Thanks for the information. Please make a list of symptoms to make users a little more aware.

I originally sufffered LS and vaginal cancer 10 years ago. After some laser treatment from a gynae surgeon I never had anymore problems. I am now 35 and have just given birth to my 1st baby. I started to itch and tear 2 weeks b4 the birth. During the birth i tore all around my vulva. I then got terrible itching and ulcers. My Dr gave me thrush treatment, it never worked. I am now seeing a homeopath and using calendula cream, this has helped the itching considerably. I have also started to address my emotional problems. I made a connection between my vulva problems and emotional issues when I read "Women's bodies, Women's wisdom" by Dr Christiane Northup. A must read for every woman! She related vulva problems with the inability to say NO, invasion in one's emotional life, guilt around sex, being controlled, unexpressed complaints accumulating for years and lack of courage to change negative aspects of a relationship. I realised that recently and 10 years ago I have had issues with my mother relating to all of the above. The book states that we have to solve our problems on a physical and emotional level otherwise they will only reoccur again and again. I couldnt agree more. We have to learn to love our bodies and ourselves unconditionally otherwise not only do we suffer but we pass our negativity onto our children and they suffer too.

I, too, have LS. I noticed it after having to go through a colposcopy for an abnormal pap. I at first thought that the intense light had burned me. But it just kept itching, enough that I thought I was going to dig a hole into myself. I had looked (as best as I could, without a mirror) at myself to rule out obvious things like yeast infec. and even "crabs" (although I am happily married and had no idea where I would have come in contact with them). I kept telling the gyno that I had severe itching. Then about 6 mos later at a follow up appt. he asked, "When did your vaginal tissue change color?" My witty response was, "Well I don't know, you have been down there since I have" He laughed and explained that he thought I had LS. A biopsy confirmed it. Now I just treat with steroid oint a couple of times a week and try to keep the tissue from inflamming. Not fun!

I was fortunate to have a gyn that looked at the area during a pap and told me what he thought it was. When asked if I had itching and burning, I told him that I had on and off for about a year. He got out a mirror, showed me what was going on and got out an encyclopedia to explain it. He was really wonderful. What I didn't understand at the time, he explained that other areas may crop up on arms/ belly/etc. I didn't think much about it until I noticed shiny scaly areas on my collarbone. I put off seeing a dermatologist for another 6mos. By then the patches had moved on. Some without notice and some itch like crazy. Especially on my stomach and back as well as the vaginal area from clitoris to anis. He gave me steroid pills, Halobetasol cream but neither worked. A year later and many refills later, my skin from neck down to my shins have white patches of scales all over. Nothing has worked...so I am now trying Prickly Ash Bark (herbal Pills) that kill almost everything being a blook purifier, that my Grandpa used years ago, and I used for acne in my teens. I have been on it for 2 weeks and will let you know how it goes.

I too have been diagnosed with lichens and am trying out all the forums that I can find to try and find help getting rid of it although it's been said we can't. I would like to know more about prickly ash bark if you would. I started to have tearing around oct. of last yr. and I did have some itching as I remember but haven't had it since after being treated for yeast and everyone else is saying how bad they itch and I'm glad of course but I don't understand why I'm not. Maybe I'm doing something right and don't know it (you think!). Anyways menapause seem to have started mine because I was tearing during sex and the anus would tear if I had a little rough bowel movement so I try to use all grains and vit.c, liquid fish oil with the mint flovor but still awlful tasting and I think I'll start garlic too.

please someone help for about 3 years i get this external itching mostly on the outer left side of my vagina. i would scracth so hard that i would make myself bleed. i went to the dr the first time she said it was nonthing. she said it was ingrown hairs from shaving. she told me to take warm bath and not to use scented soaps around the area. so i began usuing summers eve. it seemed to help a little..later i go for a second opinion.

i was so paranoid i demaanded to be checked for all std's everything came back normal. i asked her what can it be. she said the same i was furios how can and igrown hair do this..she sent me home with an itch cream and that was it...well not i dont have medical insurance and i am so sick of the itch. i have not slept for days...sometimes up to all hours of the night with the itch. i use vagisal but its not working anymore..

i wonder if i have lichens but what are the symptoms...i know i have torn myself only on the left side from scratching so hard. but i dont know. does the biopsy hurt? please anyone help i dont no what to do anymore...

There are many symptoms of LS, like white patches in the affected areas, intense itching and tearing and fusing of the torn areas, some women's vaginas are almost closed due to the scarring. You need to see a doctor or nurse practioner to be diagnosed and treated correctly. You cannot get the meds you need over the counter, and most over the counter stuff doesn't help anyway (and may make it worse).

You should have some options available to you without insurance. Most county health departments have a gyno dept, that sees people with no insurance at a greatly reduced rate. Also there are free health centers, mostly only in larger cities, though. Then there are community organizations that offer health clinics for the uninsured at discounted rates. All of them should offer help in getting the meds you need to heal.

Yes, the biopsy does hurt. They do give you shots to deaden the area, but mine still hurt. But that is the only definative way to tell if you have LS. I treat mine with clobetasol 2x week, estrace 2-3x week, testosterone 1x week, all topically to affected area. If you look in the mirror at yourself and see white patches, that is kind of a tell-tale sign of LS.

There are also other groups that can help you. Search the internet and you will find them easily.