Symptoms

• Sometimes there are no symptoms, but those that do occur can include itching, small white spots on the skin that grow into white wrinkled patches, bruising, and tenderness in the affected areas. In severe cases of lichen sclerosus, those stricken can suffer blisters and bleeding ulcerations. Pain during intercourse may also be evident.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Physicians can normally diagnose lichen sclerosus by looking at it. To be sure, the physician will take a sample of the tissue and examine it under a microscope. In this manner, the physician should be able to determine if a patient does or does not have this skin condition.
  
  

Treatments

• Patches of lichen sclerosus on the arms or upper portion of your body may not need treatment and usually will resolve on their own. Patches on your genital area can scar and could lead to painful urination or sex. Strong cortisone creams and ointments are applied every day for several weeks. This helps fight the skin condition and reduce itching. The cream is then used several times a week for an extended period of time to keep the disease from returning. Check with your physician on how long to use the cortisone creams as they can promote thinning of the skin. When cortisone creams don't work, prescription hormonal drugs may be prescribed. Retinoids and tacrolimus creams may also be administered. Although it is rare, men do sometimes get lichen sclerosus on the foreskin of the penis. Surgery to remove the foreskin, or circumcision, is the therapy of choice and normally the disease does not return.
  
  

Risks

• Lichen sclerosus isn't believed to cause skin cancer, but the skin scarred by the disease is more apt to develop that affliction. It's important to see your physician regularly so he can keep track of your disease and any changes in appearance of the affected skin.