Hi friends,today i'll try to explain a fairly common disorder of the vulva,namely LICHEN SCLEROSUS.
This disease usually occurs in post-menopausal ladies , but may also occur in girls before puberty,although infrequently.Apart from vulva,it may also occur in other parts of perineum or perianal region.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:1.individuals with lichen sclerosus may complain of pruritus[itching],vulvodynia[vulvar pain],dyspareunia[pain during sexual intercourse] etc.
2.There may be visible lesions in the vulvar region.The lesions are whitish in colour,thinned out[so called 'cigarette paper' like].
pathologically,there is atrophy[thinning out] of the tissue.There may be occasional areas of thickening admixed with thinned out areas.
COMPLICATIONS:1.Lichen sclerosus carries a risk of squamous cell cancer & vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia[pre-cancerous lesions of the vulva].
2.In some cases the tissue gets so thinned out , that stenosis[narrowing] of the introitus[vaginal opening] takes place.
DIAGNOSIS:Proper diagnosis usually requires a vulvar biopsy.
TREATMENT:1.Avoid excessive drying of the area.Use of emollients like vaseline may be needed.
2.maintenance of hygeine.
3.MEDICINES:1.To relieve the symptoms topical application of steroids[betamethasone,clobetasone] is usually prescribed.
2.In patients who do not respond to topical steroids and for children with this condition,topical progesterone may be used.
3.In very resistant cases,where pruritus persists even after the use of aforementioned drugs,then triamcinolone local injection may be used.
4.NEW DRUGS UNDER EVALUATION:1.retinoids
2.pimecrolimus[topical macrolide immunosuppressant]
although topical applications are usually used,all of these drugs have certain serious side effects,so none of these drugs are to be used without proper prescription of your doctor.
For further information you can discuss this issue with your doctor or visit the NIAMS site here
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This disease usually occurs in post-menopausal ladies , but may also occur in girls before puberty,although infrequently.Apart from vulva,it may also occur in other parts of perineum or perianal region.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:1.individuals with lichen sclerosus may complain of pruritus[itching],vulvodynia[vulvar pain],dyspareunia[pain during sexual intercourse] etc.
2.There may be visible lesions in the vulvar region.The lesions are whitish in colour,thinned out[so called 'cigarette paper' like].
pathologically,there is atrophy[thinning out] of the tissue.There may be occasional areas of thickening admixed with thinned out areas.
COMPLICATIONS:1.Lichen sclerosus carries a risk of squamous cell cancer & vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia[pre-cancerous lesions of the vulva].
2.In some cases the tissue gets so thinned out , that stenosis[narrowing] of the introitus[vaginal opening] takes place.
DIAGNOSIS:Proper diagnosis usually requires a vulvar biopsy.
TREATMENT:1.Avoid excessive drying of the area.Use of emollients like vaseline may be needed.
2.maintenance of hygeine.
3.MEDICINES:1.To relieve the symptoms topical application of steroids[betamethasone,clobetasone] is usually prescribed.
2.In patients who do not respond to topical steroids and for children with this condition,topical progesterone may be used.
3.In very resistant cases,where pruritus persists even after the use of aforementioned drugs,then triamcinolone local injection may be used.
4.NEW DRUGS UNDER EVALUATION:1.retinoids
2.pimecrolimus[topical macrolide immunosuppressant]
although topical applications are usually used,all of these drugs have certain serious side effects,so none of these drugs are to be used without proper prescription of your doctor.
For further information you can discuss this issue with your doctor or visit the NIAMS site here
If you find my post informative please subscribe & do visit again..
Subscribe in a reader
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