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Can Lichen Sclerosus Affect The Mouth?

This article does not render aesculapian advice .

Can Lichen Sclerosus Affect the Mouth?

Yes , lichen sclerosus can affect the mouth or unwritten mucous membrane . Lichen sclerosus is a continuing inflammatory disease of mucocutaneous ( affecting the mucous membranes ) pedigree . It usually appears in the anorectal region but can affect the oral mucosa as well . Females are mostly affected at least 6 times more than males . It is mostly seen in post - menopausal women ; however pre - menopausal woman can also be affected . In this shape the hide becomes thin , white and wrinkled that can leave to itch and pain .

Causes and Symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus

Its etiology stay nameless , but several factors have been hint to cause lichen sclerosus namely automobile - immune disease where the eubstance ’s immune system attacks and offend its own skin , transmissible predisposition , trauma , hormonal change ( known to feign pre - pubertal girl and postmenopausal women and treatments such as hormone replacement therapy and app of progestetone and testosterone are not effective in these people),thyroid disease , anemia , diabetes , alopecia areata , vitiligoand infection leading to chronic irritation .

Lichen sclerosus lesions can range from small patch that are white in color to large plaques , which may or may not be consort with atrophy and sclerosis . private parts and anal region are the most commonly affected sites with lichen sclerosus . The other sites where lesions can be found are the thigh , breasts , submammary expanse , neck , back , chest , shoulder and wrists but here they ordinarily remain asymptomatic .

In lichen sclerosus the unwritten cavity lesion are very rarefied and usually associated with venereal lesions and skin abnormalities . The lesions appear to be well demarcated , snowy to grey coloured macule or memorial tablet , which can be variable in size and number and standardized to the lesions found in the privates . The buccal , labial and palatalized mucosa are the most commonly affected intraoral land site . However , the reported cases of people with oral lesions due to lichen sclerosus have been very few and move about 20 % of the cases along with other extragenital areas .

The other consideration which can be bedevil with Lichen Sclerosus areleukoplakia , lichen planus , place genus Scleroderma and vitiligo .

Diagnosis of Lichen Sclerosus

A thoroughgoing history of the patient along with physical interrogation is the basic step to identify the term . A skin test of the genitals and other susceptible areas is done to look for signs of lichen sclerosus . A biopsy is done to support the diagnosis of lichen sclerosus . In this a minuscule piece of skin is removed and sent to be probe by a diagnostician .

test are also done to omit other similar hide stipulation such as lichen planus , which occurs together with lichen sclerosus . Lichen sclerosus should be severalise from lichen planus as in the unwritten cavity ; it is clinically indistinguishable from lichen planus . Biopsy is the gold touchstone to differentiate lichen sclerosus from lichen planus .

name lichen sclerosus in the early stage is important for effective management and also to shrink the peril of developing or missing a diagnosing of skin cancer . Typically a yearly exam of vulvar cutis is recommended and ego - examination should also be done for lumps and sores that do not heal . A biopsy should be done for the region that do not improve with treatment . Lichen sclerosus wound in military man that affect the pelt in penis are more susceptible to squamous skin cadre carcinoma of the member .

Treatment and Management of Lichen Sclerosus

The destination of treatment is to salve the symptoms and prevent them from exacerbate any further . Steroid ointments are usually given to soothe itchiness and inflammation such as clobesatol proprionate that is good in majority of adult female with venereal lichen sclerosus . sex hormone injection may also be given when salve are not effectual . Other topical ointments used are tacrolimus and pimecrolimus used mostly in people who do not respond well to steroid hormone handling .

discussion of oral lichen sclerosus is not really required since it is symptomless and benign and has no evidence of return . The only vexation about oral lichen sclerosus is of enhancive nature , which can be managed with topical program of steroids .

book of facts :

DermNet NZ – Lichen Sclerosus : Information on the clinical feature , differential diagnosing , and management of lichen sclerosus . DermNet NZ – Lichen Sclerosus

daybook of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology – Lichen Sclerosus : A Clinical and Histopathological Study of Five slip : A scientific article talk over the rare occurrence of lichen sclerosus in the unwritten cavity . J Oral Maxillofac Pathol – Lichen Sclerosus

American Academy of Oral Medicine – Lichen Planus : selective information on distinguishing lichen sclerosus from similar conditions like lichen planus . AAOM – Lichen Planus

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