What is a Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus Flare Up?

[@aycaku6139]

Firstly, you are gorgeous. I can't thank you enough for what you are doing for ls community. Hormones flares my symptoms. Right before ovulation and mensturation i feel itchy and burn. Not same degree at all cycle. Please share more videos on how to stay mindful🙏

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much! You're so sweet! Yes, hormones is a bit thing for many people with VLS. Will definitely have more videos on staying mindful

[@vickihopkins5409]

For me, the struggle is real. Winter and colder weather is a trigger for me, and my immune system is very overactive. This is helpful.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

We're so happy to help!

[@anna-mariehumphrey8055]

Great video! For me, stress is a definite trigger. Heat is also a trigger for me. I coach and practice sports and being outdoors in the hotter months in Florida is challenging at times.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Yes, stress for me too! I struggle with heat in general. I've heard quite a few people with VLS lament about Florida's heat; you are not alone!

[@christinarelf1137]

This is really interesting. I recently took a course of antibiotics and am now having a flare. I hadn't thought about a potential link.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Oh, boo! Sorry to hear that. I hope the flare is settling for you

[@vandaguthrie1782]

Thank you! Your videos are so helpful for me!!!!

[@christinejohansson1935]

För me it's absolutely stress in any form. Vaccin covid flue aswell as going through an operation or family member not well. When a flare starts it's sort of accelerates the anxiety and stress.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Thank you for sharing. Yes, I have definitely heard of some folks experiencing a flare after a Covid vaccine. Stress does it for me for sure.

[@simplyme8593]

Hello! Could you please reply to my comment? 🙏 So I've had a biopsy on my vulva because i had visual symptoms on my skin and itchyness. The results i received from the laboratory confuse me cause they wrote something like "similar to lichen dermatitis" (lichen liknande dermatitis, in Swedish). Swedish is not my native language and i don't understand. To me things should be clear after a biopsy. It's either lichen something (sclerosus, planus etc) or not. This "looking like lichen" thing is not clear. How come a laboratory cannot come with a clear answer after biopsy? It was already a traumatic experience but I didn't even get reassurance.. The syptoms disappeared by themselves as well as the itchiness. But on thr next appointment, the doctor told me that my skin is quite dry and hardened. NOT the skin on the areas where I had the symptoms and they took the biopsy (which was mainly between the folds and the clitoris) but over the big labias. So he prescribed for me an extra potent cortisone cream to apply there. I'm afraid. Afraid for skin thinning and other side effects. He insists that nothing will happen but: 1. All over internet i read and watch that skin thinning is quite possible. I would prefer tp be treated as an adult person who can take informed decisions. 2. Is it really so important to treat this dryness since it doesn't cause any pain/itchiness etc? I mean I would accept any side effects if the treatment is absolutely necessary (like woth lichen sclerosus) but I don't even have a diagnoses. 3. What if what I had on the intially affected areas was lichen? Now he wants me tk treat other areas and not where I had the patches. Doesn't all of this feel wrong? I hope you understand my concerns. I'm not an overthinker, I just don't want to takes risks that could lead to permanent effects if not necessary or well explained to me 😔 Yesterday the doctor called me to ask me why I haven't started the treatment yet and I accepted to do it so I'm on my second day of the cream application but my gut feeling tells me that something is wrong.. Please help me 😢

[@traceyhinton-2922]

Maybe you could do a video on HPV and Lichen Sclerosus at the same time. Any research? My GYN thinks LS may have triggered my HPV to be active but I read an article where they think it's the opposite. Active HPV made me vulnerable to LS. Makes me worried about increased risk of cancer since the HPV gave me stage 0 cervical cancer really quickly and now add LS this time. UGH!

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Great suggestion. We will try and find a provider who is well-verse in both to speak on this.

[@chloefermin244]

Since remission is based off of clinical signs, can you have a flare and still consider yourself in remission?

[@c.isforcookie]

I am curious about this too.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

We answer this question in this video :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/apizeoGbZ8lso8U

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

We answer this question in this video :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/apizeoGbZ8lso8U

[@helenbarwick5728]

Flares are winter , and stress . Definitely a change when lste October November to March. Is this to do with low vit D, or cortisol overload ?.as stress csyses cortisol to rise .

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Stress does it for me too; and, frankly, for most of the community. Interesting about the season change; vitamin D levels certainly seems like a plausible theory, though I have neither the training nor expertise to answer that with certainty. Thank you for sharing.

[@carolyndoherty4475]

Stress for sure..

[@lisashereika8146]

Pneumovax and bad 4 mo sinus infection

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Ouff, 4 mo sinus infection sounds awful. Sorry to hear about this!

[@c.isforcookie]

For me, it's red wine which is a bit of a heartbreaker.

[@lichensclerosussupportnetwork]

Oh no! That's such a bummer. You aren't the first person to tell me this!

[@traceyhinton-2922]

So Stress.....I wonder if it's what starts the whole ball rolling to start with. I'm sure it's a combination of things and the last ingredient in the recipe for LS finally tips over into ok you now have LS. July 2022 my sister attempted suicide. 7 weeks later my best friend of 40 years died of colorectal cancer. 4 months later my best friend from high school had a massive heart attack and died. So a month and 1/2 ago I went to have my check up at the OB/GYN and she said I believe you have Lichen Sclerosus. My labia minora had done a disappearing act. Who knew? A few days later....Oh and you're HPV positive. You've got to be kidding me. Had HPV 9 years ago. Had all my "parts " removed but here we are swabbed my vagina and here we go again. HPV? I'm practically a nun! So which came first the LS or HPV? STRESS came first. I assume it was dormant just waiting for major stress. Oh, I forgot, a couple of months ago I got a call saying my son was in the ER and was barely alive. He's okay but maybe that was the tipper. STRESS!!!