How to Prevent Late-Stage Vulvar Skin Cancer

While young women may be exposed to risks for vulvar cancer, it may not show up for years. Take preventive steps to avoid vulvar cancer at an earlier age, but also get regular skin checkups every year. More than 80% of vulvar cancer is diagnosed in women over 50 years old. 

At Seacoast Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists and clinicians are skin experts. They’re trained to spot skin conditions that could be early stage cancers, including vulvar cancer. 

We diagnose and promptly treat any skin lesions, growths, or other abnormal skin cells that could be precancerous. You can take steps to prevent vulvar cancer. Here are commonsense strategies to keep your vulvar skin healthy. 

Get an HPV vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has many strains, and a few of them create a higher risk for cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancer. Vulvar cancer from HPV doesn’t show up right away. 

HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact. It not only spreads during sexual intercourse but can spread from genital-to-hand contact. 

In the United States, the HPV vaccine became available in 2006. It protects you from the types of HPV that are at high risk for vulvar cancer and that can show up years later.

Infections from types of HPV that cause cancer have dropped over 80% in teens and young adult women since the vaccine became available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. 

Don’t smoke 

When you smoke, you inhale chemicals that damage your DNA. This can cause cells to reproduce rapidly and become tumors. Smoking also lessens the effectiveness of your immune system. If you get HPV, you’re more prone to cell damage that could turn into cancer. 

Get regular pelvic checkups

Get a pelvic checkup every year. Regular pelvic examinations can catch vulvar cancer in an early stage. But neither a Pap test nor an HPV test are screens for vulvar cancer. 

Get regular whole-body skin checkups 

Our dermatologists can perform vulvar examinations to give you peace of mind. We can spot precancerous lesions such as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and treat them to prevent vulvar cancer from developing into its later stages. 

If you have a large number of moles or atypical moles, you have a higher risk of skin cancer. We carefully examine your moles, including any in the vulvar area and remove moles that could turn cancerous. 

Perform self-exams

You can examine your vulva using a mirror. Include this area when you perform monthly skin checks. Your vulva should be smooth, without any bumps or nodules on it. If you see areas that are white or very red, or if you see bumps on your vulva, call our office for an appointment. 

If you smoke, are immunocompromised, or haven’t gotten the HPV vaccine, you’re more at risk for vulvar cancer. 

Call us at Seacoast Dermatology for an appointment or use our online scheduling tool. Our offices are located in Dover, Exeter, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.