Lichen Sclerosus
What is lichen sclerosus?
Lichen sclerosus is a long-term problem of the skin. It mostly affects the
genital and anal areas. Sometimes, lichen sclerosus appears on the upper body,
breasts, and upper arms.
Who gets lichen sclerosus?
Lichen sclerosus appears in:
- Women (often after menopause)
- Men (uncommon)
- Children (rare).
What are the symptoms?
Early in the disease, small white spots appear on the skin. The spots are
usually shiny and smooth. Later, the spots grow into bigger patches. The skin on
the patches becomes thin and crinkled. Then the skin tears easily, and bright
red or purple bruises are common. Sometimes, the skin becomes scarred. If the
disease is a mild case, there may be no symptoms.
Other symptoms are:
- Itching (very common)
- Discomfort or pain
- Bleeding
- Blisters.
What causes lichen sclerosus?
Doctors don't know the exact cause of lichen sclerosus. Some doctors think a
too active immune system and hormone problems may play a role. It is also
thought that people inherit the likelihood of getting the disease. Sometimes,
lichen sclerosus appears on skin that has been damaged or scarred from some
other previous injury.
Lichen sclerosus is not contagious (it can't be caught from another person).
How is it diagnosed?
Doctors can look at severe lichen sclerosus and know what it is. But usually,
a doctor takes a small piece of the skin patch (biopsy) and looks at it under a
microscope. This allows doctors to make sure that it is not a different disease.
Next: How is it treated? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Skin Cancer - Learn the types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma), their causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention techniques. Get the facts about sun exposure and sunscreen. Source:MedicineNet
- Menopause - Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal itching, dryness, and pain, urinary symptoms, weight gain, acne, skin texture changes, and mood changes. Source:MedicineNet
- Itching - Learn the causes and treatments for itching (itch). Dry skin, fungus, sunburn and bites may cause itching. Excessive scratching may lead to thickened skin (lichenification). Source:MedicineNet
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