The importance of Diet in treating and Preventing LS

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hello,

About a year ago I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosus. I had quite large white patches on my vagina and a thickening of my clitoris lip. I was crazily itchy from my early 20s onwards (particularly that lip) and my skin on my genitals was always breaking. I thought it was thrush and was constantly having vinegar added to my bath or tea tree oil drops added to the bath most days to relieve the itch. Every night my vagina would itch, It became a normal way of life for me and I slept with my legs apart.

When I was diagnosed I was told I would have the condition for life and that I would need to apply strong cortisol cream intensely then intermittently for the rest of my life. I am currently 37. Before I was diagnosed I used to have a lot of sugar in my diet in the form of choclate, lollies, sweet milk drinks and a crazy amount of fruit each day. After I was diagnosed I cut right down on sugar, no more lollies and chocolate, no more massive amounts of fruit etc..I haven't felt itchy since. The doctor says my vagina now looks pink and healthy and if she didn't know I had the sclerosus she now wouln't be able to tell. The disease seems to have completely disappeared. Anyone looking at causes and treatment for this condition needs to know how important a role diet can play. I feel 100 percent that my sugar levels created this condition through somehow causing havoc with normal internal balances. I didn't use the strong cortisol creams that people who have this condition are prescribed. I believe my immune system went slowly crazy for some reason related to diet and that diet is an important factor in treating and preventing this and probably other auto immune diseases. I really want this information to be explored or passed on to others suffering the same. It is difficult to pass the information on, doctors just seem to want to prescribe things rather than looking at a holistic approach. What I am advocating is not ground-breaking just eating a balanced diet, cutting down on sugar. So far my experiences have fallen on deaf ears. It worries me what else diet may be playing havoc with in in our systems. The expression that 'food is medicine' has rang very true for me.

Yours Sincerely,

Caroline

3 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Caroline,

    I have recently been properly diagnosed with LS and as soon as the doctor said it might be LS I started googling LS and food. The first thing I came across was a low oxalate diet on the internet and I have followed it and I really think it's had a positive effect. My diet was definitely quite chocolate and berry fruit heavy, and I no longer eat them (along with quite a few other things!). I had already given up gluten and eggs due to having rheumatoid arthritis, and so am very aware of the amazing positive effects that can come from eliminating particular foods from my diet. I too have been met with blank looks from doctors (re my recovery from rheumatoid arthritis) and expect the same when I mention food with regard LS. I would urge anyone who is "at the end of their tether" attempting to manage their LS to at least have a look at diets that might help the condition - try it for a month and then decide whether it's having a positive effect or not. I better mention that on the first couple of days of doing the diet I actually thought my symptoms were a bit worse than usual and then gradually eased off considerably. I am not completely symptom free (but am far more comfortable and less itchy and sore), but it's only been a couple of weeks so here's hoping it carries on in the right direction!

    Sam

  • Posted

    Hi Sam,

    Hi Sam,

    I realised after posting this that I gave up two things at the same time a diet very high in sugar and I also used to drink around 2 cups of chocolate soy milk a day which I gave up also. I'm still fairly sure it was the sugar, though I have also heard some things about Soy Milk which made me wonder. I think my immune system went nuts with all that sugar. l'll still have bread and other things (like stir-fry sauces) that contain sugar but I don't have it in its more concentrated forms like confectionary etc. The LS has never returned. I really hope that it helps with you also. I think the Chinese were right when they said 'Food is Medicine'. It is scary how far we have come from growing and producing good food to eat.

    Good Luck,

    Caroline

  • Posted

    Hi Caroline,

    That's brilliant that your LS hasn't returned. Mine is definitely continuing to feel and look better everyday. I do have a few soya products, but not loads. If I need too, I will look at that too. My sugar consumption is definitely much lower than it's been in years, along with all the other things I've cut out! It's great to hear another food related good news story. I firmly believe now that food can go a long way towards the healing process. I just wish western medicine would take it more seriously - it's depressing to think that some people may be suffering unnecessarily due to the food they eat.

    Sam

  • Posted

    Yes its sad to see so many people unhealthy and using all types of prescriptions with long term repercsussions. Medicalising everything even children. I don't think you can go wrong with cutting down sugar, it has made such a huge difference with me. I don't think our bodies can handle it in large amounts.

    I look so much better, my skin glows and I lost heaps of weight (as well as the LS ;-)) I guess the rule of thumb is that the more processed something is the more it gets away from its natural food source. Lately I have been eating heaps of endame, which is the soybean straight from the pod, so delicious. I haven't noticed any bad signs so am hoping its ok. I think its the things added to the processed soy milk which may possibly pose a problem. How long have you had LS for? Is it over a large area? God I am so glad to be rid of it . The itchiness ugh, used to drive me crazy.

  • Posted

    How interesting, so glad to hear you are having some good results. I am still LS free. Condition seems completely cured. So sad that the role of diet in this condition isn't being investigated more. I am 100% sure they are related. I just eat healthily now and have no problems. Fairly sure too much sugar was the key factor for me. My body went haywire. Food is medicine ;-)
  • Posted

    Hi Caroline and Willow,

    I had a good Chinese doctor while I was going through menopause. She got me off sugar, including the mountains of fruit I'd been eating. She was treating my flaring psoriasis with acupuncture, herb teas and dietary changes. I was eating a high-fibre mostly vegetarian diet. I had a very strong meditation practice and a supportive spiritual community. However, I was still in an extremely high-stress career. During that year my clitoris fused. I was very horny all the time and looking back I think it was from the continuous pressure on my clitoris. I now know that I've had LS my whole life (I'm 62), undiagnosed till this year.

    So, my point here is that diet is a very good stone not to leave unturned. But managing stress is equally important. And if our bodies have endured a lot of hormone treatment, other drugs and auto-immune illnesses and stress over a lifetime, things could be bad enough that even while subtracting bad foods and stress late in life the disease will prevail and I'm down to using the steroid just to prevent total fusion.

  • Posted

    Hey Caroline,

    I am 57 and was diagnosed with LS when I was 35.  At first, it was extremely painful but not itchy.  At the time the dermatologist that diagnosed it said eventually it would feel like I never had it.  She was right, except for the stenosis part.  Almost complete vaginal stenosis. This skin disease is genetic, linked to about 3 genes.  

    Once diagnosed with any illness, it's always a good approach to look at what you put into your body.  It's a good idea to find a holisic medicine specialist.  They are quite willing to assist you in managing your condition naturally as well as medically.

    Kim

  • Posted

    Hi caroline

    you may be out of circulation ..but it was heartening to hear that three of you have  achieved remission from LS via diet alone. If any of you do check back...would you give us an update as to how are now ?

    Do you think there may other factors at play other than diet? Very interested in your various perspectives.

    Many thanks for your input!

    With love from marey.

  • Posted

    Thanks so much for your comments. I have only recently had my Gyn say he thinks I have LS. I have seriously cut back on sugar and I have been very suspicious it's making a difference. I also ate lots of sweets! I am on the steroid cream though also. I am thinking strawberries cause me to itch in vulva also. Did u make any other dietary changes?
    • Posted

      Excessive amounts of fruits – that's still sugar. I discovered that two years ago when I grew a lot of melons in my garden. Go easy on anything sweet at all. It's not an allergy or a root cause, it just inflames when you have too much.
  • Posted

    Thanks so much for your comments. I have only recently had my Gyn say he thinks I have LS. I have seriously cut back on sugar and I have been very suspicious it's making a difference. I also ate lots of sweets! I am on the steroid cream though also. I am thinking strawberries cause me to itch in vulva also. Did u make any other dietary changes?
  • Posted

    Hi Caroline

    Thank you so much for posting, this makes complete sense to me almost like a lightbulb! ??

    I am an emotional binger and chocolate is usually the chosen remedy. Thinking back of all the occasions of itching have followed excessive sugar intake. (Chocs or after a night out) After spending a fortune on over the counter products that didn't work I went to my Dr they noticed a discolouration and supplied me with a steroid cream but didn't look any further into it.

    My eyes have been opened ... thank you xx

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