# Reply to: Erosive balanitis caused by Staphylococcus haemolyticus in a healthy, circumcised adult male

## TL;DR

This paper argues that a case of genital infection was actually caused by an untreated skin condition called lichen sclerosus.

## Contribution

The paper offers a new interpretation of a prior case report, linking lichen sclerosus to secondary bacterial infection.

## Key findings

- Chronic, untreated lichen sclerosus can lead to tissue damage.
- Tissue damage from lichen sclerosus may predispose to bacterial infections like Staphylococcus haemolyticus.

## Abstract

In this short letter of correspondence, we provide our specialist interpretation of what has been described in a previously published case report. We argue that this case describes a patient with chronic, undertreated male genital lichen sclerosus. If left unchecked, as in this case, lichen sclerosus can cause permanent architectural changes and damage to the affected tissues, and can thus predisposes to secondary infections, including bacterial, such as with Staphylococcus haemolyticus.