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Female genital dermatoses
The genital and perianal skin can be involved by the same disease processes that affect skin elsewhere, although the appearances may be different. The genital skin is also subject to specific disease processes that may present diagnostic difficulties to non-experts (and sometimes to experts). Skin diseases of the vulva have often proved confusing, even to dermatologists, because the usual characteristics of the eruption are lost or modified, making diagnosis more difficult.
Normal variants of vulval anatomy
Small lesions, which are in fact normal variants, may cause concern to patients. They include:
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Angiokeratomas are small vascular papules, 1–4 mm in diameter, located on the labia majora. Normally they are asymptomatic but they may bleed during pregnancy.
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Sebaceous gland hyperplasia can be seen on the inner labia majora and labia minora. They may become inflamed or pruritic prior to menstruation.
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Vestibular papillomatosis describes tiny filiform projection on the vestibular epithelium and inner labia minora. Human papilloma virus is not involved. They are the female equivalent of pearly penile papules.
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Varicosities of labial veins . These can appear during pregnancy.
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