Lichen Sclerosis

Lichen sclerosis (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder which can srtike men, women, or children, but is most frequent in women. While lichen sclerosis appears regnantly in postmenopausal women. Children can also suffer from LS and it can occassionally affect other regions of the body. When lichen sclerosis affects parts of the body other than the genitals, it is know as "extra genital lichen sclerosus". LS has no relation increased mortality unless the patient develops a malignancy in the area.

Cancer developing in extragenital presentations is delineated only rarely and may be concomitant with other factors. Sometimes, lichen sclerosus is noticed on other parts of the body, mainly the upper body, breasts, and upper arms. The signs are the alike in children and adults. Early in the disease, small, delicate white spots appear. These areas are usually slenderly shiny and smooth.

Lichen sclerosus is not known what reasons LS but it has been found that there is a connection between LS and thyroid disease, vitiligo and other auto-immune diseases. Some doctors are now talking about the likelihood that LS may be genetic. Many researchers believe that lichen sclerosis may be related with an increased risk of developing vulval or penile cancer.

Some severe cases of lichen sclerosis form scarring which may cause the inner lips of the vulva to flinch and disappear, the clitoris to become covered with scar tissue. Since lichen sclerosis is not caused by an infection, it cannot be spread and is not infectious. The disease often goes undiagnosed for may years, as it is occassionally not recognised and misdiagnosed as thrush or other problems and not.

The disease often goes undiagnosed for may years, as it is occassionally not recognised and misdiagnosed as thrush or other problems and not properly diagnosed till the patient is referred to a specialist when the problem does not clear up diagnosed.

Causes of Lichen sclerosis

The common causes and risk factor's of Lichen sclerosis include the following:

• The actual cause of lichen sclerosis is unknown.
• A too active immune system and hormone complications may play a role.
• Sometimes, lichen sclerosus appears on skin which has been ruptured or scarred from some other previous injury.
• Some people may also develop lichen sclerosis because of their genes or to changes in hormones.
• Anyone can get lichen sclerosis, but postmenopausal women and prepubertal children are at highest risk.

Symptoms of Lichen sclerosis

Some sign and symptoms related to Lichen sclerosis are as follows:

• Chronic itching and soreness of the vulval area and pain.
• Inflammation and sometimes swelling.
• Easy bruising or tearing.
• Smooth white spots on your skin that may grow into splotchy, wrinkled patches.
• The skin may split, causing stinging and pain.
• Scar tissue covering the labia or clitoris.
• Bruised skin with broken blood vessels or "blood blisters".

Treatment of Lichen sclerosis

Here is list of the methods for treating Lichen sclerosis:

• Strong topical steroid creams or ointments (especially clobetasol propionate) are very effective for lichen sclerosus, mainly when it affects genital areas. They should be applied very precisely to the affected areas for a few weeks or months.
• Bland moisturisers help to soften and guard the skin.  
• In uncircumcised men, circumcision is the most broadly used therapy for lichen sclerosus. This technique removes the affected skin, and the disease usually does not revert.
• Use an emollient cream such as aqueous cream or similar instead of soap to clean the genital area.
• Ultraviolet light treatment may be used for nongenital areas.

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