Lichen Planus - Information on Lichen Planus

Lichen Planus is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Lichen Planus may occur to the people at any age. Lichen Striatus is not related to cancer and it does not involve internal organs. It usually involves the arms and legs, but can affect any part of the body.

Lichen Planus can appear on skin wherever, but usually it appears inside of the wrists and ankles, the lower legs, back, and neck. The mouth, genital region, hair and nails are affected in some individuals. Thick patches may occur, especially on the shins. Lichen planus is thought to be due to an abnormal immune reaction provoked by a viral infection (such as hepatitis C) or a drug. Inflammatory cells seem to mistake the skin cells as foreign and attack them. Lichen planus appears as shiny, flat-topped bumps that often have an angular shape. These bumps have a reddish-purplish color with a shiny cast due to a very fine scale. Blisters may rarely occur. Bumps may appear in areas of trauma on some individuals.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Lichen Planus. Lichen Planus first occurs as a shiny flat bump; it has an angular shape. Its color is reddish or purple. The inside of wrists and ankles, lower legs, back and neck are the usual spots where these patches occur.

Causes of Lichen Planus

The cause of the Lichen Planus is unknown. Some medicines can cause lichen planus. Lichen planus may cause a small number of skin lesions or less often affect a wide area of the skin and mucous membranes.

Symptoms of Lichen Planus

• Ridges in the nails like onycholysis
• Lichen planus can appear on any area of the skin. The most common areas are the inner wrists, the forearms and the ankles.
• Dry mouth.
• Itching in the location of a lesion, mild to severe.
• On the scalp, lichen planus may cause hair loss.
• In the mouth, it looks like lacy white patches on the inside of the cheeks or on the tongue.
• Metallic taste in the mouth.

Treatment of Lichen Planus

The goal of treatment is to reduce your symptoms and speed healing of the skin lesions. If symptoms are mild, no treatment may be needed.

Treatments may include:

• Antihistamines
• If you have mouth lesions, lidocaine mouth washes may numb the area temporarily and make eating more comfortable.
• Topical corticosteroids (such as triamcinolone acetonide cream) or oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone) may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and suppress immune responses. Corticosteroids may be injected directly into a lesion.
• Topical retinoic acid cream (a form of vitamin A) and other ointments or creams may reduce itching and inflammation and may aid healing.
• Occlusive dressings may be placed over topical medications to protect the skin from scratching.
• Ultraviolet light therapy may be beneficial in some cases.