What causes vulva burning?

Burning of the vulva as a local reaction to something the skin was exposed to and resulting in inflammation or irritation felt as burning is called vulvitis. Avoiding contact with the insulting agent is helpful, sometimes using a mild OTC steriod (such as hydrocortisone cream) can bring relief.

Or it could be vulvodynia or vestibulodynia, a condition of the vulva that results in a burning sensation. It classically causes a burning pain with intercourse. The cause is not well understood. It seems to happen more often to women on the birth control pill, or women in menopause, but can occur at any time. Treatment options are often multidisciplinary and range from oral medications to topical medications to physical therapy to name a few. To learn more about this complex condition visit the National Vulvodynia Association website (www.nva.org).