What is the difference between lichen sclerosus and lichen planus?

Here at Alloy, I can only answer part of that reliably.

Lichen sclerosus is an autoimmune inflammatory skin condition that often affects the vulva. In our materials, it’s described as causing white, thin, papery-looking skin, itching, scarring, and sometimes loss of the labia minora. It should be diagnosed carefully, often with a biopsy, because long-term inflammation can increase the risk of vulvar cancer. Treatment is usually ongoing, often with a topical steroid, and for people in menopause, local hormone treatment may also help keep the tissue healthier.

I don’t have information in the materials here on lichen planus, so I can’t give you a trustworthy side-by-side comparison with lichen sclerosus.

One useful detail from Dr. Rachel Rubin is that hormonal changes in menopause can sometimes make vulvar tissue look irritated or fragile, and that can be mistaken for lichen sclerosus, which is one reason a specialist exam and biopsy matter. You can read more in our vaginal health article with Dr. Rachel Rubin, or watch this short YouTube chapter on lichen sclerosus and vulvar conditions.

This answer was created using the following resources:

• Optimizing Vaginal Health Through Menopause | Dr. Rachel Rubin - Lichen Sclerosus & Vulvar Conditions

• Treating Lichen Sclerosis and Hormonal Changes | Dr. Rachel Rubin - Understanding Lichen Sclerosus

• Lichen Sclerosis: An Underdiagnosed Condition in Women of Color | Dr. Sameena Rahman - What is Lichen Sclerosus?

• The Best Sex-Ed You Never Had - Your Sex Life Through Menopause | Dr. Kelly Casperson - Lichen Sclerosus: Diagnosis and Treatment

• Menopause & Sexual Health | Dr. Rachel Rubin - Ongoing Research and Collaboration

• Ask the Expert: Vaginal & Sexual Health in Menopause | Dr. Kelly Casperson - Lichen Sclerosus and Hormones

• Your Menopause Questions Answered | Dr. Sharon Malone - Lichen Sclerosus and Estrogen

• Optimizing Vaginal Health | Alloy