In Brief: Vulvar lichen planus is best treated with high-potency creams
In Brief
Lichen planus is a relatively uncommon inflammatory condition that affects the skin, nails, mouth, and vagina, usually around midlife. One of its most troubling manifestations is erosive lichen planus of the vulva (ELPV), an often painful condition that usually starts with itchy patches on the vulva (the tissues surrounding the vagina and urethra) and in the vagina. With time, scarring develops, causing the labial and clitoral tissues to shrink and the urethral and vaginal openings to narrow. Women frequently have trouble urinating, pain with intercourse, and bleeding after intercourse. No one knows what causes ELPV, though there's some evidence that an autoimmune mechanism is at work.
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