Derm News: 2007.15(7)

Successful treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus in a child with low-concentration topical tacrolimus ointment

The Journal of Dermatology, 34(2):114-116
Yuka MATSUMOTO, Toshiyuki YAMAMOTO, Tamaki ISOBE, Toshio KUSUNOKI, Ryoji TSUBOI
ABSTRACT

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that has a predilection for the anogenital area. Topical corticosteroid is occasionally effective; however, continuous treatment is often required and recurrence after its stoppage is frequent. Herein, we report a case of vulvar lichen sclerosus in a 5-year-old girl, which was refractory to topical corticosteroids.

After 14 weeks of treatment with 0.03% tacrolimus ointment once daily, the lesions completely resolved without side-effects. Of interest, the number of milia within the plaque of lichen sclerosus was reduced in tandem with the improvement of lichen sclerosus. This is the first report of topical low-concentration tacrolimus treatment showing a dramatic effect in the treatment of childhood vulvar lichen sclerosus.

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The Derm News service provided by the Editorial Consultants of Skin Therapy Letter^© and its founding editor Dr. Stuart Maddin.