Lichen Sclerosis *was*->Constant Extreme Dryness - Labia Minora / Clitoris

[Guest guest]

HI ~ 'Can't find treatment' Sorry I don't know your first name...

Welcome hon and so glad you found us.

But just as mentioned and I agree 100% in 'my' opinion too there's no doubt it's Lichen Sclerosis (also spelled sclerosus) Your symptoms sound the same, including the disappearing (or seems to be) of the clitoris and smaller labial lips (labia minora) as those start to fuse or adhere to the larger ones, (labia majora) . The only other that's quite similiar is Lichen Planus and with that a person often has a discharge along with it but not with LS.

Also have you examined yourself closely and notice a discoloration or plaques that look whiteish/gray in color? That's what it can look like as it progresses as if the skin is dead and it can also go around the anal opening as well. they call it a figure 8. LS is an external condition of the skin and rarely goes inside the canal (LP can) and often a dermatologist is a better bet than a gyne.

Also seeing you did have a hysterectomy hon a couple of years ago and no doubt your estrogen is low if you weren't put on something immediately and that's regardless of whether your ovaries were left in or not as the blood supply to those is also cut off or diminished so that may be a part of it, since LS is considered to be autoimmune as well as hormonal at least with most theories also a low thyroid condition is also associated with it if you might have that as well.

BUT..... even if your blood levels of hormones are fine that does 'not' mean the estrogen (or testosterone) 'receptors' are working correctly so that's a big part of the key..(the receptors are the active part) and far too often doctors overlook or dismiss that.

That's why topical use can be so beneficial without having it be systemic, and that's whether it's LS or most other 'skin' problems including vulvodynia if it's in the skin itself and not some deeper problem like a radiating nerve condition or pelvic floor dysfunction or an infection etc. and no doubt the dryness is a lack of bodily estrogen hon in my opinion, big time.

I didn't hear you mention any itching as that is quite common too but not always either, but if you also itched that would cinch it for me. But even without it, to me' there's no doubt it's likely LS. By the way small children, infants and males can have it as well and it is often genetic if you start asking family members. (IN males it's called BXO though)

Hon there's just so much to say It'd take a book and I ramble far too much as you can see *smile* but I also run an LS group, in fact that membership is twice as large as this one so we focus in specifically on Lichen Sclerosis and also about Lichen Planus a little bit which is similiar and have lots of educational info as well, like links, photos, articles, etc. so you might want to join that group as well.

Just go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LichenSclerosis

and subscribe just as you did to join this group.

Hope to see you there, but most of all I want you to have hope hon. Many hundreds and more have been made well (not cured as some maintenance is usually necessary with a few topicals) BUT... it can be controlled and life can be wonderful and normal again (and so can sex *wink*) and you most likely will restore that vulvar archicture as well and hopefully unfuse and unbury everything. hugs

Dee ~