Study suggests 6 million American women could have genital ECZEMA but don't know it - here's how to spot the symptoms

Women with eczema beware, an itchy feeling down there might be a flare up. 

In 2023, the CDC estimated that 8.9 percent of adult women had eczema, which represents about fourteen million people. 

Now, experts are warning that many of these women may also be unknowingly suffering from a type of the skin condition that affects their genitals.

'It’s not unusual at all for the genital area to be involved' in eczema, says Dr Sonya Kenkare, a dermatologist at the Illinois Dermatology Institute.

A 2021 Korean study estimated about 45 percent have suffered from an attack on their nether regions, in a condition known as vulvar eczema or dermatitis. 

In the US, that'd would represent roughly 6.3 million people. 

Millions of women could be suffering genital eczema without knowing - look out for dry, scaly rashes, experts say.

If you have a scaly, itchy, dry rash on your external genitalia, including the labia, clitoris and vulva, then that's a telltale sign that you're having a flare up.  If you're itching the area a lot, you may also 'start to see thickened skin that comes from repetitive rubbing,' Kenkare told Self. 

However, experts say the condition is difficult to spot as the symptoms mimic that of other conditions, like sexually transmitted infections, yeast infections and contact dermatitis.

Kenkare said there are ways to differentiate between each. 

If you have an STI, you'll probably experience other symptoms on top of itchiness, including pain during sex, abdominal aches or fever.

But if you're unsure whether an itch is related to eczema or STI, then a safe bet is to get tested for STI's to be sure, Kenkare said. 

If you have a yeast infection, you'll still have itchiness, but you'll probably also have thick, white discharge that likely wouldn't be there with an eczema flare up. 

To determine if you have contact dermatitis, which is like a one-off version of eczema, then you should evaluate what you've come into contact with recently that might've caused your discomfort. This condition is usually just like an allergic reaction to something new. 

So if you don't have a history of eczema and recently bought new underwear, jeans or period products, then you could be dealing with contact dermatitis.  

Eczema flare ups on the skin usually appear red and flaky. These flare ups can range from itchy to painful

If it is eczema, then there are a whole host of things that could cause genital flare ups, Smith said. This includes stress, weather and irritating products like scented tampons, Dr Anne Smith an OB/GYN from Yale, told SELF.

You can also flare up in response to things you've taken into your body, from cigarette smoke to vanilla extract . 

For some unlucky people, their first flare up could occur on their vagina, Smith said. 

But usually, you'll notice patches on your face, elbows and nipples before the condition pops up between your legs, she said. 

The condition can also affect men, however studies show it is less common at younger ages and is easier to spot.

Dr Margaret Cocks, a Board certified dermatologist, shared in a TikTok the following tips to keep your symptoms from flaring up down there. To clean yourself, use warm water, gentle cleansers and avoid all scented products, from pads to douches to wipes.

Also, using something that will help keep the moisture in your tissues, like petroleum jelly, can help, because it will stop your vulva from drying as much, and might alleviate some of the itching, Kenkare said.  

One clinic that focuses on treating people with vulva dermatitis said the most common mistakes she sees patients making include using scented wet wipes, using a blow dryer on their genitals and using scented, harsh soaps.