A Clinical Study of Non-venereal Genital Dermatoses in Women in a Rural Setup

Introduction: Genital dermatoses which can be venereal or non-venereal in nature are common in a significant number of women. The female non-venereal genital dermatoses can be classified into congenital anomalies, infections and infestations, inflammatory conditions, benign and malignant neoplasms. Local factors such as moisture, warmth, friction and irritants may alter the morphology of lesions involving the genital area thereby causing a diagnostic dilemma to the treating physician. Till date, few studies are published on the genital dermatoses of nonvenereal origin in females. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the various female non-venereal genital dermatoses for their appropriate understanding and management. Materials and Methods: A prospective observation study was carried out on women above 18 years of age attending the outpatient department of PESIMSR, Kuppam from September 2018 to June 2019 with complaints of genital lesions. A detailed clinical history, examination and basic investigations were performed on recruited women to rule out sexually transmitted infections. Women with only non-venereal dermatoses were included in the study. Results: A total of 97 women were included in the study. The most common dermatoses observed were vitiligo (15.4%), candidal intertrigo (13.4%), lichen sclerosus (11.3%), lichen simplex chronicus (10.3%) and irritant contact dermatitis (10.3%). Other dermatoses included were folliculitis, lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris, drug eruptions, tinea cruris, herpes zoster, bartholin cyst, psoriasis and behcet’s disease. Conclusion: This study concludes that all dermatoses involving the genital area are not sexually transmitted and the need for health education regarding the non-venereal skin conditions is necessary.