What causes ulcers in the genitals?

Generally speaking, women's genitals are prone to various problems, and genital ulcers are a relatively common phenomenon. However, when such a phenomenon occurs, many female friends do not know what is going on. Only by understanding the cause in time can they prescribe the right medicine. So what is the cause of genital ulcers? Let’s take a look together below!

1. Sexually transmitted diseases: Many sexually transmitted diseases will cause vulvar ulcers during the course of their pathology, which is also the most common cause of vulvar ulcers.

Syphilis: It mainly occurs in stage I syphilis, called chancre. The lesions are prone to occur in the genital area, but can also occur in the lips, pharynx, tongue and breasts. It is usually a painless ulcer with a diameter of 1 to 2 cm. The base feels cartilage-like in hardness. The ulcer surface is clean with a small amount of exudate. The number is usually single, but there may be 2 to 3 ulcers. The ulcers may disappear naturally within 3 to 8 weeks without treatment. After healing, there will be no trace or only mild atrophy and pigmentation. Genital herpes: Multiple papules, small blisters or pustules first appear in the genital area, and then develop into erosions and ulcers. There is itching and pain in the lesions. The ulcers generally subside in about 3 to 4 weeks. After recovery, new lesions may occur or relapse at the original site. Lymphogranuloma venereum: The primary lesions are small blisters or papules of 5 to 6 mm, with mild subjective symptoms. Ulcers may form and they are more common in the vulva. The lesions are often single but sometimes multiple. There are no obvious subjective symptoms and they heal on their own after a few days without leaving scars. Inguinal granuloma: Skin lesions mostly occur in the vulva area. The initial lesions are hard subcutaneous nodules, which then form clearly demarcated hyperplastic granulomatous ulcers with a foul odor, rolled and raised edges, beef red center, easy to bleed when touched, no pain, pus on the surface of the ulcer, and many small satellite ulcers may occur around it.

2. Skin diseases: The following skin diseases may also cause vulvar ulcers.

Fixed drug eruption: The skin lesions may be painful erythema, blisters, erosions or ulcers, which are often solitary but may also be multiple. There is a clear history of medication, and the lesions occur in the same area after each medication. They are more common at the junction of skin and mucous membranes such as the lips, glans penis, and anus. Similar lesions may also occur in other parts of the body. Behcet's syndrome: also known as oculo-oral-genital syndrome. In addition to oral ulcers, eye damage, skin symptoms, joint symptoms, vasculitis and nervous system lesions, vulvar ulcers are also one of the characteristic symptoms of this disease. It is often a painful ulcer, which is more obvious in the early stages. The ulcer heals in about 1 to 3 weeks and may leave scars. The disease is prone to recurrence and may last for years or even decades.

Acute vulvar ulcer: mostly occurs in young women. The onset is sudden, starting with vulvar ulcers, which are more common on the inner side of the labia majora and minora and the vestibule mucosa. The ulcers range in size from a grain of rice to 1 to 2 cm. In severe cases, the ulcer area is large, the lesions are deep, the surface is covered with necrotic membrane-like substances, and local pain is obvious. The course of the disease is generally 3 to 4 weeks, and scars are left after healing.

Acute eczema: can occur in the scrotum, vulva, anus and other parts. The rash is composed of numerous densely packed millet-sized papules, papulovesicles or small blisters with a flushed base and severe itching. Due to factors such as scratching, small erosions or ulcers can easily form, which can easily develop into subacute, chronic eczema or secondary infection if not treated in time.

The above is an introduction to the causes of female genital ulcers. In daily life, female friends must do a good job of care in a timely manner and clean the genitals regularly every day, so as to effectively avoid the phenomenon of genital ulcers. Patients with more serious conditions should go to the hospital for examination.