Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background Dermatologic, urologic and gynecologic textbooks have been found to lack depictions of dermatologic conditions on skin of color (SOC). Inflammatory dermatoses can present differently on SOC than non-skin of color (non-SOC). Our objective is to provide depictions of the most common inflammatory vulvar dermatoses as well as genitourinary syndrome of menopause/vulvovaginal atrophy across varying skin tones. Methods Publicly available educational materials were searched to identify depictions of vulvar dermatopathology. Depictions of the most common inflammatory vulvar conditions: contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus, lichen simplex chronicus, and lichen planus as well as genitourinary syndrome of menopause/vulvovaginal atrophy were identified. Each depiction was assigned a Fitzpatrick skin phototype. Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-III were deemed non-SOC, while Fitzpatrick phototypes IV-VI were considered SOC. Results We identified depictions of the most common inflammatory vulvar pathologies as well as genitourinary syndrome of menopause/vulvar atrophy across varying Fitzpatrick skin phototypes and noted. At least two depictions of each pathology on non-SOC and SOC were included. Description of dermatologic conditions in textbooks is compared to actual depictions of Fitzpatrick skin phototypes. Conclusions Inflammatory vulvar dermatoses can present differently in SOC and non-SOC. An understanding of the different presentations of these dermatoses can assist providers in reaching a diagnosis. We provide depictions of the most common inflammatory dermatoses as well as genitourinary syndrome of menopause on patients with varying Fitzpatrick skin phototypes.
Source: Research Square
Authors: Karis Buford, Arya Aggarwal, Emelie-Jo Nappo, Renee Horowitz, Bernadette M.M. Zwaans, Priya Padmanabhan
Institution: Oakland University
Language: English
Topic: Genital Health and Disease
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416776469