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Lichen Sclerosus and/or Lichen Planus

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linda87994
linda87994

Does anyone know the difference between Lichen Sclerosus and Lichen Planus. Waiting to see Gaeny for suspected LS down below. After 2 weeks of treatment for Oral thrush with 2 different medications, with no improvement, I now suspect LP as my late mother had it in her later years. They must be the same family but is one worse than the other?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • jane63639
    jane63639 linda87994

    Posted

    Hi Linda

    My understanding of it is, LS affects the vulval area, inner and outer labia and clitoris, white patches or streaks, which itch and burn.  you can also get white patches on your skin, arms, legs, shoulders and back, the LS on the skin does not usually affect anything and usually goes away.

    LP presents as red legions, affecting the same area but can also affect the internal vagina, causing 

    sores and ulcers and so is harder to treat.

    I have both, which is also not that unusual.

    I have LS in my vaginal area, diagnosed in May, I have some fusing but am on Dermavate, trying to get things under control.  LP in the vaginal area is much rarer than LS.

    I also have LP on my skin, which presents as itchy reddish purple lumps, I have it on my lower back, inside my wrists and on top of my feet.

    I also have oral LP, which is like white lacy patterns, almost like cobwebs inside your cheeks and you may have some white spots on the sides of your toungue.

    This is what I have been given to understand.

    LS in the vaginal area has no cure,  standard treatment is by steroid ointment.  it can be brought under control and a lot of people have success getting it into remission.  People use various things that help them, one of the main things is to keep the skin moisturised,  lots of people use coconut oil, I personally use a mixture of Vaseline and sudocreme.  I also use Lispetin green salve.  there are all sorts of things out there and you will get some great and amazing advice from ladies on here.

    LP on the skin, goes away on its own, eventually.  it may leave the scars behind, the one on my back has nearly gone now and my feet, just inner wrists.

    Oral LP, goes into remission, it may go all together or it may come and go,  unless it is bothering you , or it causes an ulcer in your mouth dentists prefer to leave it alone.

    I think LP more likely to go away on its own eventually, but can return, not sure about the vaginal one.

    When I was diagnosed I wanted to jump off the nearest bridge, but life goes on, you don't say wether you are married or have a partner?  Life goes on, you live with it, you have amazing days and some not so amazing, you can still have a sex life,  maybe not the jumping off the wardrobe kind, but with patience you can still get there.  

    Nancy and Guppy on this forum are amazing and give great advice.  I also take Vitamin D3 and Turmeric at night for skin, there is a train of thought that diet makes a difference, I can only speak for myself, I have not found it makes any difference to me, but some people have had great results giving up gluten, dairy etc.  It is I am afraid a bit trial and error until you find what works for you.

    I hope this helps a bit, hang in there , this is not a death sentence.  We are all hear to help as much as we can.

    Much love to you.

    Jane xxxxxxxx

     

    • linda87994
      linda87994 jane63639

      Posted

      Thank you Jane for your insight. I was diagnosed 7 years ago after nursing my late husband and being taken off HRT at the same time. It went away again almost immediately when they gave me back my HRT. Last year I was taken off HRT again due to my age as Im now nearly 65. I met my partner 3 years ago and we had a very active sex life until 6 months ago and now I would do anything to avoid as Im sore for days afterwards. I use Replens vaginal moisturiser. I have really perfect skin all over my body apart from mouth and down below. Like you what I eat doesn't really matter on way or the other. One thing I do though is drink gallons of water, dont know why but it seems to make a big difference. I react to all steroid creams and anything with white paraffin in it. Aloe Vera Gel works well and the white patches are decreasing over the last few months. Looks very much like we are stuck with this. Doc took blood so should get a btter clue next week if it is OLP, which I suspect from your discription it is.

      Take care 

      Linda xx

  • jane08222
    jane08222 linda87994

    Posted

    I was diagnosed almost a year ago, after going off of HRT.   Back on it now, and things are better with LS, but it is not in remission, nor gone.  Good and Bad days.  will be 72 in October.   I have other autoimmune problems.....Celiac disease, so no gluten.  I am very careful what I eat.   Because I was on a gluten free diet before the LS, I can't say whether it is helping or not......

    Recently my cholestrol went way up.   Dr. wants me on a statin drug.   Trying to control that with diet first.   Is anyone else taking meds for high cholestrol and if so, did it affect your LS in anyway??

  • Guppy007
    Guppy007 linda87994

    Posted

    Hi Linda, Jane's covered it all really but I can't remember if it was you that I told about Homoeopathy.  I had good success with that for my OLP.  It is worth a shot because OLP can be horrific, It really is terrible.  I have not had a flare up in quite some time thank goodness but what I can tell you is that one day it just went and it hasn't reappeared now in years, and I think that is the norm.

    New drugs/medications can trigger it I think too.  What I know for sure is that stress causes flare-ups.   The Vaginal lichen planus differs in that the sores appear on the inside of your labia minora, and not the outside which is what happens with LS.

    • christine97462
      christine97462 Guppy007

      Posted

      I have LS in the vaginal area.  I think I may have LP on my arm.  Small, raised peach-colored spot.  What homeopathy treatment did you use for that?
    • Guppy007
      Guppy007 susan43705

      Posted

      Hi Susan, OLP is oral lichen planus which is what some of us have along with the Lichen Sclerosus, its like the sister disease to lichen sclerosus, except it is in your mouth.
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