Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
Demonstration of Cutaneous Allodynia in Association with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Published on: June 23, 2009
Patients with vulval pruritus: patch test results
Serap Utaş1, Ayten Ferahbaş, Sinem Yildiz
1Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. sutas@erciyes.edu.tr
Background:
Persistent vulval pruritus is a frequent problem and patients may not show signs of a primary vulval dermatosis. Allergic contact sensitivity is an important factor in such patients but may also occur as a secondary event in women with vulval dermatoses.
Objectives:
We aim to describe women with vulval pruritus who were evaluated for vulval dermatoses. We patch tested to help define or exclude allergens.
Methods:
In a 3-year period, 50 women with vulval pruritus were examined for existence of vulval dermatosis. All the patients were patch tested to the European Baseline Series, medicaments, preservatives, vehicles, cosmetics and products they routinely used.
Results:
Ages of the patients ranged from 22 to 62 years (mean 39.9 +/- 9 years) and duration of the diseases ranged from 0.5-360 months (mean 56.1 +/- 65.6 months). 52% of the women had at least 1 positive patch test. 8 patients (16%) had 1 or more relevant allergic positive reactions. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments.
Conclusions:
Women with vulval pruritus were patch tested to help define or rule our allergens. Contact allergy incidence in these patients is high. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments.
