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WHAT IS LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
- Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an uncommon and poorly
recognised, chronic inflammatory skin disease.
- The cause is not known but it
is considered to be an auto-immune skin condition having strong links
with other auto-immune related conditions such as thyroid, vitiligo
and pernicious anaemia.
- Any area of the skin can be affected
but most commonly the anogenital area.
- LS on other parts of the body
is considered to be less common and is called extra genital lichen
sclerosus.
- LS mainly affects adult women.
However, it can and does affect women at any age.
- Men and young children (boys and
girls) can also have lichen sclerosus.
- There is no cure but treatment
is available to help control the symptoms.
- There have been no official surveys
or statistics to ascertain the number of patients affected overall
by LS.
- It is estimated that one in 300
people may be affected.
- Recent unpublished studies suggest that there may be as many as
10,000 new cases each year in the UK.
- LS is not contagious and cannot
be transmitted by sexual intercourse.
- There is some speculation, that
LS may be genetic.
- There is a small risk of cancer of the vulva (and penile cancer)
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