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Contact Dermatitis (Irritant or Allergic Vulvitis)

Q. What is the difference between irritant and allergic vulvitis?Q. What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?Q. How is contact dermatitis diagnosed?Q. How is contact dermatitis treated?Q. Are there any other changes that I can make in my daily activities that would help treat contact dermatitis?Q. Will better hygiene improve contact dermatitis?Q. Do I have to limit exercise if I have contact dermatitis?Q. Are there any lubricants that I can use to make sexual intercourse more comfortable?

What is the difference between irritant and allergic vulvitis?

An allergic skin reaction involves a release of certain chemicals by the body causing a reaction in the skin. A common example is hives. An irritant reaction is more common than an allergic reaction and is more directly limited to the skin itself. On a practical level, both involve substances that are causing unpleasant reactions when they make contact with the skin and so they should be avoided.