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Dr. Sarah Cigna, an ob.gyn. specializing in sexual health, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between ob.gyns and dermatologists in managing vulvar pain and dermatoses. She highlights the need for increased training in vulvar dermatology for both specialties and announces the launch of a joint Vulvar Dermatology Clinic at The George Washington University in 2025. Dr. Cigna provides insights on approaching patient history and exams, diagnosing and treating various vulvar issues, and the significance of considering autoimmune, infectious, and noninfectious causes of vulvar itch. She also discusses the role of mast cell proliferation in vulvar and vestibular pain and itching. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the importance of collaboration between obstetricians/gynecologists and dermatologists in managing vulvar dermatoses, highlighting the need for specialized care in this neglected area of medicine. The joint Vulvar Dermatology Clinic at The George Washington University will address complex cases with unclear etiology or ineffective treatment. The text also covers various causes of vulvar pain and itch, emphasizing the significance of a comprehensive history and examination to differentiate between infectious and noninfectious causes, autoimmune conditions like lichen sclerosus and lichen planus, and other conditions such as vulvar Crohn's disease, neuropathic itch, and pelvic floor muscle spasm. [Extracted from the article]

In a specialty dermatology clinic, pediatric lichen sclerosus (LS) was difficult to differentiate from vitiligo, especially in patients with medium to dark skin tones, according to a retrospective review of cases. "I suspect that some vitiligo cases that were previously "misdiagnosed" as LS were actually LS that just didn't repigment and then were labeled as vitiligo in the chart", Dr. Habeshian said. Researchers who tallied symptoms and physical exam findings observed fewer statistically significant differences between LS and vitiligo patients than expected, and LS and vitiligo were sometimes misdiagnosed as each other. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on vulvodynia, a little-known condition that causes chronic pain in the vulva. The condition is treatable through a personalized therapeutic approach, including accurate diagnosis, CNS dysfunction management, low-dose medication, pelvic floor rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and hygienic measures. Proper understanding and empathy are essential in addressing this condition and improving patients' quality of life.