Lichen Sclerosus

Lichen sclerosus is a disease which is very rare and it mainly affects the skin of the vulva in women. It most commonly occurs in middle aged women. Lichen sclerosus presents as white patches. Lichen sclerosus which is also known as aka lichen sclerosis or lichen sclerosis et atrophicus and this condition is a painful skin condition that typically affects the vulva and anus. Lichen sclerosus is not contagious. It is not associated with any other disease except for rarely skin cancer as noted above. Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that results in white plaques with epidermal atrophy.

Lichen sclerosus is associated with an increased risk of vulvar cancer , which presents as a slowly-growing lump or a sore that doesn't heal. It usually persists for years, and can cause permanent scarring. There is no known cure, although most people are substantially improved and quite comfortable with treatment. Rarely lichen sclerosus can occur in relatives. Lichen sclerosus is a relatively uncommon condition in which thin white crinkly patches appear on the skin.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus usually presents with progressive pruritus, dyspareunia, dysuria, or genital bleeding.

Symptoms of lichen sclerosus

Symptoms include itch, soreness, and changes in the appearance of affected skin. In men, lichen sclerosus can make the foreskin tight and difficult to retract, and can even partly block the flow of urine. Symptoms may slowly get worse but not all the above symptoms may occur. It can take months or years from the first small spots to progress to more severe symptoms. At first the symptoms may be thought of as thrush or other problems if the vulva is not examined carefully.

Treatment of lichen sclerosus

Treatment with a steroid cream or ointment often eases the symptoms. Over-use of steroid creams can result in skin thinning; it is most important to follow instructions carefully and to attend follow-up appointments regularly. Lichen sclerosus is believed to relate to an autoimmune process, in which there are antibodies to some as-yet undetermined component of the skin. Birth control pills often thin vulvar skin and worsen symptoms overall. Discontinuing them may improve symptoms.

Now here you will find the excellent treatment for lichen sclerosus disease. The treatment include a very high potency cortisone cream or ointment will normally return skin to its original color and texture, although any scarring that may have occurred will remain. after this there is a slight increase of trivial infections during the first few months of treatment until the skin returns to normal, especially in women who are postmenopausal or in girls who are prepuberal. Patients who suffer from lichen sclerosus will develop an allergy to one of the components in the cortisone ointment. Therefore, brief setbacks are common during the first few months of therapy. You should not be discouraged, because ultimately this disease responds well to treatment and produces no symptoms. Although lichen sclerosus is not curable, it is controllable.