Lichen Sclerosus - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that results in white plaques with epidermal atrophy. It affects men, women, or children, but is most common in women. Lichen sclerosus have both genital and extra genital presentations. It usually affects the vulva i.e. the outer genitalia or sex organ and the anal area. While lichen sclerosus appears predominantly in postmenopausal women, this skin condition is also known to develop on the head of the penis in men. Occasionally, lichen sclerosus is seen on other parts of the body, especially the upper body, breasts, and upper arms. Lichen sclerosus is ten times more common in women than in men. It can start at any age, although it is most often seen in women over 50. Prepubertal girls can also be affected. It may cause no symptoms but it can be itchy, sometimes severely so. It can develop after an injury to the affected area.

Causes

1. The exact cause is not clear. But it can be related to some causes.
2. In some cases it is thought that an overactive immune system may play a role in causing the disease.
3. The condition may also be related to a lack of sex hormones in the affected skin.
4. Previous skin damage at a particular site on your skin may increase the likelihood of lichen sclerosus at that location. The scar can be converted into lichen sclerosus.
5. Sex also plays an important role in causing this disease. Lichen sclerosus occurs most often in postmenopausal women, but it also occurs in men and children.

Symptoms

1. In women, lichen sclerosus usually involves the vulva.
2. In boys and men, uncircumcised males are most at risk, because the condition generally affects the foreskin.
3. In the early stage of the disease small white spots appear on the skin.
4. The spots are usually shiny and smooth. Later, the spots grow into bigger patches.
5. Lichen sclerosus of the vulva may cause extreme itching that interferes with sleep and daily activities but occasionally.
6. There may be bruised skin with broken blood vessels or blood blisters.
7. There may be small tears or fissures in the skin. There may be scar tissue covering the labia or clitoris
8. If the disease is severe, bleeding, tearing, and blistering caused by rubbing or bumping the skin can cause pain.

Treatment

1. Patients with lichen sclerosus of non genital skin often do not need treatment because the symptoms are very mild and usually go away over time.
2. Lichen sclerosus of the genital skin should be treated, even when it is not causing itching or pain, because it can lead to scarring that may narrow openings in the genital area and interfere with either urination or sexual intercourse or both.
3. Ultraviolet light treatment can be recommended for non genital areas.
4. Surgery is normally a good option for men. Removing the foreskin on the penis is the most widely used therapy for men with lichen sclerosus.
5. Treatment also includes using very strong cortisone cream or ointment on the skin. You put these creams on the patches every day for several weeks.