Global Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037
Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Market size was over USD 560.1 million in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 1.15 billion by the end of 2037, expanding at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast timeline, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of lichen sclerosus treatment is assessed at USD 594.8 million.
Lichen sclerosus is a rare skin disease caused due to inflammation that results in white, thin, and wrinkled skin. According to an article published by NLM in July 2023, 1 in 1000 and 1 in 300 individuals are severely affected with this disorder globally. It is highly common among women than in men with a varying ratio of 1:1 to 1:0. It affects the genital skin in 85% to 98% of women, and the extragenital skin affecting 15% to 20%. Besides, a few patients tend to be asymptomatic based on which there is poor diagnosis. However, the implementation of immunosuppressants and oral corticosteroids are probable treatment options which are positively impacting the lichen sclerosus treatment market internationally.
Notable innovations have resulted in the understanding of molecular mechanisms, etiology, and best treatment strategies at a suitable pricing, which in turn ensures a positive impact on the market. But there has a lack of published data regarding the cost of healthcare pertaining to the skin condition. Based on this, a study was conducted on 4,306 patients by Continence in December 2024, wherein the yearly payer’s pricing of treatment for each patient was analyzed. In the study, the cost analysis was initiated in regards to the overall behavioral health condition and medications and a comparison was done utilizing the two-tailed Mann-Whitney U Test.
Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Cost
|
Attributes |
Diagnosis Cost |
|
Patients with behavioral health condition |
USD 18,125 |
|
Absence of behavioral health condition |
USD 6,219 |
|
Lichen sclerosus and behavioral health condition |
USD 53,539 |
|
Lichen sclerosus and absence of behavioral health condition |
USD 19,901 |
|
Pharmaceutical expenses with lichen sclerosus |
USD 267.58 (average) USD 8,755 (median) |
Source: Continence December 2024
Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- High incidence among postmenopausal women: Lichen sclerosus is associated with menopause which is driving the growth of the lichen sclerosus treatment market. As per the February 2022 Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, this rare skin disease affects 0.1% to 3.0% of the general population globally, especially among postmenopausal women. A substantial reduction in the level of estrogen during this life stage leads to modifications in the vulvar skin making it more inclined to the condition. Thereby, postmenopausal women are at a huge risk of developing lichen sclerosus, which is escalating the market upliftment.
- Implementation of combination therapy: The aspect of the combined treatment option is positively impacting the lichen sclerosus treatment market. As per a study conducted by Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy in February 2024, the combination of high-frequency electrocautery therapy and ALA-PDT is a convenient and effective solution to aid the skin disorder. The study included seven women with the disorder, wherein leukoplakia and lesions were removed resulting in the disappearance of pruritus and restoration of the usual thickness and color of the skin, thus denoting a standard treatment solution.
Challenges
- Presence of stringent regulations: The evolution of treatment solutions for lichen sclerosus is subject to rigorous regulations aimed at ensuring patient safety, constituting a restraint for the lichen sclerosus treatment market. The already available regulations cater to challenging pharmaceutical organizations. Besides, the complex and lengthy drug manufacturing and development procedure limits the rapid exposure of the market. Additionally, clinical trials are time-consuming and require extensive investment and resources. Therefore, all these obstacles delay the approval process, hindering the timely launch of the latest medications.
- Unawareness of rare skin diseases: According to a report published by WHO in March 2023, an estimated 1.8 billion of the global population suffer from skin conditions. Besides, in tropical regions, skin infections caused due to bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic origin result in skin-based neglected tropical disorders (NTD) which accounts for 10% of overall skin diseases. On the other hand, the unconsciousness of these conditions results in the formation of a burden, especially in developing nations which negatively impacts the expansion of the market.
Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Market: Key Insights
|
Base Year |
2024 |
|
Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
|
CAGR |
6.2% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 560.1 million |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 1.15 billion |
|
Regional Scope |
|
Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Segmentation
Treatment Type (Medications, Phototherapy, Surgery)
Medications segment is likely to capture lichen sclerosus treatment market share of around 82.1% by the end of 2037. As per an article published by Springer Nature in November 2024, the survival rate of dupilumab ranges between 80% to 90% after nearly three years of observation. Additionally, the survival rates of other medications include 37% for one year and 20% for two years regarding cyclosporine. In the case of methotrexate, it is 41% for one year and 33% for two years. Therefore, the presence of these drugs and their positive survival rate ensures a positive impact on the segment’s growth.
End Use (Hospitals, Clinics)
Based on end use, the hospitals segment is expected to influence the lichen sclerosus treatment market at a considerable rate during the forecast timeline. Hospitals usually serve a pivotal role in providing suitable treatment and care for severe cases of lichen sclerosus. These medical infrastructures offer diagnostic tools, a multidisciplinary approach by including specialists, and innovative treatment options. For instance, Rainbow Children's Hospital in Hyderabad, India employs physical checkups and dedicated skin evaluations, to classify and evaluate the degree of the condition, as stated in their 2025 report. Therefore, the presence of hospitals globally is a driving factor constituting an optimistic outlook for the market expansion.
Our in-depth analysis of the global lichen sclerosus treatment market includes the following segments:
|
Treatment Type |
|
|
End use |
|
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Customize this ReportLichen Sclerosus Treatment Industry - Regional Synopsis
North America Market Analysis
North America lichen sclerosus treatment market is likely to hold revenue share of over 44.4% by the end of 2037. Factors including established and advanced pharmaceutical sector, healthcare facilities, and administrative bodies are highly driving the market growth in the regions. As per the September 2024 Mayo Clinic Organization report, steroid ointment clobetasol is a renowned and prescribed medication for the disorder. In addition, the recommendation to utilize calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) is also suitable to combat the disease. Therefore, the presence of different ointments is highly amplifying the market in the region.
The U.S. lichen sclerosus treatment market is gaining traction due to the availability of treatment options. As per a clinical study conducted by NLM in February 2021, 0.05% of clobetasol propionate cream diminishes symptoms and recovers skin characteristics. Thus, the study notified that nearly 60% to 70% of patients undergo a comprehensive diminution of their symptoms with the use of ointments and creams, and other patients continuing to suffer are advised to apply clobetasol propionate cream for rapid recovery. Besides, the implementation of topical calcineurin inhibitors constitutes successful remission among 43% of patients and partial remission among 34%, thus denoting continuous research for a complete treatment strategy.
The lichen sclerosus treatment market in Canada is witnessing significant growth owing to the involvement of the government in making investments. For instance, as per the January 2025 Government of Canada report, there has been provision for an investment of USD 500 million in the budget year 2021 for the regional population to overcome the occurrence of rare diseases. Additionally, in March 2023, USD 1.5 billion was invested by the government as a national strategy regarding drugs for rare diseases (DRD). This investment further includes USD 1.4 billion that will be made available to territories and provinces through bilateral agreements. Therefore, financial support from administrative bodies is striving the market growth in the country.
APAC Market Statistics
The lichen sclerosus treatment market in APAC is the fastest-growing region and is poised to witness lucrative growth during the forecast timeline. A surge in the growing population, increasing disposable incomes, enhanced government spending on healthcare, and advances in medical infrastructure are effectively uplifting the market in the region. Moreover, patients are gradually gaining awareness of such a rare skin disease since there has been provision of standard diagnosis and patient management strategies. Also, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and treatment availability is positively driving the market growth.
The lichen sclerosus treatment market in India is expecting substantial growth since the young population readily suffers from multiple chronic conditions. As per the June 2024 BMC article, the prevalence rate of chronic diseases in the country ranges between 0.13% to 1.77%, and the overall burden of the disorder among the adult population is 5.5%. Additionally, the occurrence rate differs depending on different states in India which contributes towards the expansion of the market. However, to keep a check on the occurrence, there is provision for ample doctors in the country to achieve treatment solutions for the rare disorder.
Chronic Condition Prevalence in Regional States
|
Location |
Prevalence (%) |
|
Ladakh |
16.26% |
|
Meghalaya |
14.39% |
|
Mizoram |
15.09% |
|
Arunachal Pradesh |
13.79% |
|
Goa |
9.33% |
|
Maharashtra |
5.03% |
|
Kerala |
7.7% |
Source: BMC June 2024
The lichen sclerosus treatment market in China is gaining exposure owing to the development and availability of treatment options and the adoption of traditional regional medicines. According to a clinical study published by NLM in December 2020, 30 patients from the country were considered to evaluate the safety of photodynamic therapy combined with 5-aminoketovaleric acid as a treatment solution. The patients were exposed at a power density of 60-90 mW/cm2 along with a red light at a wavelength of 635±15 nm. 20% of ALA water-in-oil emulsion was applied with plastic film for three hours. However, there was a positive response showcasing the implementation of ALA to get rid of lichen sclerosus.
Companies Dominating the Lichen Sclerosus Treatment Landscape
- AdvaCare Pharma
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- AFT Pharmaceuticals
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- MC2 Therapeutics
- Novartis
- Pfizer
- Sandoz Inc.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals
Companies dominating the lichen sclerosus treatment market are gaining rapid exposure due to the provision of accurate products to both international and national markets. Besides, there has been the adoption of numerous approaches in research and development as well as product innovation to ensure a strong position in the global market. In December 2024, Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. notified the publication of CUREUS regarding the non-steroid treatment strategies for oral lichen planus. The objective was to diagnose autoimmune and inflammatory conditions by targeting the enzyme calcineurin, critical for T-cell activation and cytokine production, thus an effective contribution to market expansion.
Here's the list of some key players:
In the News
- In January 2024, AFT Pharmaceuticals stated its partnership with Belgium’s Hyloris Pharmaceuticals to launch an innovative treatment for the administration of the skin condition Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus (VLS) where there is inadequate availability of approved treatments.
- In November 2023, MC2 Therapeutics notified the enrollment of patients in Phase 2 feasibility-based clinical trial of vulvar lichen sclerosus. The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MC2-25 VLS, an advanced new drug candidate for the treatment of urea-associated skin diseases.
Author Credits: Radhika Pawar
- Report ID: 7265
- Published Date: Mar 03, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
