Intimate skin rash

Definition

There are many different causes for a rash in the genital area. By definition, the term “intimate area” refers to the area of the external sexual organs of the human being. For example, in addition to inflammatory and infectious causes, injuries or tumor diseases may also be possible triggers.

Therefore, a uniform definition of skin rashes in the genital area is not simply possible. Furthermore, some rashes present themselves with completely different symptoms. Often, however, an agonizing itching dominates, which then leads to a visit to the doctor. While some rashes are the expression of a sexually transmitted disease, there are other rashes that occur in the context of a non-sexual transmission.

Causes

Since there are many possible causes for a skin rash in the genital area, it is recommended for the sake of clarity to divide them into groups:

• Sexually transmitted diseases: Sexually transmitted diseases represent a large group of possible causes of rashes in the genital area. A common cause is genital herpes, which leads to redness and excruciating itching of the genital area. Furthermore, skin rashes in the genital area can also be caused by diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, a chlamydial infection or, in particular, fungal diseases in women.
• Parasitic causes: A very common cause of a rash of the genital area (especially in men) is a scabies infestation.

  Typically, a rash occurs which is reddened, raised above the skin level and causes very severe itching. Another very common cause of a rash in the genital area is felting. This leads to itchy, blue-gray lesions.

  Crab lice are transmitted from person to person, especially during sexual intercourse.

• Injuries: Injuries to the genital area often lead to skin rashes in the genital area. Often it is slight scratches and cuts that occur during shaving of the genital area that cause redness and slight swelling of the genital area. But also small pimples are quite typical.

  Bacteria can enter the skin through these small skin lesions and also cause rashes. Most of the time, such small wounds and the resulting rashes in the genital area heal very quickly. Other injuries, for example during sexual activities, can also make it easier for pathogens or allergens to enter the skin and thus cause a rash.

• Tumor diseases: Tumor diseases can also lead to skin rashes in the genital area.

  However, it should be emphasized that only in the rarest cases a tumor disease is the cause of a rash in the genital area. In women, an example of such a disease is vulvar carcinoma; men may have skin changes in the genital area as part of penis carcinoma.

• Allergy: Allergies often lead to skin rashes. The intimate area is an already sensitive skin region, so allergic reactions can cause a rash here too. Possible triggers of an allergic skin rash are drugs, creams, condoms, textiles, bandages or detergents.