ABSTRACT
The vulval dystrophies are disorders of the superficial skin layers. In the past, they were classified into hypertrophic or atrophic dystrophies and the distinction between individual conditions was often confused and unclear. The terminology has recently been rationalised into the three categories, lichen sclerosis et atrophicus, squamous hyperplasia and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia, depending upon the affected skin layer and the severity of the cellular abnormality.
