What areas of the body can genital psoriasis affect?
We know that psoriasis can occur anywhere on your body. Plaques or patches considered to be genital psoriasis, specifically, occur on your vulva, scrotum, penis, buttocks, anus, and groin. Though not technically your genitals, psoriasis may also appear in other intimate areas such as under your breasts.4
What are genital psoriasis symptoms?
Genital psoriasis symptoms can vary from person to person. If you have psoriasis on other areas of your body, you may notice more discomfort if it affects your genitals. Here are some symptoms you might experience with this very sensitive type of psoriasis:
- Discolored patches in the folds of your skin between your genitals and inner thigh.
- Raised, inflamed patches of skin on the surface of your penis, vulva, scrotum, or buttocks.
- Itching or burning at the site of discolored skin.
- Skin patches that are peeling off.
- A feeling of slight pressure “down there.”
What does genital psoriasis feel like?
This probably goes with saying, but a psoriasis flare on your genitals might be painful. Your skin may itch or flake. Sometimes the skin might even split, which can hurt quite a bit.
“Some patients may have psoriasis on their body and not feel a thing, but when psoriasis affects the genitals, it can feel itchy, burning, stinging, or all of the above. Patients often can feel a flare happen before they see anything on the skin,” says Ross Radusky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas. “They may note a discomfort or slight itch or pressure in the area.”
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According to a 2017 study published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy, itching and burning around the privates tend to be the most bothersome genital psoriasis symptoms (no surprise there).6
How is genital psoriasis diagnosed?
In clinical practice, an experienced dermatologist can usually spot psoriasis right away. Genital psoriasis, however, can be a little bit trickier to diagnose. Since genital psoriasis often lacks a scaly appearance, it can sometimes be overlooked or misdiagnosed as a different skin condition, like jock itch, ringworm, and even some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Dr. Radusky explains.
As we mentioned earlier, a skin biopsy may be taken to rule out other conditions. This biopsy is a quick, in-office procedure that will give you insight into whether or not you have psoriasis. If you already have psoriasis in other areas of your body, the diagnosis of genital psoriasis might be easier to determine.
What causes genital psoriasis flare-ups?
The risk factors for genital psoriasis are the same as those for psoriasis anywhere on your body. If you have a family history of psoriasis, smoke, or have other health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, you may have a higher risk of developing psoriasis, according to a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.7
If you already have psoriasis, you might notice your symptoms sometimes get worse. This is called a psoriasis flare-up, and means the condition is actively causing visible symptoms. Everyone has different triggers, but there are a few things to note when it comes to genital psoriasis specifically, says Dr. Radusky. “One thing that is certainly different in genital psoriasis is how fast a patient can go from symptom-free to flare-up,” he says. Athletic activity, wearing tight underwear or tight-fitting clothing, and sexual activity can all trigger a genital psoriasis flare-up, he says.
Source: SELF
