Patients with vulvar leukoplakia should be careful when using soap or alkaline solution to clean the vagina

Patients with vulvar leukoplakia should not only develop a good habit of washing their vulva regularly, but also learn the correct way to wash their vulva, especially using soap or various alkaline special washes with caution. So, why should patients with vulvar leukoplakia use soap or various alkaline special washes with caution?

1. Destroy the acidic environment of the vagina

Except for the occasional "opening" during excretion or sexual intercourse, the labia majora of women are usually closed, mainly to cover the vaginal opening and the urethra above it. The secretions in the vagina are generally acidic, with a pH value between 4 and 5. This slightly acidic environment limits the activity and reproduction of most bacteria, and is a "natural defense barrier" for women. However, soaps or many special washes are alkaline. If patients with vulvar leukoplakia often use them to clean their vagina, it is easy to destroy the normal acidic environment, resulting in acid-base imbalance, providing bacteria with an "opportunity to take advantage of", leading to worsening of the disease.

2. Cause mucosal epidermal edema

The inner side of the labia and the urethral opening and vaginal opening covered by it have important mucosal tissues, and the epidermis is particularly tender. Soap or various alkaline lotions may cause edema of the mucosal epidermis and damage the local self-defense ability. Once the protective barrier of the vagina itself is destroyed, it is easy to cause the invasion and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria or viruses, aggravating the condition of vulvar leukoplakia.