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Lichen Sclerosus

By

Shinjita Das

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Full review/revision Aug 2021 | Modified Sep 2022
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Lichen sclerosus is a disorder that tends to cause itching and can cause scarring in the area around the anus and genitals.

The cause of lichen sclerosis is unknown, but it may involve the immune system attacking some of the body's own tissues (called an autoimmune disorder Autoimmune Disorders An autoimmune disorder is a malfunction of the body's immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues. What triggers an autoimmune disorder is not known. Symptoms vary depending... read more ). This disorder typically affects the area around the anus and genitals, but it can rarely be found on other areas of the body.

Symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus

At first, the skin around the anus and genitals tends to bruise and may blister. Itching, sometimes severe, is typical. After some time, the skin can thin, lose its normal color, and develop cracks and scales. In some people, the disorder develops differently, causing skin thickening. Eventually, any form of lichen sclerosus that is chronic can scar, causing distortion of the normal structures of the area. Sometimes the appearance of lichen sclerosus in a child can resemble the effects of sexual abuse. Rarely, squamous cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in the squamous cells of the skin. Thick, scaly growths appear on the skin and do not heal. To diagnose the cancer, doctors do a biopsy. Treatment... read more Squamous Cell Carcinoma (a skin cancer) develops in areas that have been affected by lichen sclerosus for a long time.

Diagnosis of Lichen Sclerosus

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Sometimes skin biopsy

Doctors typically base the diagnosis of lichen sclerosus on how the rash looks and where it appears on the body.

Treatment of Lichen Sclerosus

  • Corticosteroid creams or ointments

Because this disorder is typically incurable and causes scarring, people are treated long-term and examined periodically for skin cancer.

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