Genital skin problems
Genital skin problems are very common and can be very uncomfortable, distressing and embarrassing. They can interfere with sexual functioning, self-image and interpersonal relationships. Some genital disorders are infectious, including sexually transmitted diseases.
This page provides links to information on DermNet about skin conditions affecting the genital area.
Some women complain of vaginal or genital malodour.
Many skin conditions result in itching (pruritus):
- Pruritus ani (itchy anus)
- Pruritus vulvae (itchy vulva) in women and in children
Itch is commonly due to an dermatitis (eczema). The types of dermatitis most often affecting the genitals are:
- Lichen simplex (dermatitis due to localised itch-scratch-itch response)
- Atopic dermatitis (widespread familial tendency to eczema)
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis (usually affects scalp as well)
- Irritant contact dermatitis (from wetness, incontinence, vigorous cleansing)
- Allergic contact dermatitis (most often due to perfumes or rubber)
Other skin conditions causing genital itch include:
- Psoriasis (persistent red scaly or moist patches)
- Lichen sclerosus (white scarred patches)
- Lichen planus
Some conditions tend to be more sore than itchy, and/or may cause painful sex (dyspareunia), especially:
- Atrophic vaginitis
- Recurrent fissuring of posterior fourchette
- Aphthous ulceration
- Reactive genital ulcers
- Behcet disease
- Erosive lichen planus (which usually also affects the mouth)
- Plasma cell balanitis/vulvitis
- Desquamative vaginitis
- Crohn disease, in which ulcers and granulomas arise
- Sebaceous adenitis, in which there are tender papules on the labia minora in women
- Pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome
- Spasm in pelvic muscles leading to vaginismus
- When no cause has been found for vulval pain, the term vulvodynia is sometimes used. This has been classified into provoked localised vulvodynia (or vestibulodynia) and generalised unprovoked vulvodynia (dysaesthetic vulvodynia or neuropathic pain).
Non-venereal skin infections may present in the genital area, presumably because of warmth and humidity.
Bacterial skin infections include:
- Boils (deep infection of hair follicle)
- Folliculitis (surface infection of hair follicle)
- Impetigo (school sores)
- Erythrasma (dry brown patches)
- Cutaneous tuberculosis (rare)
Replacement of lactobacilli by anaerobic bacteria may result in bacterial vaginosis, resulting in a frothy white discharge.
Conditions confused with bacterial infections in the groin:
- Balanitis (in males)
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
- Hailey Hailey
Fungal skin infections include:
- Tinea cruris (Jock itch)
- Vulvovaginal candidiasis (thrush)
Rashes confused with fungal infections in the groin:
Viral skin infections include:
The groin is also a favoured site for some parasitic infestations:
Important sexually transmitted infections include:
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhoea
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Chancroid
- Granuloma inguinale (donovanosis)
- Trichomoniasis
Skin lesions:
- Vulval skin lesions
- Labial adhesions in prepubertal girls
- Labial adhesions in adults
- Angiokeratomas
- Pilar and epidermal cysts
- Bowenoid papulosis (precancerous plaques due to genital warts)
- Invasive squamous cell carcinoma (arising most often from genital warts, lichen sclerosus or lichen planus) and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (squamous cell carcinoma in situ)
- Extramammary Paget disease
- Vulval labial melanotic macules (see DermNet's page about the lip freckle, labial melanotic macule)
- Pearly penile papules
- Peyronie disease, in which a fibrous band appears on the penis
- Penile intraepithelial neoplasia (squamous cell carcinoma in situ, Bowen disease of penis, erythroplasia of Querat)