Lichen Planus

in Monroeville, PA

What does lichen planus look like?

On the skin, lichen planus causes bumps that are shiny, firm, flat, and reddish purple in color, and there can be just a few or many. The bumps may have tiny white lines running through them called Wickham’s striae, and they sometimes itch or hurt. Common places for bumps on the skin include the scalp, wrists, lower back and ankles.

Lichen planus can also show up in the mouth or on the genitals as lacy white patches or red sores. If sores are open, it can cause intense pain.

In some cases, the condition affects fingernails and toenails, revealing itself with dark lines from the tip of the nail to the base.

What causes lichen planus?

Lichen planus is not contagious. It’s most common in middle-aged adults, but a person of any age can get it. Women are twice as likely than men to have oral lichen planus.

While the cause is not certain, lichen planus may result due to the immune system attacking cells of the skin or mucous membranes. Possible reasons this may happen include:

• A hepatitis C infection
• Medications for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and malaria, antibiotics, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers
• Oral lichen planus may result from an allergic reaction to the metal in dental fillings

What are the treatment options for lichen planus?

Lichen planus usually clears up on its own in 6-12 months, but there are treatments available to help manage symptoms. Your dermatologist will prescribe the most effective treatment option for your particular condition, which may include:

• Antihistamines, to reduce itchiness.
• Topical (applied to the skin) corticosteroid creams or lotions, which help treat swelling and redness. Strong topical corticosteroids can also reduce itchiness.
• Corticosteroid pills, which are prescribed when topical creams and ointments don’t help.

• PUVA therapy, which uses UV light. This may be recommended in severe or widespread cases that don’t respond to other treatments.
• Retinoic acid, a topical ointment often used for acne but found to be effective in reducing inflammation in lichen planus lesions.
• Tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimus cream, which has proven to reduce lesions and relieve pain in patients with oral lichen planus.

Lichen planus of the skin can be annoying but is not life-threatening. But in some cases, oral lichen planus can increase the risk of cancer developing in the oral cavity, esophagus, lip, or tongue. For this reason, it’s important to follow up with a dentist if you have been diagnosed with lichen planus.