Results of two small trials of fractionated CO₂ laser treatment give conflicting results — one finding it performs better than standard steroid therapy, while the other suggests it is no better than sham treatment.

Both studies were carried out by US doctors and published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In the first trial, led by Dr Linda Burkett of the University of Pittsburgh, 52 women with biopsy-proven vulvar lichen sclerosus were randomised to three office laser treatments 4-6 weeks apart or prescriptions for clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment.

Some women had already been using clobetasol propionate or other topical or systemic immunomodulators prior to the study and these participants had to undergo an eight-week washout period before baseline.