Dr Rachael Foster
Biography:
Rachael is a Dermatologist working as a general Dermatologist in Perth, Western Australia. She has a special interest in paediatric dermatology and female genital dermatology.
Rachael works in private practice at Hollywood Dermatology and sessionally at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital (where she is part of a multidisciplinary vulvar clinic) at Perth Children’s Hospital where she is head of department. She also works for ACRRM providing a teledermatology service to WA, SA and under 5s Australia wide.
Abstract:
Whilst acute candidiasis and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (formerly atrophic vaginitis) are common causes of vulvar symptoms and disease, there are a number of other conditions that have overlapping symptoms including itch, pain and sexual dysfunction. In this talk I will discuss clues on history and examination that there is a primary vulvar dermatosis present (for example irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen sclerosus and lichen planus), vulvar cancer, chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis and vulvodynia.
I will also discuss the usefulness of vulvar swabs and biopsies, and their limitations.