Although lichen sclerosus is not a very serious health problem in that it does not affect the whole body, it is one of the most distressing problems that a woman can experience. This is because it attacks your genital areas and is a threat to your self-esteem and sex life. It is awful to go through life with a horrible discomfort, which makes you want to scratch yourself down there all the time. It can make you feel unsexy and unattractive and just plain uncomfortable and you will think “why me?” I don’t deserve this awful discomfort which is so embarrassing and distracting.

It’s hard to understand why this inflammation is attacking you and threatening to disfigure the most private and sensual area of your body. You may feel helpless and anxious because you don’t know how to express yourself to your doctor, family or sexual partner. You may feel dirty or contaminated believing wrongly that you are suffering with an infection such as Candida or some bacteria. This is not the cause of the discomfort and itch in lichen sclerosus. Lichen sclerosus is not contagious or transmissible to your partner or family. It is often misdiagnosed as thrush, Candida or dermatitis, so that the pain and discomfort is not treated correctly for many years. It can be effectively treated, especially if diagnosed early.