title: Fractional carbon dioxide laser in recalcitrant vulval lichen sclerosus.
abstract: Vulval lichen sclerosus is an uncommon skin condition that can usually be managed with topical corticosteroids to maintain remission. However, there is a subset of patients in whom it remains recalcitrant despite treatment with super-potent topical corticosteroids. We report a case series of four patients undergoing fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing and one with ablative carbon dioxide laser for severe, hyperkeratotic vulval lichen sclerosus not responding to super-potent topical corticosteroids. In these patients, carbon dioxide laser was successful in achieving remission. Their vulval lichen sclerosus was subsequently able to be maintained with topical corticosteroid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|uRepublic Cosmetic Skin & Laser Clinic, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: carbon dioxide laser; fractional CO2; lichen sclerosus; vulvar lichen sclerosus