Clinicoepidemiological Profile of Non Venereal Urogenital Dermatoses among Males: A Cross-sectional Study from Southern India

Introduction: Diseases that affect the male external genitalia can be divided into venereal and non venereal dermatoses. Non venereal dermatoses are a cause of great concern and anxiety to the patient, significantly affecting their quality of life. Hence, understanding the non sexual nature and varied presentations of these diseases may provide clues for diagnosing major systemic and generalised cutaneous diseases at the earliest. Aim: To study the clinical pattern of Non Venereal Urogenital Dermatoses (NVUD) and assess the frequency of various dermatoses, their presenting complaints and different sites of genital involvement. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology at an urban-based tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from November 2023 to October 2024. All male patients aged 18 years and above who attended the dermatology outpatient department with complaints of skin lesions in the genital area were screened for NVUD and were included in the study after obtaining informed consent. Most of them were examined clinically and diagnosed; in case of diagnostic dilemma, tests and investigations were done to confirm the diagnoses. Detailed demographic data and medical and sexual history were collected from all participants. Results: The study included 125 male patients with NVUD who presented over a 12-month period. The majority were from urban areas (72%; 90/125) and were married (82.4%; 103/125). The most common complaints were pruritus and dyspigmentation (each 22.4%). Vitiligo (23.2%) was the most common urogenital dermatosis encountered in the study, followed by balanoposthitis (14.4%). Conclusion: NVUD are often overlooked rather than noticed. Genital dermatoses are perceived as stigmatised by a majority of the population, considerably delaying their presentation to a dermatologist or urologist.