Leukoplakia - Treatment

Alternative Names

Hairy leukoplakia; Smoker's keratosis; Vulvar leukoplakia

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the lesion. Removing the source of irritation is important and may cause the lesion to disappear.

Treat dental causes such as rough teeth, irregular denture surface, or fillings as soon as possible.
Stop smoking or using other tobacco products.
Do not drink alcohol.

You may need surgery to remove the lesion. The lesion is usually removed in your health care provider's office using local anesthesia.

Leukoplakia on the vulva is treated in the same way as oral lesions.

Expectations (prognosis):

Leukoplakia is usually harmless. Lesions often clear up in a few weeks or months after the source of irritation is removed.

Rarely, it may become cancer.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have any lesions resembling leukoplakia or hairy leukoplakia.

Reviewed last on: 7/20/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Sciubba JJ. Oral mucosal lesions. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 91.

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