Lichen Sclerosus Treatment in Calgary: What Is LichenLase®?
Persistent vulvar itching, burning, fragile skin, tearing or pain during sex can be symptoms of lichen sclerosus (LS) — a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the vulvar skin.
Potent topical corticosteroids remain the established first-line medical treatment for lichen sclerosus. Clinical research is now also exploring laser therapy as another treatment option.
At MAUD Medical Clinic in Calgary, we offer LichenLase®, a non-surgical Fotona laser treatment developed for vulvar lichen sclerosus.
If you have already been diagnosed with lichen sclerosus and want to explore another treatment option, LichenLase® may be worth discussing.
BOOK A LICHENLASE® CONSULTATION
What does the research show?
Laser treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus has been studied in randomized clinical research and compared directly with potent topical corticosteroid therapy.
Both approaches have produced improvement, with some clinical measures favouring laser treatment. Longer-term follow-up has also reported sustained clinical improvement after laser treatment.
This emerging evidence makes laser therapy an important additional treatment option to discuss with appropriately selected patients.
What is LichenLase®?
LichenLase® is a non-surgical Fotona laser treatment developed for vulvar lichen sclerosus.
The treatment uses controlled laser energy applied to affected vulvar tissues.
There are:
No surgical incisions
No sutures
No implanted devices
For patients who continue to experience symptoms or want to explore treatment beyond topical therapy alone, LichenLase® provides another option to discuss with a clinician experienced in vulvar health.
EXPLORE VULVAR & VAGINAL LASER TREATMENTS AT MAUD
What symptoms of lichen sclerosus may improve with treatment?
Lichen sclerosus can cause:
Persistent vulvar itching
Burning and irritation
Vulvar pain or tenderness
Fragile or easily irritated skin
Fissures and tearing
Pain during sex
Discomfort with penetration
White or pale areas of vulvar skin
Changes to vulvar tissue
Symptoms and severity vary considerably between patients.
Is laser treatment effective for lichen sclerosus?
Clinical research into laser treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus has produced promising results.
In a randomized controlled trial comparing non-ablative dual Nd/Er laser treatment with topical clobetasol, both treatment groups improved.
At six months, the laser-treated group demonstrated greater improvement in the study's objective clinical lichen sclerosus score. Patient-reported symptoms improved similarly in both groups, while patient satisfaction was higher in the laser group.
Longer-term follow-up has also reported sustained clinical improvement after laser treatment.
These findings are encouraging for patients interested in understanding treatment options beyond topical therapy alone.
Why consider LichenLase®?
Everyone's experience with lichen sclerosus is different.
Some patients manage their symptoms well with topical treatment. Others may continue to experience itching, burning, painful sex, recurrent symptoms or vulvar discomfort.
You may want to discuss LichenLase® if you:
Continue to experience symptoms
Have recurrent vulvar discomfort
Experience painful sex or sensitivity
Want to explore options beyond topical therapy alone
Are interested in a non-surgical treatment approach
LichenLase® provides another option that can be considered within an individualized vulvar health treatment plan.
LichenLase® vs. topical steroids: do I have to choose?
Not necessarily.
Topical corticosteroids suppress the inflammation associated with lichen sclerosus and remain the established first-line medical treatment.
LichenLase® uses controlled laser energy applied to affected vulvar tissues and is being studied as another approach to improving the clinical signs and symptoms of lichen sclerosus.
For many patients, the question doesn't have to be:
“Laser or steroids?”
A more useful question may be:
“Could laser treatment provide another option for managing my lichen sclerosus?”
That's something we can help you determine during your consultation.
Who may be a candidate for LichenLase®?
LichenLase® may be considered for appropriately selected patients with diagnosed vulvar lichen sclerosus.
Your clinician will consider:
Your diagnosis
Current symptoms
Previous treatments
Response to topical treatment
Current vulvar skin changes
Other vulvar or vaginal symptoms
Your medical history
If you have symptoms but have not been diagnosed with lichen sclerosus, start with a vulvar health assessment before considering laser treatment.
What happens during LichenLase® treatment?
LichenLase® uses Fotona laser technology to deliver controlled laser energy to affected vulvar tissues according to the treatment protocol.
Treatment does not involve surgical incisions or sutures.
Your clinician will explain the procedure, what you may feel during treatment and what to expect afterward.
Because lichen sclerosus can make vulvar tissue particularly sensitive, your comfort is an important part of treatment.
Does LichenLase® hurt?
Individual experience varies.
In published clinical research, laser treatment has generally been reported as well tolerated.
Your experience may depend on the amount of inflammation, irritation, sensitivity or fissuring present at the time of treatment.
Your clinician will discuss what to expect and any appropriate comfort measures before treatment begins.
Is there downtime after LichenLase®?
LichenLase® is a non-surgical procedure and does not involve incisions or sutures.
Your clinician will provide specific aftercare instructions and explain any temporary restrictions following treatment.
Individual recovery experiences can vary.
How many LichenLase® treatments will I need?
Laser treatment for lichen sclerosus is generally performed as a series rather than a single treatment.
For example, one randomized clinical trial of a dual Nd/Er protocol involved four laser treatments over several months.
Your recommended treatment schedule will depend on the treatment protocol, your symptoms and your response.
Your individualized treatment plan will be discussed during your consultation.
Can LichenLase® help with painful sex?
It may help some patients when painful sex is related to lichen sclerosus symptoms such as inflammation, fissures, fragile tissue or vulvar discomfort.
However, painful sex can have more than one cause.
Vaginal dryness, menopause-related tissue changes and pelvic floor muscle tension can occur alongside lichen sclerosus.
One advantage of receiving treatment at MAUD is that we can assess your overall vulvar, vaginal, sexual and pelvic health, rather than treating painful sex as an isolated symptom.
Can LichenLase® cure lichen sclerosus?
Lichen sclerosus is considered a chronic condition, so LichenLase® should not be considered a permanent cure.
Treatment aims to improve symptoms and the clinical signs of the condition.
Even when symptoms improve significantly, ongoing vulvar monitoring remains important.
Why does lichen sclerosus still need medical follow-up?
Lichen sclerosus is more than an uncomfortable skin condition.
Long-standing lichen sclerosus is associated with an increased risk of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.
This does not mean everyone with lichen sclerosus will develop vulvar cancer.
It does mean ongoing vulvar surveillance is important, regardless of whether your treatment includes topical medication, laser therapy or both.
New sores, ulcers, thickened areas, lumps, bleeding or changing vulvar lesions should be medically assessed.
LichenLase® at MAUD Medical
Lichen sclerosus isn't simply a cosmetic skin concern.
At MAUD Medical Clinic, LichenLase® is offered within a clinic focused on women's, vaginal, sexual and pelvic health.
Your care doesn't have to stop at the laser.
Depending on your needs, MAUD also provides access to:
Women's and vaginal health physicians
Vulvar health assessment
Menopause care
Pelvic floor physiotherapy
Sexual health support
Vaginal and vulvar laser treatments
If another condition is contributing to your symptoms, we can help identify it and discuss appropriate treatment options.
Can I book LichenLase® directly?
If you already have a confirmed diagnosis of lichen sclerosus, you can request a LichenLase® consultation to determine whether laser treatment may be appropriate for you.
BOOK A LICHENLASE® CONSULTATION
If you're experiencing vulvar itching, burning, white patches, tearing, painful sex or changes to your vulvar skin but have not been diagnosed with lichen sclerosus, start with a vulvar health assessment.
BOOK A VULVAR HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Explore LichenLase® Treatment in Calgary
If you've been diagnosed with lichen sclerosus and continue to experience symptoms — or simply want to understand whether laser treatment could be another option for you — talk with the MAUD team.
LichenLase® is a non-surgical laser treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus supported by promising clinical research.
BOOK A LICHENLASE® CONSULTATION
LEARN MORE ABOUT VULVAR & VAGINAL LASER AT MAUD
READ MAUD'S GUIDE TO LICHEN SCLEROSUS
Clinical Evidence & Further Reading
Clinical research has directly compared laser therapy with topical corticosteroid treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus.
Randomized clinical research of non-ablative dual Nd/Er laser treatment has reported significant improvement in clinical lichen sclerosus scores and symptoms. Longer-term follow-up has also reported sustained clinical improvement.
Research into laser treatment for lichen sclerosus continues to develop.
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. Lichen sclerosus is a chronic condition requiring appropriate diagnosis and ongoing surveillance. Potent topical corticosteroids remain an established first-line medical treatment. Laser treatment is not appropriate for every patient. Individual results vary, and consultation is required to determine treatment suitability.
