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Aim: To determine whether use of a topical, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-itching formula was able to preserve the absence of symptoms, mainly itching and burning, induced by an earlier and relatively short treatment with topical steroids in women diagnosed with vulvar dermatitis or lichen simplex. Methods: Ninety-six subjects (36 with contact dermatitis, 29 with allergic dermatitis, 31 with lichen simplex) were enrolled in the study. All participants were first treated with topical mometasone furoate (MF) 0.1%. When the symptoms disappeared, they were treated either with Zantogin®, a multicomponent topical formula containing anti-inflammatory and anti-itching natural actives, or a control cream for 60 days. Results: The study demonstrated that, in about 85% of the participants treated with Zantogin®, symptoms disappeared completely, and only 15% had to resort to MF as needed, with an average use of about three applications per subject (in total). In the placebo group, approximately 90% of participants had to resort to MF as needed, with an average use per person of more than 16 applications in 60 days. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that, following use of a topical steroid, symptoms such as burning and itching can be validly controlled with subsequent and longer therapy with a herbal topical formula, Zantogin®, which is able to properly counteract itching and inflammation, prevent symptom relapse, and avoid the typical side effects associated with prolonged use of topical steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule in the management of postmenopausal dyspareunia., Study Design: Postmenopausal women with dyspareunia were enrolled in this study. Patients were instructed to use a fingertip to apply 0.25g of vaginal gel containing 25μg of estriol to the vulvar vestibule daily for three weeks and then twice weekly for up to 12 weeks., Results: Assessment of symptoms (dyspareunia and cotton swab test) and signs of vestibular atrophy were performed, and changes between baseline and weeks 3 and 12 were assessed. Adverse events were recorded. A total of 63 women were included. Of the 63, 59 (93.6%) completed the 12-week treatment period, and four dropped out for vestibular burning. Dyspareunia improved or was cured (score ≤1) by week 12 in 81.4% of patients. The patients also showed a statistically significant reduction in vestibular atrophy and cotton swab test at the end of treatment., Conclusions: Application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule is effective in correcting menopausal coital pain. This suggests that reduction in sensory vestibular innervation sensitivity is likely to play a pivotal role in the relief of dyspareunia. One limitation of this study is the limited follow-up, but the therapy may be continued for as long as the patients are distressed by their symptoms without estrogen intervention., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)