Differential Diagnosis of Genital Ulcers or Skin Lesions
A) Infectious causes (most common)
Herpes simplex
Syphilis
Chancroid
Lymphogranuloma venereum
Granuloma inguinale
Primary Human immunodeficiency virus
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein-Barr virus
Bartholin abscess
Fungal infection (e.g., Candida)
Secondary bacterial infection
B) Noninfectious (less common)
Neoplasm: Cancer
Trauma
Sexual trauma, etc
Lichen simplex chronicus (thickening of the skin with some scaling that arises secondary to repetitive scratching or rubbing)
Drugs: Drug reactions; fixed drug eruption
Autoimmune
Behcet’s disease
Lichen sclerosis
Lichen planus
Psoriasis
Wegener granulomatosis
Other: Vestibulitis
Further Reading
Am Fam Physician. 2012 Feb 1;85(3):254-262. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0201/p254.html
Am Fam Physician. 2014 Sep 1;90(5):312-318. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0901/p312.html