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Underwear options when lichen sclerosis flares

Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: Jun 15 4:56pm | Replies (35)
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@brandysparks

Me too!!!

I had laser ablation surgery 4 months ago for lichen sclerosus that evolved (after 40 years) into VIN II-III (Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia), the whole experience of which I've shared here on Mayo Clinic Connect over the past few months.

You are SOOOOO right about the underwear issue! I experienced excruciating pain at each bathroom visit for 7 weeks, and then trying to sleep comfortably, if I could, with the literally maddening (at times) itchiness at the tail end of the healing...I've had "boy shorts" in my drawers already and they came to the rescue, as much as any underwear could...(preferably the longer version - "mid-thigh length" that the Hanes brand offers (I've found mine at Target in-store and just checked for them online with Target).

Hope that helps too!

Best wishes!

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Replies to "Me too!!! I had laser ablation surgery 4 months ago for lichen sclerosus that evolved (after..."
itchybits | @itchybits | Jun 12 7:34am

Thank you for confirming that this a real issue that more than just one unfortunate woman is experiencing. We need voices like yours & mine to encourage providers to gain education as to how to treat us in the most effective way & to encourage corporate producers of incontinence management products to know their consumers' needs more fully.

Thank goodness there medical management options available...none are really great tho. Lichen sclerosis has been around for a while...as long as many STD's/STI's...and is treated much the same..."we don't talk about that". Because of the stigma of LS & many other issues that women experience, these are not topics that are discussed freely. Lichen sclerosis is suspected to be an autoimmune disease, but that does not make its name any less frightening to the uneducated/uninitiated.

If we want real answers, we do need to ask real questions.

I look forward to hearing both questions & answers while participating on this forum.

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