What is Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a kind of skin cancer usually found in the vulva of matured women usually occurring on their post menopausal stage.  It has been called lichen sclerosus et atrophicus since what has been affected by it is the dermis which has become a schlerotic dermis since the dermis has been replaced by dense collagen tissues causing it to be schlerotic.  It has also been called atrophicus because its epidermis has been damaged and wasted.  Sclerotic dermis and atrophic epidermis happened when the tissues of the skin dried up due to some circumstances wherein its hormones could no longer produce the needed estrogen level.

 Causes and Symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus

Generally, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus happen when a woman’s estrogen level decreases due to menopausal.  As women aged and have been through the stage of menopausal, their estrogen level slows down and sometimes could no longer produce enough estrogen that is why the dermis as well as the epidermis of the vagina usual dries up and are prone to various skin allergies. This type of skin disease in women gives a burning sensation as well as extreme itchiness on the vulva area.  Many women usually thought of it as yeast infection but in since they similar symptoms which are both very itchy and once it is scratched and infected it gives off burning sensation.  This disease leaves the vulva area with white patch and glistening skin and could lead to the shrinkage of the smaller lip of the vulva resulting for it to be painful during urination and during coitus.

Who are the Victims  of Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus?

Not only women who are prone to lichen sclerosus et atrophicus since men could also be infected by it.  If the infection is on women it is commonly known to be LSA and balanitis xerotica obliterans or BXO if the infection is on men, however, the ratio of the infected women to men is very minimal as it is only 10:1 wherein it could be a very rare case on men.  Younger girls could also be infected by such skin disease but the number of infected young women is too low and the case of this disease in young women may be due to the scarring of their genital due to laser or some scratching made due to a viral infection.

 Ways of Treating Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus

As the causes of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is not really that specific and clear, and therefore its treatment cannot also be determined as to what specific cure should be applied on.  As the cause of LSA on post menopausal women could be due to low estrogen level but it does not really mean that it is really the main cause of such occurrence, since its occurrence on men and young girls could not also been discussed as to what causes it.  There are also other implications as to the cause of it on all the infected persons which could be viral, or fungal, or the presence of hepatitis C viruses on a person could trigger its occurrence.  Most medical doctors have no quite specific prescription for the treatment of this disease they just usually prescribed topical creams or ointment to the patients of LSA in order to relieve the itchiness and the burning sensation that Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus brings.