Dermoscopic Features of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus in the Setting of a Prospective Cohort of Patients: New Observations.

OBJECTIVE: Dermoscopic features of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) were investigated in order to determine both vascular and non-vascular features of this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dermoscopic images of 35 patients affected with histopathologically confirmed VLS were evaluated for the presence of predefined morphological criteria.

RESULTS: On dermoscopy, VLS lesions exhibited very sparse vessels, mainly linear, without a specific arrangement. Dotted vessels were observed mostly in the early stage of the disease. Patchy, structureless areas, whitish to white-yellowish to pink-whitish in colour over a diffuse whitish background, were a distinctive and constant dermoscopic feature. Grey-blue dots, usually with a characteristic peppered arrangement, corresponding to dermal melanophages, were also frequently seen. Comedo-like openings and scales were observed, as well as peculiar structures like ice slivers, not identified by histological examination.

CONCLUSION: Our findings show that VLS exhibits characteristic dermoscopic patterns that can aid in its clinical diagnosis.