Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition which can affect any part of the skin, but it most often affects the genital skin (vulva) and the skin around the anus. It can start in childhood or adulthood, most commonly after menopause.

What causes lichen sclerosus?

The cause of lichen sclerosus is not fully understood. It can be associated with other auto immune diseases but it has not been proven that it is an auto-immune condition in itself.

Lichen sclerosus is not due to an infection – the disease is not contagious and cannot be spread through contact, including sexual intercourse. It is not related to allergy or

Symptoms of lichen sclerosus

 The most common symptom is itching, which may be severe

 Vulval soreness

 Painful intercourse

 The skin can also be prone to tearing, particularly after sex

 Severe scarring, this can interfere with urination although this is very rare. It can also affect the skin around the anus

 In a minority of people, patches may occur on non-genital skin, but these rarely cause any symptoms at all

Diagnosis

Clinical diagnosis can be made by a Specialist who is experienced in Vulval disease.

A small skin sample (biopsy) may be taken if there is suspected cancer, or the lesion is not responsive to treatment

Can lichen sclerosus be cured?

There is no permanent cure for lichen sclerosus, but the symptoms and signs of the disease can be well controlled.

Many skin conditions may give similar symptoms or may look very similar.

They are – Lichen sclerosis, Lichen simplex, Vulval Pre cancer (VIN), Vulval cancer, Vulval Eczema, Psoriasis etc.