{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T16:32:42Z","timestamp":1787070762049,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting the vulvar region. VLS predominantly affects women, and most cases occur after menopause. Common symptoms include itching, skin-whitening, pain, discomfort, fissures, and scarring. Treatment options include topical steroids, emollients, lifestyle modifications, regular follow-up, and surgical interventions. Carbon dioxide (CO\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    ) laser treatment is a therapeutic option for managing lichen sclerosus. We report a case of VLS successfully treated with a fractional microablative CO\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    laser. A 72-year-old female presented with a dry vagina and vulvar itching for 6 months. She visited a local medical clinic, and oral anti-itching medication and topical anti-itching ointment were administered. However, the condition did not improve, and she felt itching. She visited our outpatient department, and a pelvic examination showed bilateral labia minor, revealing a white skin color change and a hardening sensation. The patient was diagnosed with VLS. Microablative fractional CO\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    laser therapy was subsequently administered. The treatment course comprised three laser therapy sessions (treatment day, 1 month, and 2 months after the first therapy). The vulvovaginal symptoms questionnaire-21 scores were 14, 6, and 2 for the first, second, and third courses of treatment, respectively. Vulvar itching improved significantly after laser treatment \u2013 no more steroid treatment needed. After 10 months of follow-up, the condition of the vulva was maintained well. Although the treatment protocol requires further exploration, CO\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    laser treatment could be considered for VLS if topical steroids are ineffective.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4103\/gmit.gmit_71_24","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]],"date-time":"2024-10-21T03:01:43Z","timestamp":1729479703000},"page":"272-275","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Successful Microablative Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Therapy for Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus: A Case Report and Mini-review"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Wen-Lin","family":"Hsieh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dah-Ching","family":"Ding","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan"},{"name":"Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20260427","first-page":"55","article-title":"Vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus","volume":"8","author":"Nair","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Midlife Health"},{"key":"R2-20260427","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"950","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines9080950","article-title":"Vulvar lichen sclerosus from pathophysiology to therapeutic approaches: Evidence and 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