The role of female intimate hygiene practices in the management of vulvovaginal candidiasis: A randomized, controlled open-label trial

Health Care Women Int. 2023 May;44(5):689-700. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2022.2061972. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Abstract

In this multicenter, observational, controlled open-label trial, researchers randomized 200 women with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) to: Group 1, 6-days clotrimazole 2% vaginal cream once-daily plus 15-days concomitant acid pH thymol and zinc-containing cleansing wash (SaugellaActi3) twice-daily; Group 2, 6-days clotrimazole treatment alone. In both groups, pruritus and burning VAS scores improved from baseline at Days 6, 10 and 15. On Day 10 and Day 15, the pruritus score was significantly lower in Group 1 versus Group 2 (P <0.005 at both timepoints), suggesting acid pH thymol and zinc-containing cleansing wash ameliorates VVC-associated pruritus as part of a female hygiene regimen.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal* / drug therapy
  • Clotrimazole / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hygiene
  • Pruritus / drug therapy
  • Thymol

Substances

  • Clotrimazole
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Thymol