Yes, LS Affects Mental Health Too – Let’s Talk About It
When we talk about Lichen Sclerosus, we often focus on the physical symptoms — the itching, the tearing, the flare-ups. But what about the emotional scars? The fear, the shame, the anxiety that creeps in after another sleepless night or another appointment where you weren’t heard?
The psychological impact of LS is profound. And yet, it’s rarely discussed.
This chapter is here to change that.
The Emotional Weight of LS
Living with LS can feel like carrying a secret you never asked for. The chronic nature of the condition, the intimate location, and the lack of public awareness all add up to a unique emotional burden. Many patients describe feelings of:
- Shame: About how their vulva looks, smells, or feels
- Fear: About intimacy, progression, or cancer risk
- Anxiety: Around doctor visits, flare-ups, or being misunderstood
- Isolation: Because no one in their life seems to understand
- Depression: From the persistent sense of loss and frustration
If any of these resonate with you, please know: what you’re feeling is normal. You are not overreacting. You are not weak.
Why Mental Health Matters in Chronic Conditions
Chronic illness is a full-body, full-life experience. When your symptoms are ongoing, unpredictable, and misunderstood, it’s natural for your mental health to suffer.
Ignoring the emotional side doesn’t make it go away. In fact, studies show that untreated anxiety and depression can worsen physical symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of treatments.
You deserve holistic care — for your body and your mind.
Coping With the Mental Load
Here are some strategies to support your emotional wellbeing:
- 1. Talk About It
Find a therapist who understands chronic illness or vulval health. You don’t have to explain from scratch — and you deserve a space to be heard. - 2. Join a Support Group
Connecting with others who truly “get it” can be transformative. Online or in-person, these communities can provide both information and emotional relief. - 3. Practice Self-Compassion
On hard days, try saying to yourself: “This is difficult, but I am doing my best.” Your inner voice matters. Make it a kind one. - 4. Create Safe Rituals
Small routines — like a warm bath, journaling, or gentle stretching — can ground you when emotions feel overwhelming. - 5. Educate and Empower
The more you understand your condition, the less power it holds over you. Knowledge reduces fear.
When to Seek Professional Support
If you’re experiencing any of the following, it’s time to reach out:
- Persistent low mood or hopelessness
- Panic attacks or intense anxiety
- Avoidance of all intimacy or relationships
- Feeling like you don’t want to continue living
These are signs that you need — and deserve — support. Speak to your GP, a mental health professional, or a trusted loved one. You do not have to carry this alone.
Your Emotions Are Valid
There is no weakness in feeling overwhelmed. LS is a tough condition to live with — physically, emotionally, and socially. But by acknowledging your mental health, you’re not giving up. You’re stepping into your power.
In the next chapter, we’ll share real stories from women who’ve lived with LS — not as victims, but as survivors. Because healing begins when we stop hiding.
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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
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Accreditations
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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.
