Three types of vulvar leukoplakia

Vulvar leukoplakia is a common and frequently occurring gynecological disease, which seriously troubles the normal life of women and endangers their health. According to the characteristics of symptoms, it can be divided into the following three types:

1. Hyperplastic vulvar leukoplakia

Hyperplastic vulvar leukoplakia is characterized by severe vulvar itching, which worsens at night. Scratching often causes redness, swelling and ulceration, and may cause burning and other discomfort. Gynecological examination may show keratinization and hyperplasia of the local skin of the vulva, mild hypopigmentation, and the appearance of dots or small white papules. The surface is frosty and white, which usually does not affect the patient's sexual life.

2. Lichen sclerosus vulvar leukoplakia

Lichen sclerosus type vulvar leukoplakia is characterized by varying degrees of hardening, white color, cracks, and combined atrophy, often accompanied by itching. In severe cases, white scales will fall off. The entire vulva gradually shrinks, hardens, becomes leathery, uneven, and may even dry and crack. In the late stage, the vaginal opening of patients is extremely narrow, affecting sexual life.

3. Atrophic vulvar leukoplakia

The early symptoms of atrophic vulvar leukoplakia are mild, manifested only as mild atrophy of the vulva, generally starting from the labia majora, minora, and clitoris. Some patients have decreased elasticity of the labia majora and minora and fewer surface wrinkles. Vulvar pruritus is relatively mild. Patients often feel dryness of the vulva and may feel uncomfortable during sexual intercourse. As the disease progresses, atrophy further worsens, the clitoris shrinks and becomes smaller or becomes adhered. When the urethra is affected, the patient will suffer from urinary incontinence. When the anus is affected, the risk of anal fissures during defecation is increased.

When the patient has the characteristics of two or more types at the same time, it is diagnosed as mixed vulvar leukoplakia. Regardless of which type, patients will have varying degrees of dry skin, pigmentation, irritability, dry mouth, insomnia and other systemic symptoms, and should be treated actively in the early stage.