Natural Skin Care

What Is Lichen Sclerosus?

 

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition resulting in well-defined shiny white spots on the skin. It mostly affects the genital and anal areas. The condition affects all ages but affects the middle aged women more.

 

What Are the Symptoms?

 

Lichen sclerosus most commonly affects the genital area. The predominant symptom is acute itching of the vulval area. The sufferer may scratch the area so much that blood blisters and sores can occur. The vulva thickens and looks white. As the skin becomes increasing sensitive then the vulval and perianal area become more and more prone to tearing and infected, especially on passing bowel movements.

 

Women

Atrophy (bleeding of the tissue) and change in the vulval features occur in long established cases and include fusion of the labia over the urethra (the tube which passes urine from the bladder out of the body), causing difficulty in urination. The clitoris may become ‘buried’. There may be narrowing of the vaginal opening making sexual intercourse difficult. Infections (including ‘thrush’) may be present.

 

Men

The penis is affected by itching, soreness, difficulty in retracting the foreskin and, due to a narrowing of the urethra, in urinating. The skin may look pale.

 

Psychological
One of the main problems is recognition and appropriate diagnosis by the General Practitioner. Misdiagnose of the condition as ‘thrush’ is relatively common, or as a psychological complaint to be treated with anti-depressants and tranquillisers. An accurate diagnosis is delayed for many years in some people. Earlier specialist referral would reduce the distress caused to people who fail to respond to treatments for infections.

 There is a tendency for those experiencing painful sex to have a sense of low confidence and self worth, to feel they are freaks, to experience a loss of femininity/masculinity. Many grieve for their sexuality. There is often a very real feeling of total isolation and despair. Patients have difficulty in coming to terms with the disabling effect lichen sclerosus can have on everyday life.

 

What Causes Lichen Sclerosus?

The cause is unknown. Some suggestions are:

 

 

• Too active immune system and hormone problems.

• Possibility that it is inherited

• Lichen sclerosus appears on skin that has been damaged or scarred from some other previous injury.

Lichen sclerosus is not contagious

 

How Is It Diagnosed?

Severe lichen sclerosus can be easily determined by the medical profession. A biopsy is taken to determine the disease.

 

How Is It Treated?

If you discover patches on the arms or upper body, inform your doctor. They usually don’t need treatment, and over time they may fade.

Lichen sclerosus of the genital skin should be treated immediately. Even if it isn’t painful or itchy, the patches can scar. This can cause problems with urination or sex. There is also a very small chance that skin cancer may develop in the patches.

Surgery is normally a good option for men. Circumcision (removing the foreskin on the penis) is the most widely used therapy for men with lichen sclerosus. The disease usually does not come back. Surgery is normally not a good option for women. When the lichen sclerosus patches are removed from the genitals of women and girls, they usually come back.

 

 Treatment may include the use of a strong cortisone cream or ointment on the skin.

It is important to have regular follow ups by the doctor because using these creams and ointments for a long time may cause:

 

 

• Thinning and redness of the skin

• Stretch marks where the cream is applied

• Genital yeast infections.

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Cortisone creams are not always a solution. For a natural approach try Ginseng IncoSilk Serum.

 

Some things that can keep symptoms from clearing up are:

 

 

• Low estrogen levels

• Infection

• Allergy to the medication.

• When creams and ointments don’t work, your doctor may suggest:

• Retinoids, or vitamin A-like drugs  (be aware that these creams thin the skin. Sunlight should be avoided)

• Tacrolimus ointment

• Ultraviolet light treatments (not used on skin of the genitals).

 

Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor:

 

 

• How does the medicine work?

• What are its side effects?

• Why is it the best treatment for my lichen sclerosus?

 

How it affects the sex life?

Due to the swelling and discomfort of the vaginal area people with severe lichen sclerosus are unable to bare having sex. The disease can cause scars that narrow the vagina. Also, sex can hurt and cause the patches to bleed.

 

Which doctor is the best person to treat Lichen Sclerosus?

Dermatologists (doctors who treat the skin)

Gynaecologists (doctors who treat the female reproductive system)

Urologists (doctors who treat the urinary or urogenital tract)

Primary health care providers.

 

C&G Medicare would like to thank:

National Lichen Sclerosus Support Group, PO Box 5830, Lyme Regis, Dorset,DT7 3ZU, United Kingdom

 

 Note: Information provided should not be used to make a diagnosis. Ginseng Creams distributed by C&G Medicare Ltd for the UK and Ireland. C&G Medicare Ltd recommends you always seek medical advice if you have concerns regarding any skin condition.