Anyone have success with treatment for vaginal Lichen Sclerosus?

Posted by bethdoraine @bethdoraine, Jul 16, 2025

I have had vaginal Lichen Sclerosus for many years with several flareups. I am interested in learning of any successful treatments or recommendations.

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I suffered with lichens in my early twenties , I was prescribed testosterone 2 percent injection to be mixed in aquaphor ..
It worked , MD was an oncologist dermatologist now deceased , University of Pennsylvania .
Eventually , in my thirties , it was removed surgically by dr hester sonder and dr valerie bossard

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Those physicians were female gynecologist at graduate hospital in phila no major issues since , I am now 74

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I took one look at the side effects and just said no way. I've been using Lisepten for years now with terrific results. It's all natural. While it may take a while to "kick in", it's been a lifesaver for me.

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Profile picture for datflbaby1987 @datflbaby1987

@datflbaby1987 about the estrogen cream you spoke about for me it made mine so much worse. I NEVER would dare put estradiol cream down there again. Im already prescribed it for HRT but I used it for about a week to see if it would help my LS and for me at least it caused it to flare up even worse. Causing me to get a yeast infection to top it off. I've heard about steroid creams and that basically thats the only way to cure it and keep it under control. I've watched many , many ,many YouTube videos from board certified doctors and everything. And every single one says the same thing that this steroid cream is the most effective treatment available and to never stop using it as your symptoms will come back. They also said if a Dr tries to put you on estradiol cream it may work for some ppl but most need the steroid ointment but also depends on the severity of it. But I would step to your doctor about a steroid cream that they speak about all over the internet and even on Wikipedia about LS. I wish you the best of luck. I've used witch hazel spray for when after you have a baby. I store it in the fridge so when I use it its nice and cold, I also use ice packs the jelly ones when im having a flare up and ive tried replens vaginal moisturizer, good love vaginal lubricant with lidocaine, monistat hydrocortisone cream, vagisil anti itch cream, metronidazole gel externally, and olive oil,coconut oil etc. It all seems to help the 1st several times I use it and then boom I get a flare up. I literally feel lost and like the medical system has failed me. Going through this for so many years and being told at times nothing was wrong with me.... exact words of an obgyn I was seeing. I walked out of her office and told the front desk not to schedule me another appointment. Im still praying to get a diagnosis so I can get on the steroid cream they prescribe for it and pray 🙏 thaf works. It had a pretty hi success rate and you may even have to switch doctors if yours doesn't treat you properly. You should be on a steroid cream to help manage the symptoms. Seems like they just gave you some homeopathic remedies and estrogen. Estrogen isn't your problem and can actually make it worse if your LS is caused by your fluctuating hormones like mine is. My hormones change just a bit and I'm grabbing my crotch like Michael Jackson all day.... literally saying OUCH! But I hope this helps. I recently found an ad about emu oil this company makes it and resell it as a oil, cream, bar of soap, etc. I've read alot of actual reviews on reddit about it. Some ppl just buy pure emu oil but I promise you I tried that and the smell was absolutely horrible. It does come from an emu. But im in a corner right now trying anything until I can get diagnosed and then the proper treatment from an actual doctor. But I promise you I've seen the photos of LS and thats 100% what I have. I just cant believe it took me until I basically destroyed myself down there from the constant itching especially at night time. Like all these years dr after dr just said oh its a classic yeast infection and sent me on my way. I even went to the ER several times for lesions etc down there and not once did they mention how I could possibly have LS until I scratched myself raw and caused actual nerve damage to my vulva. But I hope this helps and my prayers go out to you all. If your keep getting reoccurring itching after treating a yeast infection GO BACK and donf take NO for an answer like I did. Push for answers. Took me getting on Google to figure it out. Doctors don't examine you like fheg used to. You go get a pap and tgeg just insert the thing inside of you , they dont bother doing a check of your vulva even after constant complaints of itching and burning, skin peeling off , looking scaley like a fish and changing in color. Like how could they have missed this all these years just blows my mind.

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@datflbaby1987
I feel your pain. I was first diagnosed with LS in December 2025 by my dermatologist. I’ve had it for several years without being diagnosed. I feel I know more than the doctors do about LS. I’m sure we all feel that way. I am currently on clobetasol which has calmed down the itch & inflammation, however I now have an ulcer which my dermatologist said is a result of of the LS. She prescribed silvadene which burned & then zinc. Neither has helped, wanted to know if you suffered with ulcers or lesions & what helped. Yes I am thankful to be alive but LS truly interferes with quality of living!

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Profile picture for datflbaby1987 @datflbaby1987

@fdixon63 Im still in the process of getting a doctor through my health insurance to actually do the biopsy so they can say i have LS and gibe me treatment for it. But I can say I've tried coconut oil, olive oil and for me there was absolutely NO relief just more irritation. I hoped to get diagnosed without the biopsy just cus I've heard so many horror stories about it. People losing full feeling in that area etc. But at this point I'm begging for it. It's been since I was 14-15 years old thaf I've suffered from this and I'm now 38 years old takkmg a photograph into the doctors office basically shoving my vagina in their face. Like see, you see that??? T hats my problem and I finally got a dr to listen after that. Im now waiting for my health insurance to find me an obstetrician to treat it because my health insurance doesn't cover dermatology and thats where every Dr kept sending me to knowing I couldn't pay for it. But im on HRT and ive tried placing estradiol on it and NOTHING. It seems like anytime I think I found something to give me some relief I'm wrong. I end up with another flare up. I NEVER thought I'd EVER go through something like this in my lifetime. And I pray that they find a cure for thsi disease. It ruins your everyday value of life, I can't wear clothes I used to just skirts and loose dresses now. Im having trouble with my relationship because my partner doesn't understand it. It also doesn't help that the 9 years we've been together I've gone to Dr to Dr being told its just a yeast infection or BV. So now that I've finally figured out the problem on my own its like he looks at me differently. He saw me taking photos of myself in the bathroom and I had no choice but to explain that they were for my doctor and then I had to show them to him. I was so embarrassed, I felt my heart fall right through my stomach watching the way he looked at the images up close and personal. It really is a horrible disease and I pray 🙏 everyday that we find a cure during my lifetime. Not even for me but other ppl who are suffer from LS. Like im that person waving my hand ✋️ like take me, I will be your guinea pig , or monkey or rat! Like I would do anything to help them to find a cure for this. If you wanna know what living in hell feels like? Well this is it! Constant burning. Pain, itching, more burning. Like thats the only way I can describe it. Good luck fellow LS friends. I will stay praying for us all.

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@datflbaby1987,
I am so sorry you are going through this hell. If your husband loves you or even cares for you I would hope that he would be patient and understand AND believe you about the problem. Show him kindness when he asks about it and give him clear explanations so he doesn't think you are crazy. Because you are not. But he should have a good understanding and compassion of what you are going through. Once they told me I was allergic to my husbands sperm because of some of the troubles I was having. I just believe they don't really know what is going on and they try to find an answer to give us but men doctors have NO clue, I would only see a woman doctor for the fact that they are women and hope for compassion from them and help.
I am having similar but not exactly the same trouble. I am looking for solutions. I have had to stop and change all my laundry detergents and never use anything like a dryer sheet, and then all my soap bath body lotions shampoos everything to get clean products. Anything that might get near or touch my lady parts. It is really frustrating that we go through this, I have found that because that area is never totally dry that there is always moisture there that bacteria can grow so fast. I go all morning in a dress without any underwear so that it can breath and dry out. I live alone, so it isn't that much trouble for me. Please don't be embarrassed to talk to your husband about this he may be able to help, and at least understand. I sure hope you can find some relief from all the pain and worry and fear. God Bless you.

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My heart goes out to you. Regarding PURE REFINED PURPLE EMU OIL, Your comment about the odour is strange because I have been using Purple Pure Refined Emu Oil for many, many years and it has absolutely no odour! I don't know what I would do without it! Whenever I have a flare up, it gives me almost instant relief, and in a few days, it is in remission. I buy the large, 16 oz size of Emu Oil. It will keep in the fridge for many years. I always have it on hand for the next flareup. I keep a small amount in a smaller bottle in my bathroom for quick easy access and refill it as needed. This keeps it at room temperature so it will soften. I only buy Pure Refined Purple Emu Oil and I buy it online. You apply it with your fingers and it gives wide silky coverage. I tried Emuaid in the past. Although it contains some Emu Oil and is a good cream for some uses, it gave only short-term relief. It does not heal the way Pure Emu Oil does.
Good luck on your journey

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I have 5 PFDs including lichen sclerosus. I know good eating is vital.
I'm currently researching a company called NeuEve. Founded by ob/gynecologist, they offer healthy alternatives for several PFDs including lichen sclerosus. They look promising. Not cheap. But neither are prescription ointments/vaginal suppositories....

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Profile picture for bluesmoke @bluesmoke

Yes, that is what clobetasol is supposed to do help with LS lesions but it's not 100 % sometimes if they get bad and might cause scarring you may have to give prednisone a try that's what my gyn told me. If that didn't work, she was going to biopsy the sore, but it cleared up within a few days That's why any sore with LS that comes up and doesn't clear up after a couple weeks I go to my gyn and get it looked at. It's a pain but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

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@bluesmoke
How long did you have the lesion for before going on prednisone?

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Profile picture for chrisanon @chrisanon

@andwho many little cuts, burns tissue changes, now in remission but do get flares, so stay on top of it. Even the Scotts tissue seems to have changed the formula- though they deny it but many people have noticed, which is not helping. I use clobestsol, Eucerin ointment, Vaseline, etc on a regular basis, twice a week. If i don't- the flares come.. not easy to sit when that happens. Best of luck to you.

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@chrisanon
Did you ever develop lesions or ulcers from LS?
Using clobetesol does not help that.

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Profile picture for andwho @andwho

@bluesmoke
How long did you have the lesion for before going on prednisone?

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I had it about 3 weeks, so I made an appt with gyn

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