Managing lichen sclerosus in a primary care setting

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an unpleasant, rare condition which can affect both males and females of any age but is reported to be ten times more common in women than men.¹

Diagnosis may be challenging for clinicians faced with this complaint. It is thought to be underdiagnosed and mismanaged because of its shared symptoms and similarity to other skin conditions, leading to incorrect treatment and a prolonged period before the cause for the woman’s symptoms is known. The delay in making a correct diagnosis has been reported to be around 5 years.²

Because of its greater occurrence in females this article will focus predominantly on this patient group. It is hoped that the information given will improve knowledge and understanding of this complex skin condition, and give nurses and non-medical prescribers confidence in recognising and treating this unpleasant disease.