What is a lichen planus? Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease, this disease can affect all parts of the body of both the skin and mucous membranes (oral cavity). Until now cause of lichen planus is not known exactly.
Because the cause of lichen planus is not known, then the lichen planus treatment has been no satisfactory. Currently treatment is no truly effective in treating lichen planus, a lot of cases after lichen planus treatment and then relapsed again. The most important in monitoring the condition of this disease is to monitor whether there is progression or enlargement, especially the changes in shape and size. Lichen planus is often transformed into a more serious disease and usually need a biopsy.
What does lichen planus look like?
The look of lichen planus is based upon whether skin as well as lining (mucous membranes) on the mouth or maybe other of body parts suffer:

• Skin involvement: The common skin involvement due to lichen planus contains flat topped lilac as well as violet areas some millimeters in diameter onto the skin. All these spots are usually found around the lower legs just above the ankles, the lower part of the back, inner wrists, as well as forearms. A different for this condition is known as hypertrophic lichen planus. This disease looks like reddish-brown, thick lesions which can be included with scales. All these spots are usually around the shins, they also can happen anyplace on the body. It becomes an especially itchy as well as persistent (chronic) different for lichen planus.

• Mucous membranes: Lichen planus on the mucous membranes may happen. Dentists usually found it as white, lacy rash inside the cheeks for those who don’t realize the disease. About 50 % of those affected due to lichen planus get the rash on the inside of their own mouths (oral mucosa). All the oral rash usually happens before every skin involvement.

Other annoying, even though not often, is erosive lichen planus, which are often quite sore as well as uncomfortable. This erosive type commonly factors the sufferer to complain of the shallow frequently quite painful, recurrent ulcers inside the mouth.

In some cases, lichen planus results in pits or grooves on the nails too.