Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Mar 27;3(1):58-64.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.017. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Lichenoid vulvar disease: A review

R Fruchter  1 , L Melnick  1 , M K Pomeranz  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Lichenoid vulvar disease: A review

R Fruchter et al. Int J Womens Dermatol. .

Abstract

Vulvar dermatoses are common, potentially debilitating conditions that can be seen by a variety of medical specialists. Lichenoid vulvar diseases, namely lichen sclerosus (LS), lichen planus (LP), and lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), can all negatively impact patients' quality of life and LS and LP also have an association with squamous cell carcinoma. It is essential that dermatologists are familiar with the unique features of each of these conditions to ensure the appropriate management and follow up. Herein, we provide an update on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, histopathology, and treatment of patients with vulvar LS, LP, and LSC.

Keywords: erosive lichen planus; lichen planus; lichen sclerosus; lichen simplex chronicus; lichenoid vulvar disease; vulvar dermatoses.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lichen sclerosus: White atrophic plaques that extend from the vulva to the perianal area. The cigarette paper-like appearance and figure-of-eight pattern are highlighted.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Lichen sclerosus: White thickened plaques with loss of architecture as demonstrated by the obliteration of the labia minora, narrowing of the introitus, and scarring of the clitoral hood.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Erosive lichen planus: Erosion that involves the vestibule. Additionally, the normal vulvar architecture has been destroyed.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Lichen simplex chronicus: Lichenification and hyperpigmentation along the anterior medial aspect of the left labia majora.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Ball S.B., Wojnarowska F. Vulvar dermatoses: Lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, and vulval dermatitis/lichen simplex chronicus. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1998;17:182–188. - PubMed
    1. Belfiore P., Di Fede O., Cabibi D., Campisi G., Amaru G.S., De Cantis S. Prevalence of vulval lichen planus in a cohort of women with oral lichen planus: An interdisciplinary study. Br J Dermatol. 2006;155:994–998. - PubMed
    1. Birenbaum D.L., Young R.C. High prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with lichen sclerosus. J Reprod Med. 2007;52:28–30. - PubMed
    1. Bleeker M.C., Visser P.J., Overbeek L.I., van Beurden M., Berkhof J. Lichen sclerosus: Incidence and risk of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2016;25:1224–1230. - PubMed
    1. Bousema M.T., Romppanen U., Geiger J.M., Baudin M., Vaha-Eskeli K., Vartiainen J. Acitretin in the treatment of severe lichen sclerosus et atrophicus of the vulva: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;30:225–231. - PubMed