Abnormalities of the Vulvar Skin

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Abnormalities of the vulvar skin can manifest in various forms, including changes in colour, texture, and the appearance of lesions or masses. These alterations may be symptomatic of a range of conditions, from infections to autoimmune diseases and neoplasms. A detailed evaluation and additional testing are essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Condition	Symptoms and Clinical Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Fungal Infection by Candida	Intense itching, redness, rash, white and clumpy vaginal discharge	History of itching and discharge, physical examination revealing characteristic rash	Culture of vaginal samples, microscopic examination with KOH
Allergies	Itching, erythema, swelling, rash	History of allergen exposure, symptoms of itching and rashes	Allergy tests (patch tests), medical history
Lichen Sclerosus	Intense itching, white and thin skin, atrophic areas, possible scarring	History of chronic itching and skin changes, physical examination	Skin biopsy revealing characteristic histological changes
Leukoplakia	White patches on the vulva, possible itching or pain	Presence of persistent white spots, physical examination	Skin biopsy to rule out dysplasia or carcinoma
Vulvar Carcinoma	Vulvar mass, non-healing ulcers, bleeding, pain	Presence of suspicious lesions, history of persistent symptoms	Lesion biopsy, imaging (such as CT or MRI) to assess extent
Bacterial Infections	Pain, erythema, purulent discharge	History of pain and erythema, physical examination revealing discharge	Culture of secretions
Contact Dermatitis	Itching, erythema, vesicles	History of exposure to irritants, physical examination revealing erythema and vesicles	Medical history, patch testing
Autoimmune Diseases (e.g., lupus)	Skin lesions, itching, pain	History of autoimmune disease, systemic symptoms	Blood tests for autoimmune markers, skin biopsy if necessary