Lichen Sclerosus
Have you noticed signs of white patches around your genitals? Are you dealing with some sort of vulvar pain? Well, this might be a sign of an autoimmune condition known as lichen sclerosus. Don’t suffer from such conditions without help; contact Arizona Specialized Gynecology today and get treatment from Dr. Joseph Brooks, MD. He will effectively diagnose your underlying condition and recommend accompanying treatments. Some of the most effective remedial procedures include the O-Shot® therapy and steroid creams. Visit us today or better still:
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Lichen Sclerosus Q & A

What is lichen sclerosus?
Lichen sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that tends to affect more women than men. Common symptoms include itchy genital skin. One factor worth noting is that it tends to affect the area surrounding the vulva rather than the vagina in women.

Given the autoimmune nature of this disease, it is more likely to run through families, affecting children at the same time. What’s more, this complication significantly increases patients’ chances of developing cancer. To put this into perspective, up to 5% of Lichen sclerosis patients develop cancer-related complications.

How can Lichen Sclerosus be identified?
One of the most common signs of Lichen Sclerosus is itching around your genitals. However, given the fact that itching is a common sign in many vulvovaginal diseases, other symptoms that match the disease include:
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Sexual Intercourse pain and during urination

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Small purplish or red areas around the genitals

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Shrinked and scarred vulvar tissue

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Small white patches in the area close to the vulva up to the anus

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Splitting of skin that tends to be painful

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Sore and burning skin

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Pale white skin

Keep in mind that it is possible to have lichen sclerosus and lack any of the signs mentioned above. Most of the time, doctors will diagnose you with the disease when treating other conditions.
How is lichen sclerosus diagnosed?
To diagnose lichen sclerosus, Dr. Brooks may employ various methods: The first and perhaps most crucial step is to examine your skin, which may reveal scarred tissue and pale white skin around your genital area. Another equally vital process is the biopsy, which uses local anesthesia. In the biopsy, Dr. Brooks uses state-of-the-art equipment to identify the causative factors of your pain.
Given that lichen sclerosus is not curable, treatment keeps the symptoms under control. With this in mind, Dr. Brooks will use different medical techniques to make sure that your skin doesn’t suffer any more damage by inflammation and scarring. Two common treatments include Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) filled O-shot therapy and Topical steroid ointment, such as clobetasol.
With the O-shot therapy, growth factors are derived from your plasma, which is then treated and injected back into your vulva. This then triggers self-healing and rejuvenation of the vulva tissue.

Other useful treatments include moisturizers such as emu oil or Aquaphor. This helps get rid of skin complications and smoothens your genital skin.

In addition to the previous treatments, you still have to go for regular checkups with Dr. Brooks every three to six months to keep the disease under control.

Lichen sclerosus may not have a cure, but that does not mean that it isn’t manageable. Come and let Dr. Brooks help you deal with this disease at Arizona Specialised Gynecology.

What are the available treatment options for lichen sclerosus?
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