ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the perceptions women have about the sensitivity of their skin in the vulvar area, the changing perceptions at different life stages, and the impacts of aging, incontinence, and menopause. It focuses on the perception of genital skin sensitivity among women during different life stages and some of the environmental conditions and other triggering factors associated with sensitive genital skin. Sensitive skin is a condition effecting large segments of the population and can have considerable psychological impact. Individuals with sensitive skin report a variety of unpleasant sensory reactions in response to common external factors and intrinsic stressors. Gender and ethnicity appear to play roles in the perception of sensitive genital skin. The participants included women who suffered from light urinary incontinence aged 50 years and who participated in focus groups as part of development efforts aimed toward incontinence products.
