The Potential Cutaneous Effects of Pornography Addiction: A Narrative Review

Pornography addiction is an area of increasing concern, particularly due to the ubiquitous nature of pornographic material on the Internet. Even so, there is no formal Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) inclusion of compulsive pornography use as a behavioral addiction. Although the psychosocial impacts of pornography addiction have been studied, the risk of direct skin injuries and behavioral changes brought about by excessive pornography usage remain to be seen. Adult males constitute the majority of cases of engaging in risky and violent sexual behaviors with an unclear association with pornography consumption. Adult females may be likely to copy pubic hair trimming patterns analogous to those seen in pornographic content, even though attitudes towards labiaplasty are unclear. Finally, adolescents regularly exposed to pornography have been found to replicate sexual activity seen in pornographic material and have earlier sexual activity. In the literature evaluated, an association between pornographic material and direct cutaneous disease remains a major area of further research.