Does this look like lichen Sclerosus??

it looks like what to you? i have a doc appointment tomorrow. I'm 26.

Just read your message from a month ago. My gyn had me apply the steroid only to affected areas. However, I have since seen a dermatologist who said it should be applied all over the vulva. I have no idea who is correct.

I feel like the dermatologist is probably more accurate considering their profession is in the skin department. My gyn is having me apply it all over the vulva, i've had no issues doing that, it has not thinned the skin so far.

I was told that the steroid should be applied to the "V" everywhere and u should spend about 10-12 seconds rubbing it in and all over...I went to see my doctor (who is a specialist with LS-in Philadelphia) and he showed me in a mirror (which I now use at least once a week) a tiny spot, that I must have not covered - and told me to "keep a watch" on the entire "V" area...I since use my cream (2 times a week) and visually LOOK at my "V" area to make sure I am getting it ALL...

I have come to the conclusion that I have a bad reaction to spreading the steroid over the whole area. Not only does it start to look like rare steak the steroid burns the skin. I am going back to the original gyn's instructions. I can see why it could make sense to spread it over the area as the disease is probably lurking under the surface of the skin whether or not I can see it, but my body doesn't seem able to tolerate so much steroid. I'm also using far less of the Tacrolimus the dermatologist prescribed. She had said to apply it twice a day five days a week. ...forever. I am now using it once a day three times a week and even that may be more than I can tolerate. I just went a week using nothing to give my skin a needed break. It feels much better now.

Not sure what the answer is.

How much of the steroid did u use? I was told the size of a "pea"....

Even less than that amount now and only twice a week. I think I am going to try once a week. Have read posts of women who said they just stopped using everything and were fine, then it came back worse than before so I think I might try using as little as possible for a while. None of my symptoms have ever been severe, but last year it spread although I was using the hormone cream and steroid faithfully. If it weren't for a buzzing sensation I would not have known .

My doctor suspects LS. She didn't do a biopsy. She started me on a steriod. It seemed to improve, but is not totally gone.

I never had a biopsy either, Didn't seem necessary based upon the symptoms and the response to the steroid (and in my case hormone cream). How often are you using the steroid?

Hi, can I ask is it bio identical hormone cream you are on ? As I have heard this can transform the symptoms.

many thanks x

I am just coming to the end of a tube of a compounded version of Estrace and will be starting a tube of Estrace from a regular pharmacy soon. I think the hormone cream greatly affects the atrophy, but I'm not sure how much impact it has on the LS. Impossible to tell while using both. To add to the confusion a dermatologist prescribed Tacrolimus so I have no idea which is doing what. At the moment I'm feeling a slight burn, but by tomorrow I could feel nothing. Impossible to predict or decipher.

Thanks for reply, I do hope this works for you, its a right minefield isnt it? xx

for 4 weeks my gyn had me use it 2 times a day. Now twice a week. The white patches never fully went away, and there is one stop that looks unchanged to me.

I'm using it twice a week now as I had in the beginning, but there were periods I was using it every day because of the continual buzzing feeling which was an indication the LS was spreading.

I think using the steroid that much caused the red "raw" look to the skin in the cleft between small & large labia, but I'm only guessing. The dermatologist didn't say. I think the redness is lessening since using the Tac, or it may be simply because I'm using less of the steroid.

I need one consistent and knowledgeable doctor but finding one is proving to be impossible.

I am on "Estrace"...it helps with dryness, itching (from the dryness) and helps to increase moisture in the "V".....also helps the walls of the "V" to thicken...

Interesting, I have not experienced a buzzing feeling. Although I do not have much symptoms, other than white patches.

There seems to be quite a variety in how LS presents itself. There are one or two others who have mentioned the buzzing feeling. Most mention itch which I don't have. Sometimes a slight burn and discomfort. I've only seen very small bits of white and no skin splitting....so far.

Well that is good! I hope things continue that way for you!

Not quite as good as it sounds. The white has spread despite the steroid and Tacrolimus. It's just that I don't feel it. The buzzing was the only indication. The meds seem to cause more discomfort than anything else.

oh no! im sorry to hear that!