Aunt Vadge: cut on vulva that won’t heal – what is it?

Aunt Vadge,

For a little over a month now, there has been what looks like a shallow cut next to my clitoris. It started out with my boyfriend and I doing our thing and I was helping him out. Long story short, my fingernail made a small nick on my clitoris that seemed to heal within a week.

A couple weeks later, I noticed I was itchy down there. I just assumed it was a small thing and I had nothing to worry about. Upon further inspection, the cut was back, and I was only itchy where the cut was. It doesn’t itch all the time, but it’s enough to bother me.

A few days ago, I looked and saw the initial cut was still there, but for some reason, there seemed to be another cut beside the original, but outside of the clitoris. The cuts are the same color as the skin down there, so there’s no discoloration, pus, or anything I see to concern, other than the growth. They don’t look like papercuts, but more like a scrape that has scraped the first layer of skin off.

I tried putting a small amount of Neosporin on the cut before it grew, but never seemed to help so I stopped. I don’t know where to go from here, as it isn’t seeming to be healing at all.

Thanks for your time!

Yours,
Scraped

_______

Dear Scraped,

Thanks for your email. Normally if you cut yourself, it heals and goes away and you never think of it again. It’s unusual for one small cut to turn into two!

It isn’t clear what is happening, but your best bet is to smooth the affected area with a little pawpaw ointment or cuts cream to cover it and offer some lubrication, while it heals. If more areas develop, please see your doctor as you may need testing and treatment.

You may have introduced a fungus or bacteria to the cut, which has then been allowed to spread and reduce the ability of your skin to protect itself resulting in another ‘cut’ or scrape-like lesion appearing out of nowhere.

Either way, because it’s not healing, you need to go and see someone about it to get clarification and a treatment strategy. Without examination, it is very difficult to tell what it could be so if your condition doesn’t improve, find a doctor who can take a look.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge