What are the skin symptoms of syphilis?

Syphilis presents with diverse skin manifestations, primarily categorized into early and late stages. In early syphilis, the most common lesion is the chancre, which appears as a painless ulcer in the genital area with well-defined borders and firm consistency. Flat condylomas are also observed, mainly around the anus or genital region, presenting as flat wart-like skin lesions. In secondary syphilis, patients may develop rose-colored macular rashes distributed over the body, or round copper-red rashes on the palms and soles with slight scaling and no significant pruritus. Late syphilis can present with nodular syphilides and gummatous lesions, manifesting as punched-out skin ulcers accompanied by thick, rubbery exudate. For early or uncomplicated late-stage syphilis, penicillin is the treatment of choice, administered via intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion. If symptoms persist or worsen, prompt medical evaluation and appropriate therapy are essential. Additionally, patients should maintain good personal hygiene and avoid unsafe sexual practices to reduce the risk of cross-infection.