Lichen sclerosus
- Article
- 2021-01-30
Lichen sclerosus is a long-term problem that usually affects the skin in the genital and anal areas. Sometimes lichen sclerosus appears on the upper body, breasts and upper arms.
The disease does not cause skin cancer, but it can increase your chances of developing it if your skin is scarred. You should see your doctor every 6 to 12 months to monitor and treat skin changes.
Symptoms
There may be no symptoms in mild cases of the disease. If you have signs they could include:
- Small white spots on the skin (early in the disease).
- Spots that grow into larger patches, with the skin becoming thin and wrinkled over the patches.
- Skin that tears easily, leaving a bright red or purple bruise.
- Skin that gets scars.
- Itching, which is very common.
- Discomfort or pain.
- Bleed.
- Blisters.
Therapy
Patches on the arms or upper body usually don't need treatment. They will disappear over time. Genital skin patches should be treated even if they are not painful or itchy. These areas can cause scarring, which can cause problems with urination or sex. There is also a very small chance that skin cancer will develop in the patches. You should see your doctor every six to 12 months to monitor and treat any skin changes.
If a young girl gets lichen sclerosus, it can disappear in puberty. This means that lifelong treatment may not be necessary, although scars and skin color changes may persist.
Possible treatments for lichen sclerosus include:
- Surgery. Circumcision is the most commonly used therapy for men with lichen sclerosus, and the disease usually does not return after this procedure. Surgery is not a good option for women, however, as the disease usually returns after lichen sclerosus patches are removed from their genitals.
- Medicines, including strong cortisone creams or ointments on the skin. These should be applied to skin patches every day for several weeks to stop the itching. If you use the cream or ointment twice a week for a long time, the disease may not return. The treatment will not repair the scars that may have already appeared.
See your doctor regularly as long-term use of these creams and ointments can lead to:
- Thinning and redness of the skin.
- Stretch marks where the cream is applied.
- Genital fungal infections.
Sometimes you don't get better if you use the cortisone creams. Reasons for this can be:
- Low estrogen levels.
- Infection.
- Allergy to the medication.
If creams and ointments don't work, your doctor may suggest:
- Retinoids or vitamin A-like drugs.
- Tacrolimus ointment to suppress the body's misguided immune system.
- Ultraviolet light treatments (not used on the skin of the genitals).
If you need medication, ask your doctor:
- How does the drug work?
- What are the side effects?
- Why is it the best treatment for my lichen sclerosus?
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