Talking to Your Partner – When Words Feel Impossible
Talking about Lichen Sclerosus with a partner can feel like walking through fog. How do you explain something so personal, so intimate, and sometimes so painful — especially if you’re still trying to understand it yourself?
Whether you’re in a new relationship or a long-term one, opening up about LS can bring up fear, shame, and vulnerability. But with the right approach, these conversations can also build intimacy, empathy, and trust.
Why This Feels So Hard
Many people with LS avoid the topic out of fear:
- Fear of being rejected
- Fear of being seen as broken or unattractive
- Fear of not being understood
- Fear of losing desire or connection
These fears are real and valid. LS affects your body, your confidence, and your sense of self. It’s not just a skin condition — it’s an emotional one too.
But your partner can’t support you if they don’t know what’s going on. Silence creates distance, while openness builds bridges.
Starting the Conversation
Here are some gentle ways to approach the topic:
- Choose the right moment
Pick a calm, private time — not in the middle of intimacy or an argument. You deserve to be heard without distraction or pressure. - Use clear, kind language
You don’t need to explain everything in one go. Try phrases like:
- “There’s something I’ve been dealing with that I want to share with you.”
- “It affects how I feel about sex, and I’d love your support.”
- “It’s called Lichen Sclerosus — it’s a skin condition that affects me intimately.”
- Share what you’re comfortable with
You don’t have to share every detail. Focus on how it affects you and what you need. If you feel comfortable, you can also offer written information or a website for them to learn more. - Allow space for questions — and emotions
Your partner might not know what to say right away. That’s okay. It’s a lot to take in. Let them process and reassure them that you’re sharing because you trust them.
What Support Can Look Like
- Listening without judgment
- Adjusting sexual expectations with kindness
- Checking in on your comfort level
- Going to appointments with you, if helpful
- Learning about LS to better understand your experience
Partners can’t fix everything — but they can walk beside you. And that’s often what matters most.
What If You’re Met With Silence or Dismissal?
Not everyone reacts with sensitivity right away. If your partner minimises your experience or pressures you to “just get over it,” that’s not okay.
You deserve respect, care, and patience. If you’re not receiving that, it may be time to re-evaluate whether that relationship is serving your wellbeing.
Love Isn’t Defined by Skin
You are not broken. You are not less lovable. You are not a burden.
Real intimacy isn’t just about bodies — it’s about emotional connection, trust, and mutual care. By sharing your truth, you’re creating space for deeper, more honest connection.
In the next chapter, we’ll explore how LS and menopause intersect — and why this stage of life can bring both challenges and opportunities for healing.
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Dr. Shirin is a fully-trained and highly-experienced aesthetic physician, who works diligently to ensure a 5 star quality service, and brings an honest and ethical approach to every one of our clients. With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, including several years as a GP and a sub-speciality in anaesthetics, Dr. Shirin is fascinated by the harmony between medicine and aesthetics, and with her expertise, Elite Aesthetics is able to offer effective, doctor-led treatments to vastly improve the lives of our clients.
To find out more about how we’ve put a smile on customers faces in the past, read our testimonials below for first-hand accounts of a variety of our treatments. You can also find out more about what we think at Elite on our blog, as well as reading more about what the press says about us. Our delighted clients hail from areas including Greenhithe, Dartford, Gravesend, Bromley, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and West Malling – as well as from further afield.
Had a consultation with Elite yesterday, I must say I was a bit nervous, but Dr Shirin was so friendly and helpful.
I was given lots of advice and was given treatment options that were within my budget.
A few weeks after the P Shot I've really started to see a difference and have gained my confidence back.
Thank You!
Elite is an outstanding professional clinic with high standard treatments. All the staff members are friendly and offer you honest opinions when it comes to products and treatments. This is a welcoming clinic that I can 100% recommend. Treatments are spoken through and explained in detail, also aftercare. I have been going nearly a year now and am happy with all the treatments I’ve had, wouldn't go anywhere else. The Bocox treatment started to work within a few days, which I was surprised about. So glad I went to Elite for treatment.
Thank you Dr Shirin, the O Shot has really helped me with my Lichen Sclerosus. I'd heard about the treatment on the LS Facebook Groups and message a few people that had treatment with Dr Shirin. I was like many in the group who had run out of treatment options and using creams on a daily basis. I have to say a few months after treatment, I can see a real positive change and I'm hoping my LS will continue to improve. Dr Shirin did say that I might have to have a second treatment given how severe my case is.
A great discovery in the neighbourhood ! There is no need to go up to London for a beauty treatment of any kind. You'll find a whole range of different treatments suiting all age groups and concerns. Welcoming, reassuring, friendly, professional, high tech. I shall be back for more. I love the results of the Thread Lift I had.
Great service as always, skin is glowing very happy
Very happy with the result of my recent visit. For sure will continue with Elite in future
I have been very happy with the care and attention you have received from Dr Shirin.. I would definitely recommend Elite to my family and friends.
Dr Shirins professional approach fills you with confidence. The clinic is modern and efficiently run. They certainly do their utmost to help and advise their clients. I am 100% satisfied that I made the right decision in choosing Elite Aesthetics !
thank you again for my follow up appointment to make sure i was ok and there was no life changing affects from the mess I had done else where how a midwife and beautician can inject and leave customers the way they did is unreal the mess my lips where in and the amount of lumps left was so bad and although there still not perfect Dr shirin managed to massage a lot of the lumps out so not only has she done my previous practitioners job with that but she also cares about the wellbeing of her customers I just wish I had got to Dr shirin to start with con not thank her enough
Great clinic, lovely, clean and modern. Charlotte was excellent, knowledgeable about the treatment whilst also friendly. The facial itself was very enjoyable and my skin looks and feels tighter and smoother. If highly recommend.
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We have extensive knowledge and experience in the medical and aesthetics industries, but we know that above all, the results matter! All of our treatments are vigorously tested in-house before we offer them to our clients to ensure they are safe, effective and will give you, our wonderful clients, the results you want. Your happiness, well-being and satisfaction are at the very core of everything we do here at Elite Aesthetics, and as a result we will never over-treat or carry out a procedure that Dr. Shirin, deems inappropriate or unsafe. Ethical treatment guides our practice, and we aim to become an industry leader in this respect. This means you can always feel confident that you are in safe hands when you choose Elite Aesthetics.
Our practice is led by our founder, Dr. Shirin Lakhani, who is an advocate for greater regulation in the aesthetics industry. Dr. Shirin and Elite Aesthetics believe greater regulation is vital to the development of aesthetics industry as a whole, and as such, our clinic’s philosophy is based on providing doctor-led care to the highest, medically approved standards. We adhere to stringent ethical and medical principles ensuring all the procedures we offer are safe and effective. Dr. Shirin is also fully registered with the GMC (reference number 4634863), and Elite Aesthetics is CQC (Care Quality Commission) Registered, an endorsement recognised by the UK Government, The Department of Health and NHS England.
Elite Aesthetics has been awarded PDO Thread Lift Certification by MINT Threads.
