| Skin Diseases Similar to Scleroderma (Main Menu) | | | |
| Lichen Sclerosus or Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz and has not yet been medically edited. This page includes links to explicit medical photos which are not suitable for children. See disclaimer. |
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| What is Lichen Sclerosus? |
| Lichen sclerosus is also known as lichen sclerosis or lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. It is a painful skin condition that typically affects the vulva (or penis) and anus. |
| Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus. Background, symptoms and treatments. Includes photos (scroll way down the page.) eMedicine. |
| Photos of Lichen Sclerosus |
| Content Warning: The following link includes explicit medical photos which are not suitable for children: Photos of Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus. eMedicine. |
| Treatments for Lichen Sclerosus |
| Alterations of basement membrane zone and cutaneous microvasculature in morphea and extragenital lichen sclerosus. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the skin vascular network showed increased angiogenesis only in the early inflammatory stage of morphea, whereas in inactive morphea and lichen sclerosus various numbers of enlarged vessels were visible. The changes in the vascular network in morphea appear to be related to the activity of the disease. Am J Dermatopathol. 2005 Dec;27(6):489-96. (Also see: Morphea ) |
| UVA1 phototherapy for genital lichen sclerosus(LS). UVA1 therapy may be of benefit in the management of vulval LS. The therapy is well tolerated and could provide an acceptable therapeutic option.PubMed. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006 May;31(3):343-7. |
| Oral calcitriol: a new therapeutic agent in cutaneous lichen sclerosis. Calcitriol has shown a beneficial effect in scleroderma and morphea during open studies. A case is reported of a patient with lichen sclerosis who had a dramatic response to calcitriol. Double blind, placebo-controlled trials are needed to assess the therapeutic value of calcitriol in patients with lichen sclerosis. PubMed. J Drugs Dermatol. 2003 Jan;2(1):23-8. |
| Research |
| Lichen sclerosus (LS) and eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) as manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease: expanding the sclerodermoid spectrum. Although all patients eventually developed morpheaform and/or sclerodermoid GVHD, LS was a prominent part of the initial presentation of chronic cutaneous GVHD in every case. PubMed. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Oct;53(4):591-601. (Also see: Eosinophilic Fasciitis and GVHD) |
| Coexistence of HLA-B*08 and HLA-B*18 in Four Siblings with Lichen sclerosus. HLA-B*08 and HLA-B*18 alleles were detected in children with LS, but not in a healthy sister. None of the patients had autoimmune disease. In our opinion, coexistence of these two alleles may play a role in the development of LS. PubMed. Dermatology. 2004; 208(1): 64-6. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Genetics) |
| Support Groups for Lichen Sclerosus |
| National Lichen Sclerosus Support Group of the United Kingdom. Established in 1997, we provide support on an international level. It is not known what causes LS but it has been found that there is a connection between LS and thyroid disease, vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases. NLSSG |
| (Nederland/Dutch) Lichen Sclerosuspatiënten, Nederland. De oorzaak is tot op heden onbekend. Men neemt aan dat het een auto-immuunziekte van de huid is en er lijkt verband te bestaan met andere auto-immuunziekte zoals schildklieraandoeningen, diabetes mellitus (suikerziekte), systemische lupus erythematodes (SLE), sclerodermie, vitiligo en een bepaalde vorm van bloedarmoede. LS Nederland. |
| Lichen Sclerosus Patient Stories |
| Anita: Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus My concern is that it is spreading all over my body: both legs, my back, my neck and moving toward my face... |
| Charmaine C: Lichen Sclerosus and Scleroderma Soon multiple spots developed across my abdomen, with a few stray ones on my forearms and more on the left leg... |
| Charmaine J: Lichen Sclerosus Atrophy (LSA) My skin is very hard and has no elasticity so sitting, laying, or riding in a car are uncomfortable... |
| Christine: Morphea and Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus I would love to know if there are any other solutions out there. Even ways to cover up a bit when I am in my bathing suit... |
| Cnette: Lichen Sclerosis et Atrophicus/Morphea Unfortunately I tried to relieve myself from the itching with over the counter products which did not work... |
| Connie D: Morphea Scleroderma At age sixteen I developed what I thought were bruises on the biceps of both arms... |
| Jenny M: Morphea Scleroderma I was told it was a fungus, then that it was clearly all in my head. I went to a dermatologist who told me I had vitiligo, and then that it was lichen sclerosis... |
| Kon: Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus The doctor told me to use tacrolimus ointment and take plaquenil pills. I had an improvement the first two months, but the condition still remains... |
| Maggie M: Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus and Generalized Morphea I had to seek medical help when I realized that it was spreading and getting considerably worse... |
| Tutter H: Lichen Sclerosus Since this is an autoimmune disorder, I have no idea how long this relief will last or if it will completely go away... |
