established vulvectomy as the treatment of choice for kraurosis vulvae, a premalignant condition. In 1927, Kyrle defined LS ("white spot disease") as an entity sui generis. In 1928, Stühmer described balanitis xerotica obliterans as a postcircumcision phenomenon. In 1936, retinoids (vitamin A) were used in LS. In 1945, testosterone was used in genital LS. In 1961, the use of corticosteroids started. Jeffcoate presented an argument against vulvectomy for simple LS. In 1971, progesterone was used in LS. Wallace defined clinical factors and the epidemiology of LS. In 1976, Friedrich defined LS as a dystrophic, not an atrophic condition; "et atrophicus" was dropped. The International Society for Study of Vulvar Disease classification system established that "kraurosis" and "leukoplakia" were no longer to be used. In 1980, fluorinated and superpotent steroids were first used in LS. In 1981, studies into HLA serotypes and LS were published. In 1984, etretinate and acetretin were used in LS. In 1987, LS was linked with Borrelia infection. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus was first described in 1887 by François Henri Hallopeau. Since not all cases of lichen sclerosus exhibit atrophic tissue, et atrophicus was dropped in 1976 by the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), officially proclaiming the name lichen sclerosus. See also Lichen planus List of cutaneous conditions List of cutaneous conditions associated with increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer List of human leukocyte antigen alleles associated with cutaneous conditions References External links NIAMS – Questions and Answers About Lichen Sclerosus NIAMS – Fast Facts About Lichen Sclerosus dermnetnz.org better medicine Medscape Reference Author: Jeffrey Meffert, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD Medical pictures http://www.dermlectures.com/LecturesWMV.cfm?lectureID=88 https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210529/http://dermis.multimedica.de/dermisroot/de/34088/diagnose.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20071008130921/http://dermnetnz.org/immune/ls-imgs.html Ailments of unknown cause Lichenoid eruptions