How to Tell the Difference Between Eczema and Vulvar Leukoplakia

Eczema and vulvar leukoplakia can be distinguished mainly by clinical manifestations, and can also be clearly diagnosed by histologic examination. 1. Vulvar leukoplakia: also known as vulvar leukoplakia, it can show different degrees of hypopigmentation, skin thickening or mossy changes. According to the clinical symptoms can be divided into vulvar chronic simple moss, vulvar sclerosing moss, both have different clinical manifestations. (1) Vulvar chronic lichen simplex: the main manifestation is self-conscious vulvar itching, which can lead to a vicious cycle of scratching after itching, and localized moss-like changes in skin lesions; at the same time, accompanied by changes in the color of the vulva, which is pink or dark red in the early stage, and then becomes white after aggravation of the condition. (2) Vulvar sclerosing moss: vulvar itching can also occur, but the degree of itching is less severe; at the same time, it can also be accompanied by vulvar burning sensation, skin redness, swelling, pimples, vulvar atrophy, pain during sexual intercourse, lack of orgasm, urinary discomfort and other symptoms. 2. Eczema: It can appear on the vulva, including acute eczema and chronic eczema. The former mainly manifests as redness and swelling of the vulva, and may appear dense papules, papules, blisters, accompanied by burning pain, intense itching, etc., and vesicles and ooze may appear after scratching. In the latter case, there may be localized hyperpigmentation or pigmentation loss, and accompanied by roughness and thickening of the skin, with mossy changes. In addition, histopathologic examination is the main means of confirming the diagnosis of these two diseases: the histopathology of leukoplakia is mainly characterized by proliferative lesions of the mucosal epithelium or epidermis, while the histopathology of eczema is mainly characterized by inflammatory lesions of the superficial dermis and epidermis. Clinically experienced dermatologists can usually differentiate between the two diseases by clinical symptoms, but histopathologic examination can be used to confirm the diagnosis in patients with highly similar skin lesions.