Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Lichen sclerosus

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus

What it is

An immune disease that makes genital skin white, thin, itchy and scarred; mostly women after menopause, but also men and girls.

Symptoms & signs

  • Severe itching, worse at night
  • white shiny patches
  • fissures and bruising
  • scarring that narrows the vaginal opening or foreskin
  • pain during sex

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Unable to pass urine
  • see a doctor soon A lump, thick patch or sore that will not heal
  • see a doctor soon Bleeding, cracking or pain during sex
  • see a doctor soon Itch or soreness that returns despite steroid cream

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Clobetasol ointment daily for 3 months, then twice weekly for life
  • emollients and soap substitutes
  • circumcision in men
  • yearly checks — a small risk of skin cancer

Natural & lifestyle

  • Emollient barrier ointments
  • avoid soaps and tight synthetic underwear
  • pat dry after urinating

Emerging & experimental

  • Platelet-rich plasma and fat grafting
  • JAK inhibitors
  • photodynamic therapy

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Vitamin E and aloe creams — small studies ease symptoms early / small studies
  • Laser therapy — the one sham-controlled trial found no benefit mixed evidence
  • Coconut oil as an emollient — soothing; anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes