Lichen Sclerosus is also known as Lichen Sclerosis (or Lichen Sclerosus et atrophicus). It is a painful skin condition that typically affects the vulva (or penis) and anus. It results in white patches on the skin, which causes scarring on and around the genital skin.

In most cases, the cause remains unknown. It is found to be an immunologically mediated disease. There are several factors found responsible for the development of lichen sclerosis, such as auto-immune diseases, infections, and genetic components. It may be associated with thyroid disease in some patients.

Women are more commonly affected than men (10:1), particularly in young girls (prepubertal) and postmenopausal women. Children are rarely affected.

In the early stage, small white spots appear on the skin, which is shiny and smooth in appearance; later on, the spots grow into bigger patches. The skin on the patches becomes thin and wrinkled. Then the skin tears easily, and bright red or purple bruises are common. Sometimes, the skin becomes scarred.

In Lichen Sclerosis, the main symptom is itching along with painful coition, urination, and defecation.

In males, Lichen Sclerosis can lead to whitish thickening of the foreskin of the penis, causing phimosis (failure of foreskin to be fully retracted from the head of the penis)