Can you help? Does this look like Iichen sclerosus?
Posted , 4 users are following.
i havent been officially diagnosed with LS but i have a feeling that i have it by looking at pictures on the internet.
How did you get diagnosed? By a primary doctor or did you see a gynecologist? or a dermatologist?
if you did a biopsy does it hurt? or what do they do to test it?
How do you know that LS is affecting your sex life vs your not lubricated enough. i have pain during sex sometimes but dont know if its related to LS
Thanks
0 likes, 6 replies
SnappyCat lee01394
Edited
Diagnosis: went to my GYN. My symptoms were crazy itch. (external)...he suspected from visual exam, then confirmed with the biopsy. The give you a shot of a numbing agent and then do a "punch" biopsy, which is done with a little tool. Takes a second. You don't feel the punch, only the numbing shot, which lasts, maybe 5 seconds. Takes a week or so for the biopsy to heal.Went out to lunch after.
Not sure from your pics. I'm not doc...could be another pigmenting skin issue. Do you have the itching?
lee01394 SnappyCat
Posted
No i dont have the itching that everybody talks about but its that white patch that makes me think i have it. so the itching everybody experiences is always external like in between the vaginal lips where the white patches are in my photo or do some people itch internally like inside the vaginal opening?
SnappyCat lee01394
Posted
Could be - I'd go to GYN and ask.
As far as the white patches...I don't know if this makes sense...but they sometimes refer to it as "cigarette paper"...which means that it is almost transluscent looking. Your's looks more like sharp white. Like the skin is normal, but just gone white. That's what makes me wonder.
On your 3rd picture, up on the top, there is a streak of sort of clear-ish...that looks a little more like what I'd expect...
Make an appt with your GYN. Then, come back and tell us what they say.
beverly52803 SnappyCat
Edited
I have never had the external itching even though it is probably the most common symptom of LS. Before I was diagnosed I actually had intermittent internal itching which was probably nothing to do with the LS. (I was diagnosed with atrophy a few years before). The gyn I went to see happened to be a vulval skin specialist and after a very long exam concluded it was LS.
I'm in the US so there is no problem going directly to a gyn (depending on insurance). If you are in the UK you may have to see a GP first (from what I can glean from other posts). It's just important that you are seen. I'm guessing it could be vitiligo as that involves loss of pigmentation, but I'm no doctor. You need to see an experienced gyn to find out what if anything you have.
JCPT44 lee01394
Posted
Hello !
I have an up coming appointment with my OBGYN for an Biopsy because I have the itch factor, no discoloration or lubication problems yet . Im getting tested for LS and Cancer. So if I was you Sis, I would go to your OBYNG and not primary.
lee01394
Posted
Update: So i went to an obgyn doctor yesterday she looked at it and said she doesnt think that its LS and i shouldnt worry about it. she touched it and asked do i have the itching in the white part area and i said no. she then asked do i have eczema which i do and showed her its around my ankle. She thinks the white patches is an anti inflammatory body response. she said since im dark skin(im black) the anti inflammatory response would be a light color so thats why i have the white color. she didnt think i needed a biospsy. she just said keep an eye on it see if it spreads or any changes come back in a year to check on it again. i asked her did she see any fusion or anything like that she said no. she went to go get some medical book and showed me pictures of LS and said if i feel stiffness itchiness or feel like things are changing down there come back. and that was basically it with my appointment so i guess i just have to live with a white patchy vagina! lol