Patient's question:
The doctor said this is leukoplakia of the vulva, but I don't know what leukoplakia of the vulva is. He also told me that this condition is very different from vulvar vitiligo and that I should never use medication blindly. I would like to consult about the differences between vulvar vitiligo and leukoplakia of the vulva.Doctor's answer:
Vulvar vitiligo and vulvar leukoplakia are entirely different diseases in nature. Although both vulvar vitiligo and vulvar leukoplakia involve skin whitening in the vulvar area, they each exhibit distinct characteristics in their "whitening." Vulvar vitiligo generally causes no discomfort and will never progress into other diseases. Vulvar leukoplakia, also known as "vulvar squamous hyperplasia," is a vulvar disease based on the benign fibrosis of squamous epithelial cells, primarily characterized by vulvar itching. Vitiligo is caused by a reduction or loss of tyrosinase activity in melanocytes within the skin and hair follicles, resulting in localized or generalized white patches. Vulvar leukoplakia is caused by degeneration and changes in pigmentation due to local nutritional deficiencies of nerves and blood vessels in the vulvar area, often secondary to chronic irritation and inflammation of the vulva.