Lichen sclerosus

[Dmitriy1985]

Hi guys!!! Really need help from people who have experience with sclerosing lichen. I got the disease when I got covid in October 2020. It manifested as a slight tightness in the foreskin and three small white dots on the head of the penis. In February 2021 the disease began to progress - white stripes and dots appeared on the foreskin. I decided to treat the disease with autoimmune diet, but it didn't help. In July, after the covid vaccination, a couple of fairly large light-colored spots appeared on the head of the penis. After three months of treatment with clobetasol, the foreskin recovered almost completely: elasticity was restored completely, and the white spots were 95% gone. Except that this treatment had little effect on the glans - the white spots persist. I read that circumcision is a cure for many. But my dermatologist is against it, he thinks it will make things worse, since the exposed glans will be damaged by clothing and there will be Kebner's phenomenon. Can you please tell me if you know of any cases where circumcision has made things worse? Can you advise and give contacts of doctors who are familiar with this disease and the consequences of circumcision. The problem is that I live in Russia and it is very difficult to consult in person in Europe now because of coronavirus. Thank you for your help.

[Hidden]

If you have a dermatologist then you should be following any advice given as they are experts in skin conditions.

nhs.uk/conditions/lichen-sc...

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, you are right in general. But some doctors are also mistaken, since this disease is not very common.

[Hidden in reply to Dmitriy1985]

You might find this helpful: bad.org.uk/for-the-public/p...

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, thank you. in principle, I have re-read all the publicly available medical literature.

[circblog]

I got circumcised to resolve lichen planus/BXO and Zoons balanitis. I'm now 4 weeks into recovery and my glans has been transformed. No balanitis, no burning sensation, meatus no longer inflamed. BXO was mainly on foreskin though. So I guess it has worked for me so far at least. But everyone is different. You really need to see a urologist rather than dermatologist. In three years of trying to solve my symptoms I only saw urologists.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to circblog]

thanks for the answer, friend. I'm glad you better.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to circblog]

the doctor required the use of corticosteroids after the operation?

[circblog in reply to Dmitriy1985]

No, I haven't used any creams since the op. Glans scabbed over for a few days and when the scabs came off the redness and raw patches from balanitis was gone

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to circblog]

Thanks

[MrMac99]

Hi Dmitriy sorry to hear about your LS but you have seen good improvement with the clobetasol cream. It can take a long time for the discoloration to improve and may naver complete go. Circumcision usually does help to clear up LS but nobody can say it will cure it completely you may still have discoloration to the glans afterwards. If you could have a second opinion from a couple of doctors see what they think. In my case circumcision has been very successful so far but who knows it could come back at some point in the future.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to MrMac99]

thanks for your answer and your advice. I plan to hear the opinion of a few more experts to decide. I am ready for this operation, since the presence of the foreskin is not fundamental for me. the main thing is that it, at least, does not harm, but at best helps.

[MrMac99 in reply to Dmitriy1985]

That's no problem man getting as much info as possible is important an some advice from other guys that have experience with having LS is always very helpful.I think you are quite open the idea of circumcision so get some more opinions first and then decide. It all depends on how badly affect you are as to how successful a circumcision would be it should help but every case is defrent. you may still need to use a steroid cream. It can be difficult to get your head around this condition. my advice is to get more opinions and advice on circumcision from a urologist many guys live with the condition and manages it quite well with steroid creams. I didn't feel comfortable doing the creams so I had the circumcision and it has worked out very well for me so far. 🤞🏻

[digiart]

Why don't you run it by a urologist? There is no harm in a second opinion. One thing with LS / BXO is that you shoot for manageability. This is because it is not entirely curable in all cases. So you shoot for manageability. So if the clobetasol helps in keeping it under control, then stick with it. In some cases, esp., if the LS is on the foreskin, then circ can get rid of it permanently. I have it on the glans, but clobetasol helps a lot. I am not using the cream right now however if it flares up in the future, that likely will be where I go, barring my doctors suggesting something else.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to digiart]

you are absolutely right. the problem is that I do not feel that I am in control of the situation, because after vaccination, white spots on the head appeared literally in a few days, and I have not been able to remove them for several months. when they appeared, I did not feel an aggravation (burning sensation, pain), therefore, the understanding that it was necessary to act in advance, and not after the fact. perhaps this is in my case. Have you managed to get rid of white spots?

[digiart in reply to Dmitriy1985]

I am not a medical professional but - This may not be LS. There is another condition (discussed here before) - I cannot remember the name, which involves white spots. LS usually have a pearly like shine and can be smoothed out. It is not necessarily bumpy. I say - get a second opinion.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to digiart]

I have been diagnosed, but I will definitely plan consultations with other doctors. thank you!

[UK_man]

I was diagnosed several years ago with lichen sclerosus (LS) on the head of my penis. Unfortunately I didn't get a very good service from the NHS in the UK. I went to my GP several times complaining of soreness and that intercourse was impossible as too painful. I was told it was balanitis and given creams like Canesten and steroid creams. The creams never seemed to work so I was eventually referred to a dermatologist who diagnosed LS. I had around a year of treatment with them, basically applying another cream daily but no real improvement. Eventually my GP referred to a urologist who suggested circumcision, which I had done. It took a while but that really helped the LS and I can't say I've had issues with LS since HOWEVER the downside for me was circumcision has decreased sensitivity and I don't get the same pleasure from sex I used to get, but at least I can have sex without pain now.

[Dmitriy1985 in reply to UK_man]

Thank you for your answer. It seems to me that in assessing your situation, you should proceed from the fact that circumcision in your case affected sexual comfort, and lichen could affect not only him, but also health.