Genital Rashes & Infections

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This page covers conditions seen in men and women, you are welcome to visit our section on genital rashes in men.

At Skin Care Network, we know the importance of genital skin issues being recognized and treated appropriately. Our consultant dermatologists understand the personal nature of these problems.

Staff at our clinic in London do have a thorough knowledge of wider sexual health issues, although most genital skin rashes are not sexually transmitted.

They are simply attacks on a vulnerable part of your body and can happen at any age. Children suffer genital problems, from eczema, to ulceration, penile papules erupt in young men, adults are subject to infection, pigment changes, malignant conditions.

With psychological, functional and cosmetic needs all important in genital cases, professional assessment is essential. If you prefer, we offer the choice of a male, or female consultant.

Diagnosis Of Genital Rashes

Many genital skin diseases show signs elsewhere on the body, so we will examine you thoroughly to help with diagnosis. An experienced consultant can tell much from the physical symptoms of a condition.

Further tests may include skin swabs, blood tests analysed in our laboratory, or a biopsy. Biopsies can be required, where conditions similar in appearance need to be accurately diagnosed, although they may be avoided.

Confocal microscopy is available at Skin Care Network and is often a sound alternative to surgical biopsy. The need for an invasive process on delicate organs set aside and quicker diagnosis, for a range of genital conditions.

See More On Confocal Microscopy & Genital Diagnosis »

Balanitis is an example which can need microscopic confirmation, a common inflammatory condition of the penis. This may appear similar to more serious conditions, such as types of penile cancer. Our confocal microscope can offer accurate diagnosis.

Lichen planus and lichen sclerosus are further examples, skin infections which infect the genitals, in men and women. They share common features, both are thought to be autoimmune diseases but need different treatment.

You could already have a diagnosis of balanitis, inflammation of the penis, or vulva. These diagnoses can however be used as umbrella terms, the cause amongst others may be eczema, bacterial infection, human papilloma virus.

We wish to be as exact as possible, for our patients sake. Less time with genital infections is a plus, recovery more so, from a disease which can impinge on your life and relationships.

Cases For Partner Testing

Treatment for genital infections in our London clinic truly is confidential, most cases are an issue for the patient alone. There are a few exceptions to be considered, often within the confines of intraepithelial neoplasia.

Intraepithelial neoplasia is a disease which can affect the vulva, anal area, or penis. Hence the acronyms for different types, VIN, AIN, PIN. There are other causes, lichen sclerosus, or lichen planus, or immune system issues but a common cause is a form of the human papilloma virus.

Symptoms can range from an itching, or burning sensation in the vulva, to similar in the penis. Ulcers, or bleeding are possible, there can be associated lesions, potentially early stage skin cancers.

Bowenoid papulosis is a related rare infection, triggered by human papilloma virus induced intraepithelial neoplasia. This can affect men and women, often showing as small, red, brown, or flesh coloured spots on the genitals, or anal region.

Many cases of Bowenoid papulosis are benign and disappear by themselves, the same applies to other infections which might be shared. Testing for your partner still makes sense and is an important safety measure.

Screening for your partner can exclude pre malignant change, or other issues. Our staff are highly experienced and will give all the advice you need on broaching the subject.

Treatment For Genital Rashes

In a wide ranging field, treatment should be precise but will by nature be varied and case specific. Also as non invasive as possible, with cosmetic and functional needs at the core of decisions.

Modern medication, Such as imiquimod cream, an immune response modifier, or fluorouracil cream for damaged cells can be valuable by themselves. Cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy and laser ablation are other minimally invasive, well proven options.

The need for any form of surgery is unusual and even where needed, is often superficial. In the rare cases where more is required, advanced, cosmetically sensitive techniques such as Mohs surgery are available at our London clinics.

The need for invasive treatment truly is unusual, medical approaches to personal hygiene are as likely to help. Our consultants can advise on this and on other treatment to bring a solution.

Treating genital rashes in our London dermatology clinic is also more common than you might think. They are part of life and a part we are pleased to help with.