What causes vulvar leukoplakia?

When many women learn that they have vulvar leukoplakia, they are still confused and panicked, and they can't figure out how they got vulvar leukoplakia. What is the cause of vulvar leukoplakia? In fact, there are roughly two possibilities, one is vulvar squamous epithelial hyperplasia, and the other is vulvar lichen sclerosus. This disease may also be a family inheritance or even related to autoimmunity. So, let’s take a closer look at what causes vulvar leukoplakia.

(1) Vulvar squamous hyperplasia: It is a vulvar disease with vulvar itching as the main symptom but the cause is unknown. Although there is no direct cause of this disease, anatomical and physiological factors such as the long-term moisture of the local skin of the vulva and the stimulation of vaginal discharge may be related to its occurrence. This disease is more common in postmenopausal women, but it can also occur in women of childbearing age.

Vulvar itching is the main symptom of vulvar leukoplakia, which is difficult for patients to endure. Since scratching the area stimulates larger nerve fibers, it can inhibit the itch nerve fiber reflex and temporarily relieve the patient's itching. However, scratching can cause further damage to the skin, thereby triggering new itching reactions and making the itching more severe, forming a vicious cycle.

The range of vulvar lesions varies, mainly affecting the labia majora, interlabial groove, clitoral hood, posterior labia joint, etc., and the length is symmetrical. When the early lesions are mild, the skin color is dark red or pink, and the hyperkeratotic areas are white. Due to long-term scratching and friction, the skin becomes thickened like leather, the pigmentation increases, the skin texture is obviously prominent, the skin ridges are raised, and there are many small polygonal flat papules that are clustered into patches and develop lichenification. Therefore, this disease is also clinically called chronic simple lichen. Due to different degrees of local moisture, scratching and friction, as well as different responses to local medications, the morphology of lesions in different parts of the patient's body varies. In severe cases, scratching may cause epidermal scratches, cracks, and ulcers.

(ii) Vulvar lichen sclerosus: a skin disease characterized by atrophy and thinning of the vulva and perianal skin. Although the cause is unknown, there is a family history of the disease. Some scholars have also found that people with this disease usually also have autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata, vitiligo, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, indicating that this disease is related to autoimmunity.

After reading the above content about vulvar leukoplakia, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the causes of vulvar leukoplakia. Female friends who suffer from vulvar leukoplakia suffer serious physical and psychological damage. As family members and friends, we must take good care of them and enlighten them. If you have vulvar leukoplakia, seek timely treatment and live a happy and wonderful life.