Lichen Planus
Lichen planus is a common disease that causes
inflammation (swelling and irritation) on your skin or inside your mouth. On
your skin, lichen planus causes a rash that is usually itchy. Inside your
mouth, it may cause burning or soreness.
The cause of lichen
planus is usually not known, although possible causes include:
· Hepatitis C, a virus that
attacks your liver
· Certain medicines,
including some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, heart
disease, and malaria
· Reactions to metal fillings
in your teeth
· An autoimmune reaction,
meaning the body's own defense system, the immune system, attacks your mouth
and skin cells by mistake
Symptoms
· Skin: The most common
symptoms are shiny red or purple bumps. These bumps are firm and may itch a
little or a lot; you may have just a few or many of them. Fine white lines or
scales may accompany the bumps. They can occur anywhere, but are most common on
your wrists, arms, back, and ankles. Thick scaly patches may appear on your
shins and ankles. Sometimes, bumps on your skin may appear in an area where
your skin has been scratched or burned. Dark skin patches may replace skin
bumps that fade. These patches usually fade away after many months.
· Mouth: Lichen planus
inside your mouth looks like lacy patches of tiny white dots. These patches may
occur on the inside of your cheeks or on your tongue. They may not cause any
other symptoms; in severe cases, redness and sores develop.
· Nails: Lichen planus may
appear on a few, or all, of your fingernails and toenails. Thinning, ridges,
splitting, and nail loss are signs of the condition.
· Scalp: Redness,
irritation, and tiny bumps can form on your scalp. In some cases, hair may
start to thin and patches of hair loss may occur.
· Genitals: Lichen planus in
your genitals can cause bright red, painful areas.
Who’s at risk?
About 1 in 100 people will
get lichen planus at some time. It is not caused by an infection, and you can’t
pass it on to others. Lichen planus usually affects men and women in middle
age. Equal numbers of men and women get lichen planus of the skin, but women
are twice as likely to get oral (inside the mouth) lichen planus. The disease
is rare in people who are very young or very old.
Diagnosis
Your doctor or dentist may
diagnose lichen planus, based on the changes on your skin or in your mouth. To
make sure of the diagnosis, your doctor will perform a biopsy. He or she will
remove mouth mucosa, or a small piece of skin, and send it to be examined it
under a microscope.
Treatment
If your biopsy shows lichen
planus and you have no symptoms, you probably do not need treatment. In most
cases, lichen planus will go away within 2 years. If you have symptoms, such as
severe itching or sores in your mouth or genital area, treatment can help. If
you have lichen planus on your scalp, treatment is important to prevent
permanent hair loss.
Lichen planus has no cure, but different treatments can
help relieve your symptoms and speed healing. Possible treatments include:
·
Antihistamine
medicine to relieve itching
·
Steroids
on your skin or in your mouth to fight inflammation (You may also take steroids
in pill form for severe cases)
·
A
type of ultraviolet light treatment called PUVA
·
Retinoic
acid, a medicine derived from vitamin A and usually used for acne
·
Tacrolimus
and pimecrolimus, ointments used for eczema.
Complications
Some evidence suggests that
oral lichen planus may be an early warning for oral cancer. Make sure you see
your dentist for an oral exam at least twice a year.
How to manage or live with the condition
·
Avoid injuries to your skin.
·
Apply cool compresses instead of scratching.
·
Limit the stress in your life.
·
For oral lichen planus, stop smoking, avoid alcohol, maintain good
oral hygiene, and avoid any foods that seem to irritate your mouth.
Lichen planus
is not a dangerous disease, and it usually goes away on its own. However, in
some people, it may come back.
