Patient's question:
Going ice skating with friends during my period, after coming home, I felt an itchy sensation in my lower body and particularly redness in the external genital area while taking a nap in the evening. Assuming it was an inflammation, I applied medication, but recently the itching has been getting worse intermittently.Doctor's answer:
Vaginal leukoplakia is primarily characterized by vaginal itching. The vaginal skin may develop epidermal fissures and ulcers due to scratching. Examination may reveal hypopigmentation of the vaginal area, presenting as grayish-white patches with surface keratinization and roughness, which may be accompanied by infiltrative hyperplasia. The symptoms of vaginal leukoplakia can vary in severity, and the course of the disease is also inconsistent. Some patients have a small area of inflammation with mild symptoms and can fully recover with short-term treatment. Others have a large area of inflammation with severe symptoms that do not heal for a long time. Some patients experience recurrent episodes that persist for several years or even decades. Vaginal leukoplakia is a serious condition, and patients are advised to seek immediate treatment and follow their doctor's recommendations for symptomatic treatment.