Diagnosis
The specific diagnosis of a skin rash in the genital area depends on the underlying cause. However, at the beginning of every diagnosis is the doctor-patient consultation, in which the doctor asks the patient for the most important information. In this context, allergies, existing skin diseases, the time of occurrence of the rash as well as possible triggering factors are in the foreground.
Furthermore, the physician asks about accompanying symptoms, e.g. itching or fever. Sexual anamnesis, in which the doctor asks whether sexual intercourse, especially with a new partner, occurred in direct temporal connection with the skin change, is of particular importance. In general, however, a thorough inspection (observation) of the affected skin area is first carried out by the family doctor or the treating dermatologist.
At least the surrounding skin areas, the lower abdomen, the thighs, the anal region and the lower back should also be observed. The surrounding lymph nodes are often palpated as they are often enlarged due to infectious causes. Many diagnoses, e.g. : an infestation of scabies mites, can be deduced from the observation of the rash alone.
Other diagnoses require a skin smear, which is assessed more precisely under the microscope. This is the case with some fungal infections, for example.The skin swab can also be used for laboratory cultivation to detect the pathogen. Furthermore, a skin sample can be taken (biopsy), which is then also examined more closely under a microscope. For some diagnoses, e.g. syphilis, there are special blood tests that are performed.
Accompanying symptoms of skin rash in the genital area
A frequent accompanying symptom of a rash in the genital area is itching. This is typical for an infestation of itchy mites, for example. Secondarily, pain and small injuries often result from manipulation of the rash, such as scratching.
Other accompanying symptoms that can occur are fever and general fatigue. Itching, known as pruritus in the technical jargon, is a common symptom of skin rashes in the genital area, but also of skin rashes in general. The most common symptom is a parasitic attack of scratch mites (scabies) behind an itchy rash in the genital area.
However, other causes such as a fungal infection, an infestation with crabs or an allergic reaction, e.g. to a drug or ointment, can also trigger an itchy rash. Some sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, are accompanied by inflammation of the urinary tract, which can cause pain when urinating. Discharge can also occur in conjunction with the rash.
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