Genital lesions are red, irritated patches of skin that might be painful to the touch. These lesions are not sexually transmitted but could be caused by an infection like Herpes. On the other hand, genital lesions can simply be the manifestation of a skin condition like eczema.
Genital lesions can be an embarrassing situation for both men and women, especially if they are caused by a sexually transmitted disease like genital herpes. The truth is that genital lesions Fort Worth are typically not sexually transmitted, but they can be caused by an infection or skin disorder.
Genital lesions can also occur as a side effect of some medications. While these medications might seem unrelated to genital lesions, in reality they might be connected in ways we don’t often think about.
Here are some common causes of genital lesions:
- Herpes
Herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 viruses. Both types of the herpes virus can cause painful genital sores, but only herpes type 2 can cause genital lesions. This is because the HSV-2 virus prefers to live in nerve cells, particularly in the sacral nerves of the buttocks, lower back, and legs.
- Genital warts
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). These can appear in the genital areas of people with abnormal immune system function, like people who had a transplant. It’s also very common in children, especially boys. Genital warts are most often found on the thighs and scrotum of men but can also be found on the cervix of women.
- Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. This bacterium has the ability to affect different parts of the body. When it infects the genital area, it can cause genital lesions. That said, early signs of syphilis include a painless sore in the genital area.
- Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition. Sometimes, it’s called eczema. It’s an immune-related condition, which means that it happens because of too much stress on the immune system. Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can cause genital lesions.
- Lichen simplex
Lichen simplex is another skin condition that causes itching and irritation in the genital area. The reason it mainly affects the skin is due to an overgrowth of skin cells that form up and cause a thick layer of skin.