| Lichen Sclerosus - Symptoms & Treatment
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Lichen Sclerosus - Symptoms & Treatment
It is a skin disorder, which can affect any body; men, women or children, still then women are the most affected group. Commonly, women above 50 years of age are affected. Lichen Sclerosus chronic skin disorder, which is inflammatory in nature. Though it can occur at any body part but is most painful condition when develops in vulva (outer genetalia) and anal area. In case of women it is diagnosed as vulvodynia, which means chronic vulvar pain. Lichen Sclerosus is not a contagious skin disorder.
Symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus
In case of sclerosus, symptoms may differ according to the area affected. Let us look at various symptoms.
· The most troublesome part of this disease is chronic itching, pain and soreness of vulval region
· Affected area, sometimes swell and cause inflammation
· Vulval skin breaks at many points, causing stinging pain
· When passing bowel motion, skin around anal opening may crack, split and bleed which is the cause of great discomfort and pain.
· Affected skin becomes prone to infections and thrush as it becomes pale, fragile and white in appearance.
· Sometimes shape and size of vulval region changes or shrinks which causes urinal and sexual problems.
· There is difficulty in sexual intercourse due to pain and other problems which lead to enforced celibacy for long periods
· In case of women, vaginal opening becomes narrow but sclerosus does not affect inside of vagina.
· Labia, clitoral hood and urethra get fused
· Sometimes blisters and ulcers may form
· In case of men, due to tightening of foreskin of vulval area, it becomes painful and difficult to urinate.
· Though rare, it has little risk of penile cancer in men.
· In adult women too, there is small risk of cancer of vulva due to this condition
Causes of Lichen Sclerosus
Causes of occurrence of lichen sclerosus can not be understood exactly but it is sometimes referred as the auto immune disease where overactive immune system is a major cause. Sclerosus can also occur at an area of skin where there has been an injury before or there has been a trauma, scar or damage on the skin. Besides that, sclerosus is not associated with any disease. It is not a contagious skin disorder. This may be of genetic nature and also abnormal hormonal activity may be responsible for this disorder.
Treatment of Lichen Sclerosus
If the condition is mild or area affected is away from the genital region, you may not need any treatment as it may resolve on its own. For treating severe itching and inflammation, doctors may prescribe some medication.
1 Doctors usually prescribe use of corticosteroid creams or ointments to be topically applied over the affected area. It symptoms are severe, strong steroid medicines are applied for a period of two-three months and then occasionally applying mild creams may relax the symptoms.
2 Person affected, can apply mild moisturizers to protect and soften the affected skin.
3 Other treatments for lichen sclerosus include, ultraviolet light treatment but this is only for non-genital areas, prescription sex hormones and immune-modulating medications.
4 Use of steroid creams may relax tightening of foreskin in men. Circumcision is recommended, if ointment application is not successful.
5 Skin affected by sclerosus, is prone to bacterial or fungal infection or it may split and bleed. To treat these symptoms, doctors may prescribe antibiotics and other useful medicines.
6 Wear loose fitting, cotton garments, to let the air circulate.
7 Avoid using harsh soaps on your vulvar region and that too do not use more than once a day. Do not use washcloth to rub the skin; wash it using fingers and clean water. Dry it completely by gently tapping, not rubbing.
8 Do not use any perfume or cosmetic creams over the vulva; use only prescribed lotions and ointments.
9 Person can use xylocaine jelly over vulva to temporarily ease the inflammation and itching.
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