Soap
The minimum necessary. If soap is used, it should be a fragrance-free, neutral soap specifically formulated for intimate use or for sensitive skin. In many cases, water alone is sufficient. If the area does not smell unpleasant and there are no signs of infection, water alone cleans adequately.
Washing technique
Wash the vulvar area with your hand or a soft gauze pad—never with a sponge or scrubber. Use gentle front-to-back movements. Do not rub.
Drying
Gently pat dry with a clean cotton towel—never rub. Some patients prefer to dry gently with a hair dryer on a low setting, which avoids direct contact.
Frequency
Once a day is sufficient. Excessive washing irritates vulvar skin and disrupts the local microbiota.
Hygiene habits that worsen VLS
Vaginal douching is contraindicated. It disrupts the vaginal microbiota and can worsen vulvar irritation. The vagina cleans itself—external hygiene is all that is needed.
Fragranced soaps are contraindicated, including fragranced “intimate” soaps or perfumed shower gels. Fragrance is the biggest irritant for sensitive vulvar skin.
Wet wipes with alcohol or fragrance. If you use wipes, they should be alcohol-free and fragrance-free—and only for occasional situations, not as a hygiene routine.
Prolonged soaking baths. Prolonged contact with water can macerate sensitive vulvar skin. Showers are preferable to baths in most cases.
Moisturising as the final step of hygiene
After cleansing and drying, this is the ideal time to apply vulvar oil or an emollient. Clean, slightly damp skin absorbs the product’s active ingredients better.
For post-shower moisturising, I recommend Dermnix—the intimate oil formulated for vulvar skin with VLS. A few minutes after the shower, before getting dressed, is the optimal time to apply it.