Lichen sclerosus

Lichen sclerosus (LS), and also known as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSetA) [also termed, incorrectly, "Lichen sclerosIs et atrophicus"] is a disease of unknown cause that results in white patches on the skin, which may cause scarring on and around genital or sometimes other skin. There is a bimodal age distribution in the incidence of LS. It occurs in females with an average age of diagnosis of 7.6 years in girls and 60 years old in women. The average age of diagnosis in boys is 9–11 years old.

Several risk factors have been proposed, including autoimmune diseases, infections and genetic predisposition. There is evidence that LS can be associated with thyroid disease.

Signs and symptoms

Women are more commonly affected than men (10 to 1 ratio), particularly around and after menopause, but younger women or girls may also develop the disease. The condition most commonly occurs on the vulva and around the anus with ivory-white elevations that may be flat and glistening. There may be marked itching or the condition may be without any symptoms. There may also be thinning and shrinkage of the genital area that may make coitus, urination, and defecation painful.