Friday, February, 10, 2012

Lichen planus

Table of Contents

Symptoms
  • Mouth lesions
    • Tender or painful (mild cases may have no discomfort)
    • Located on the sides of the tongue or the inside of the cheek
    • Sometimes located on the gums
    • Area of blue-white spots or "pimples"
    • Lines of lesions that form a lacy-looking network
    • Gradual increase in size of the affected area
    • Lesions sometimes form painful ulcers
  • Skin lesions:
    • Usually located on the inner wrist, legs, torso, or genitals
    • Itchy
    • Even on both sides (symmetrical)
    • Single lesion or clusters of lesions, often at sites of skin injury
    • Papule 2 - 4 cm in size
    • Papules clustered into a large, flat-topped lesion
    • Lesions have distinct, sharp borders
    • Possibly covered with fine white streaks or scratch marks called Wickham's striae
    • Shiny or scaly appearance
    • Dark colored -- reddish-purple (skin) or gray-white (mouth)
    • Possibility of developing blisters or ulcers

Other symptoms include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Hair loss
  • Metallic taste in the mouth
  • Ridges in the nails (nail abnormalities)

Signs and tests

The health care provider may make the diagnosis based on the appearance of the skin or mouth lesions.

A skin lesion biopsy or biopsy of a mouth lesion can confirm the diagnosis. Blood tests may be done to rule out hepatitis.


Review Date: 10/10/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)