lichen sclerosus

本站添加: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Let's talk about a condition I get asked about every single day, but we don't talk near enough about, lichen sclerosis. Lichen sclerosis is an inflammatory condition that most often affects the vulva, but it is important to know they can actually impact multiple areas of the body. The vulva, including the labia minora and labia majora, the perineum, the anus, and it has even been found on males on the penis and other areas as well. This is an inflammatory condition that impacts the skin and it often goes years without proper diagnosis. So, first of all, who is most likely to get this? Well, there are two categories that are more susceptible to it. Prepubertal girls and postmenopausal women.

[00:00:45]Now, it can impact lots of other ranges of people, but that's the most common.

[00:00:50]Now, I do want to make sure that I say to you, if you have this, you didn't do anything wrong. You're not dirty, you didn't fail to keep things clean, it's not an STI.

[00:01:01]This condition often goes undiagnosed for so long because, unfortunately, too many clinicians are not treated on this dermatological skin condition that mostly impacts and affects the vulva.

[00:01:15]Now, how do we diagnose it? First and foremost, the correct diagnosis would actually be a skin biopsy. Now, I don't want to scare you, but also let's be realistic here. That's probably not going to be the most comfortable thing that you'll ever go through. But, when you do get a proper diagnosis, it means that we can start treatment. And there actually is treatment for this that can be highly effective. And treatment is important because if it goes untreated, that can result in furthering this inflammatory condition, resulting in situations where the labia minora can actually shrink and fuse to the other tissue. The clitoral hood can actually be built up with scar tissue and fuse to the clitoris, resulting in pain.

[00:01:57]This can cause shrinking and atrophy of the vaginal opening, which can make it painful for things like intercourse or inserting tampons. And women often come in saying, "Things have just changed down there. I don't know what's going on." And this can be the condition.

[00:02:12]Now, I do want to point out that the treatment for this is generally pretty non-invasive. Most often, we're able to successfully treat this, not cure, mind you, but treat this with a high-potency topical steroid.

[00:02:28]Now, what's interesting about this is that when we are taught in practicing medicine and in healthcare, generally, you don't want high-potency steroids anywhere near the genitalia or any really thin skin tissue, for example, like the face.

[00:02:44]Well, it's the correct treatment for conditions like lichen sclerosis. But often, because healthcare providers are not taught enough about this, surprise, surprise, it's a condition that mostly impacts women, they shy away from this, and it often goes underdiagnosed. And we're taught, "Oh, what do you mean it itches? Well, you know what? Here's some Diflucan. Have you tried Monistat? Maybe it's BV."

[00:03:08]All of these things left unsuccessfully treating the condition and women going years and years without the correct treatment and care that they deserve.

[00:03:17]So, I'm curious, if you have lichen sclerosis and you're willing to share your experience, please do in the comments. Because one of the most amazing things that we have in this community is the things that women are learning from each other, not from me.

[00:03:31]So, please, let me know your experience.

[00:03:33]What's helped? What hasn't helped? And how long did it take you to get a diagnosis and get treatment?

[00:03:40]Let's talk about it. Love you.