skin disorders
Lichen Sclerosus
Symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus
At first, the skin around the anus and genitals tends to bruise and may blister. Itching, sometimes severe, is typical. After some time, the skin can thin, lose its normal color, and develop cracks and scales. In some people, the disorder develops differently, causing skin thickening. Severe and longstanding cases of lichen sclerosus cause scarring that distorts the normal structures of the area around the anus and genitals. Sometimes the appearance of lichen sclerosus in a child can resemble the effects of sexual abuse. Rarely, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (a skin cancer) develops in areas that have been affected by lichen sclerosus for a long time. 