What causes leukoplakia?

Many patients are reluctant to face the appearance of white spots on the vulva, because they always feel that the private parts are very private. There are many factors that cause vulvar leukoplakia, such as genetic factors, complications, vulvar itching, body immunity, etc. It is recommended that patients with vulvar leukoplakia seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner to avoid delaying treatment and causing the disease to become more serious.

1. Genetics. According to statistics, about 5%-15% of patients with vulvar leukoplakia are caused by genetics. Genetic vulvar leukoplakia is mostly of atrophic type, with a relatively low age of onset, and is clinically more common in young girls under 15 years old.

2. Comorbidities. Diabetes combined with vulvar leukoplakia is also an endocrine disease, and long-term irritation of the vulva by sugar in urine can easily lead to white lesions of the vulva. Vitiligo combined with vulvar leukoplakia, the exact cause of which is unknown, accounts for about 2% of such patients. In clinical practice, it is important to distinguish the differences in the symptoms of white spots between the two. The exact cause of uterine fibroids combined with vulvar leukoplakia is unknown. In clinical practice, it is often found that patients with vulvar leukoplakia have uterine fibroids, so attention should be paid to examination and diagnosis. Irregular menstruation combined with vulvar leukoplakia, both are related to endocrine disorders.

3. Caused by vulvar itching. The most common sites for vulvar leukoplakia are the clitoris, labia minora and the inner grooves of the labia majora. Sometimes it occurs in the vestibule, vagina, urethral orifice, posterior symphysis, etc. and is often symmetrical. Itching of white spots on the skin is the first prominent symptom felt by patients, especially at night. The degree of itching is related to time, menstruation, climate, food, environment, and mood. Itching usually occurs intermittently, and patients often scratch because of the extreme itching. Due to scratching, leukoplakia has multiple scratches, redness and swelling. As a result of long-term itching, local ulceration, cracking, festering and secondary infection occur. Therefore, patients often experience local burning pain, especially in the sensitive clitoris and labia minora.

4. Related to immunity. Vulvar lichen sclerosus is 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 this 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.

5. Inflammatory stimulation. Vulvar squamous hyperplasia is a vulvar disease with vulvar pruritus as the main symptom but unknown etiology. 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.

After understanding the cause of vulvar leukoplakia, we should use the knowledge learned from the above articles to help us prevent and treat vulvar leukoplakia. In addition, if vulvar leukoplakia is not treated properly, the condition will worsen and even cause lesions in other parts of the body. Therefore, patients must pay attention to changes in the condition of vulvar leukoplakia so that appropriate treatment measures can be taken in time.