To summarize the currently available knowledge about extragenital lichen sclerosus (ELS) and its treatment options, highlighting its significance in the context of lichen sclerosus.
Key Findings:
Extragenital lichen sclerosus affects approximately 15-20% of patients with lichen sclerosus, highlighting its rarity.
ELS lesions are usually asymptomatic or mildly pruritic, commonly affecting the neck, trunk, and upper extremities, and may present unique treatment challenges.
High-potency topical corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for ELS, with limited evidence for biologics and JAK inhibitors, emphasizing the need for further research.
Interpretation:
The pathogenesis of ELS is multifactorial, involving autoimmune mechanisms, genetic predisposition, and hormonal influences, but remains incompletely understood, necessitating further exploration.
Limitations:
The rarity of ELS limits the availability of large-scale clinical trials, impacting treatment guidelines.
The review primarily includes descriptive studies and case reports, lacking formal quantitative synthesis, which may affect the robustness of conclusions.
Conclusion:
Extragenital lichen sclerosus presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment, necessitating further research to establish effective therapeutic strategies, particularly in treatment-resistant cases.
