Lichen Planus

The non-infectious and itchy rash which develops in human beings due to an unknown cause is known as Lichen planus. It affects;

• The mouth
• The skin as well as
• Parts of our body like scalp, nails, vagina, vulva as well as penis.

Lichen planus is a condition affecting one out of fifty people. The persons who are above the age of thirty are prone to the development of this condition. This is a condition which affects women more than men.

Inner surface of the human mouth is the place where the lichen planus is more commonly found. This condition is known as oral lichen planus.

If lichen planus affects the skin, the time taken for the curing of the condition varies from 9 months to twenty four months. But it is a rarely recurring condition. The itching can be relieved by using steroid creams. The rash which develops in this condition also disappears by using steroid creams.

Symptoms

The lichen planus on the skin is characterised by:

Spontaneous appearance of skin rash
Bumps which are raised, shiny as well as reddish purple in colour appear as clumps. These are known as papules.
The bumps will have a diameter of 5mm. There will be irregular white streaks known as Wickham’s striae.
The rash will be present in the elbows, ankles, wrist as well as lower back. They will be an itchy nature.
The rash developing on the shin will be of hypertrophic nature.

The lichen planus in the mouth is characterised by the presence of painless, non-itchy white streaks on the gums and cheeks. In certain cases, these develop blistering and redness to the gums as well as sore oral ulcers of a recurring nature. This is known as erosive lichen planus.

The lichen planus affecting the penis appear as white or purple coloured patches which have the shape of rings. They normally affect the glans.

The lichen planus affecting the vagina and vulva in women are of a very painless nature. They can lead to the developing of redness and pain in the skin, which does not allow sexual intercourse.

Causes

Even though the actual cause of this condition is not known, the presence of lichen planus is considered as an autoimmune condition of the body, where the healthy cells are mistaken as invaders by the body’s immune system.

But in very rare case, lichen planus develops as a reaction to the in take of drugs like analgesics or beta blockers.

Treatment

The treatment for lichen planus differs according to the area of the body where it affects.

Treatment for lichen planus affecting the hair, skin as well as nails

• Use of topical steroid ointments or creams fro relieving itchiness, redness as well as inflammation.
• Use of steroid tablets
• Use of antihistamine drugs in the night for getting relief from itching.
• Use of emollients and moisturisers
• If the spread of the disease is very much, then one can opt for undergoing Ultra-violet light treatment, known as PUVA.

Treatment for lichen planus affecting mouth

• Use of steroid lozenges
• Use of mouth washes.