Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus in Adults. The group I topi¬cal steroid ointment clobetasol propionate is reported ef¬fective for all age groups. The following regimen was re¬ported for adults. Apply the ointment twice daily for 1 month and then once daily for 1 month; then taper down within the next month to two applications per week and remain on that regimen until a follow-up examination at 3 months after the initial visit. Treatment is then on an “as needed” basis. Follow-up examinations are important when using superpotent topical steroids.
Less potent topical steroids, such as mometasone fu¬roate 0.1% and triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% ointment, have also been shown to be very effective. PMID: 24160287 A large study showed that treatment with clo-betasol ointment resulted in a complete remission in 54% of patients. The probability of remission was significantly associated with age. The incidence of remission at 3 years was 72% in women younger than age 50 and 23% in women between the ages of 50 and 70, but in women older than 70 years of age, none achieved remission. The incidence of relapse was 50% at 16 months and 84% at 4 years from initial treatment. Patients’ tolerance of long-term ultrapotent topical steroids was excellent and no atrophic events were observed. The eight observed vulvar SCC (9.6%) cases occurred in previously untreated or ir¬regularly treated vulvar LS lesions. PMID: 24160287
Alternative Treatment Schedules. Mometasone fu¬roate and triamcinolone may act as alternatives to clo¬betasol propionate for treatment of vulvar LS, especially for long-term therapy, with similar efficacy but higher levels of safety and tolerability. Use once-daily applica¬tion of a topical steroid for 4 weeks, tapering to alternate days for 4 weeks, followed by once or twice weekly ap¬plication as maintenance. In general, a typical 30-gm tube of a topical steroid should last approximately 3 to 6 months.
Maintenance Therapy. Patients traditionally have been instructed to apply a topical steroid on demand after their LS has been stabilized with an ultrapotent topical steroid. Studies support a proactive approach to long-term therapy. Relapse rate was lower in patients who ap¬plied mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment biweekly for 52 weeks. PMID: 23398459 Long-term maintenance therapy of vulvar LS with a moisturizing cream can main¬tain the symptom relief induced by topical corticoste¬roids. This treatment may also be associated with a reduc¬tion in topical corticosteroid use. PMID: 17603391