Lichen Sclerosus Anus Treatment: What Are Your Options?
Living with Lichen Sclerosus (LS) can be exceptionally challenging, especially when it affects the anus. While there’s no definitive cure for this condition, you can try many treatment options that will significantly improve symptoms and overall quality of life.
This blog explores the various Lichen Sclerosus anus, vulva and penile lichen treatment options so that you can find one that works for you.
Understanding Lichen Sclerosus: Anus
Lichen Sclerosus is a skin condition affecting the skin of the genitals and anus. It commonly appears as white spots and results in chronic itching, painful burning and scarring.
Although it can affect men and women, women are more likely to suffer from Lichen Sclerosus of the anus.
Symptoms include:
- Itching and burning.
- Pain, especially during bowel movements.
- Skin changes (white patches, thinning, fissures, or tears).
- Bleeding.
- Difficulty with bowel control.
Severe symptoms significantly impact daily activities, personal hygiene, emotional well-being, confidence and intimate relationships.
The exact cause of Lichen Sclerosus isn’t fully understood, but most doctors agree that there is likely a combination of factors at the root. These factors can include an overactive immune system, individual genetic makeup, and previous skin damage or irritation.
Your age and gender might also be a factor in having Lichen Sclerosus (anus, vulva or penile). There are higher numbers of women suffering, and it most commonly occurs after menopause. The lower oestrogen levels associated with menopause are thought to be related.
Conventional Medical Treatments
A typical treatment for Lichen Sclerosus – anus, vulva or penile – is over-the-counter creams commonly used to treat thrush.
If these don’t work, your doctor will likely prescribe topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of affected areas. While common types, including clobetasol propionate (a potent steroid), can be very effective in the short term, when used for long periods, patients can experience side effects, such as skin thinning.
Other topical medications, such as calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus), may be used as alternatives or in combination with corticosteroids.
Other common Lichen Sclerosus anus, vulva, and penis treatments are barrier creams and local anaesthetics. These provide temporary relief from symptoms but don’t help to stop them.
While creams are a standard treatment option, they don’t resolve the issue, and most people tend to build up immunity to them the longer they use them.
The good news is that there is a long-term solution for LS sufferers. It uses PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to alleviate the symptoms, using the incredible healing ability of your own immune system to repair. Some of our patients who have suffered from LS for many years feel like it’s the closest thing to a cure they have found.
The O-Shot: A Solution To Lichen Sclerosus Anus?
The O-Shot and P-Shot are non-invasive treatments designed to help men and women who suffer with Lichen Sclerosus; the treatment is known as the O-Shot for women and the P-Shot for men.
Both treatments work to rejuvenate the penis and the vagina, and both have been seen to improve the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus. This is because PRP injections speed up your body’s natural healing process while reducing inflammation of the tissues affected by Lichen Sclerosus anus, vulva, and penile.
PRP contains essential cell-regenerating growth factors required for effective treatment, and the injections reduce inflammation, promote healing, and improve blood flow to the affected area. This increased blood flow can also enhance sexual function, which is a hidden bonus of choosing a PRP-based treatment.
The treatment includes taking a blood sample spun at a high frequency to release the PRP. At Elite Aesthetics, we use a specific FDA-approved centrifuge and always do a double spin to provide the best possible results for our patients.
PRP therapy is regarded as a relatively newer treatment option for LS, but it is providing incredible results.
Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies
Alongside medical treatments, lifestyle changes and home remedies can also help manage LS anus symptoms.
You should opt for gentle hygiene products, such as mild, fragrance-free soaps, and avoid scented loo roll. You should stop using fabric conditioner on your underwear as this can cause aggravation and exacerbate an LS flare-up significantly.
Lichen Sclerosus flare-ups can happen anytime, and during one, a ‘sitz bath’ (a shallow bath with warm water) will soothe the area. When drawing this bath, use warm water, not hot water, and sit in it for 1 – 10 mins. Afterwards, you can apply a barrier cream or Vaseline to protect the area.
Wearing looser underwear will also help, especially avoiding thongs during a Lichen Sclerosus anus flare-up. Looser pants that cover the area without contact will make you feel more comfortable.
Eating the right foods can help, too. A low-oxalate diet can help manage the inflammation, while a high-fibre diet will help to prevent constipation and straining during bowel movements; this is particularly helpful if you are prone to suffering from Lichen Sclerosus anus flare-ups.
Finally, mindfulness is critical as stress can worsen LS symptoms, so try to adopt stress management techniques.
Finding the Right Treatment for You
The best treatment approach for LS depends on your individual needs and the severity of your symptoms.
If you are fed up with ongoing symptoms and don’t want to rely on medication, then it’s worth looking at alternatives like the O-Shot. Elite Aesthetics has a track record of helping LS sufferers; you can read some of our successful patient stories here.
You can contact us either by calling 01322 381 205, emailing info@elite-aesthetics.co.uk, or WhatsApp us.
We hold consultations in our award-winning clinic based in Greenhithe, Kent, which is just 22 minutes away by train from London and 10 minutes from Gravesend.
