As many of you know, I’m on the board for Lichen Sclerosus Support Network - a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower people with Lichen Sclerosus by providing evidence-based education and support. Since today is Giving Tuesday, we are running a campaign to help us better serve our LS community by providing them with better content, education, and support. This will help folks become empowered to take control of their condition, manage their symptoms, and ensure it doesn’t progress to vulvar cancer.

I also personally have lichen sclerosus, and it has deeply impacted my physical health, mental health, and sexual health for years. It took me over ten years to finally get a diagnosis; that's a long time to suffer in pain alone. I don't want that to happen to anyone else.

When I was diagnosed, I was given 0 information on how to treat and manage my condition. By donating to LSSN for Giving Tuesday, you will support us in making more content and education available for folks with lichen sclerosus so they can get into remission quicker.

Here are some LS stats:

• Vulvar lichen sclerosus prevalence is as high as 1 in 70 vulva owners.
• It takes, on average, 5-15 years to get a diagnosis.
• Untreated vulvar lichen sclerosus can lead to precancer or cancer in 2-7% of people.
• Lichen sclerosus (LS) affects children and adults of all genders and all ages.
• Currently, there is no cure for LS.

How Lichen Sclerosus Support Network can help

Everyone involved in diagnosing and treating LS must have access to evidence-based information about this condition. That’s why the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) is actively working to bring together researchers, healthcare providers, patients, families, and the general public.

What we’re doing to solve this problem

We’re partnering with medical, healthcare, and wellness providers and practitioners to develop and present evidence-based education materials to support patients’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. We’re targeting spaces where teens and adults are hungry for information - Google, YouTube, Instagram, podcasts, and blogs. We’re producing annual events like the Wholistic Healing Summit to increase LS awareness and community support.

For 2023, our fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday is $10,000. This money can help us commission new educational materials, pay for audio editing to produce new podcast episodes, and allow us to host more live virtual events with experts.

Thank you for supporting our mission to help shorten the time to diagnose lichen sclerosus and bring more evidence-based education to patients and providers!