General perianal skin problems.

In this paper attention is focused on the following conditions: perianal skin problems such as pruritus in the perianal area, the eczemas, psoriasis, premalignant and malignant tumours such as Bowen's disease and Bowenoid papulosis, squamous cell carcinoma, dermatophyte and yeast infections and sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, condylomata acuminata (warts) and genital herpes. Principles of clinical, bacteriological and histopathological diagnosis will be discussed briefly for each of the above-mentioned diseases. For some of these, therapeutic effectiveness and particular side effects due to the use of topically applied drugs containing corticosteroids, anaesthetics, antibiotics and preservatives will also be considered.