A Clinical Study of Skin Diseases on Genitalia

Lee, Sang Min; Sung, Kee Han; Choi, Hyung Uk; Lee, Sook Kyung

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Genital skin diseases are common, yet there has been insufficient clinical investigation of these conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the epidemiological aspects of genital skin diseases, and to highlight the clinical features of common dermatoses of the genitalia. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed data of 84 patients biopsied for genital skin lesions at Maryknoll Hospital between September 1991 and August 2004. RESULTS: The ratio of males to females was 2: 1 (56: 28). The most frequent genital skin diseases present were lichen simplex chronicus, condyloma accuminata, irritant contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus et atropicus and calcinosis cutis in decreasing order of frequency. Of the 84 cases, 42 had patches or plaques, 36 had papules or nodules and 16 had vesicles, erosions or ulcers. CONCLUSION: Our results were similar to other studies in some cases and different from others in other cases. Further investigation with a larger group of patients is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of genital skin diseases.