title: Lichen sclerosus and lichen planus in women and girls.
abstract: Lichen planus and lichen sclerosus are common, chronic inflammatory vulvar dermatoses with significant morbidity. The course may wax and wane but disease often persists for decades. These autoimmune diseases have varied clinical presentations that extend beyond the genitalia. Management is best undertaken using a multidisciplinary approach and active patient involvement. The first-line treatment of both conditions is superpotent topical corticosteroids. Supportive measures and adjunct therapies can optimize patient outcomes. Patients who fail to improve despite correct medication use should be re-evaluated, and clinicians should be vigilant in detecting concomitant contact dermatitis, secondary infection, and malignancy.
authors.affiliation: *Departments of Dermatology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois †Department of Oral Pathology, Medicine, Radiology, Indiana University School of Dentistry ‡Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Bethanee J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Ginat W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Mirowski
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents