Treatment For Lichen Planus

The disease affects mostly females as compared to males and in children the disease is very rare. Further, it can be also found the disease is more prominent among middle aged people. The disease is also very common among ladies suffering from hypothyroidism. The disease mostly affects the ankle and waist area of human body. During recovery the red rashes turn into blue-black or brownish coloring of skin. It takes long time to rid of such rashes even after recovery. The disease never gets transmitted by physical contact or due to sexual intercourse; therefore, a person living with the patients get affected by disease by any means.

As discussed earlier major cause behind Lichen Planus is not known; hence, the complete cure of the disease is not present. However, in treating this disease homeopathy treatment has shown the best results although the treatment and medication is given to patients for longer period. Vira’s Homeopathy Clinic is the place where the patients suffering from Lichen Planus can get complete treatment. Our doctors assure patients for permanent cure of the disease. Therefore, before providing any medication to patients our doctors go through the complete medical history of patients and do different tests to check the intensity of the disease.

Lichen planus can be part of Grinspan’s syndrome

Presentation

The typical rash of lichen planus is well-described by the “5 P’s”: well-defined pruritic, planar, purple, polygonal papules. The commonly affected sites are near the wrist and the ankle. The rash tends to heal with prominent blue-black or brownish discoloration that persists for a long time. Besides the typical lesions, many morphological varieties of the rash may occur. The presence of cutaneous lesions is not constant and may wax and wane over time. Oral lesions tend to last far longer than cutaneous lichen planus lesions.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) may present in one of three forms.

• The reticular form is the most common presentation and manifests as white lacy streaks on the mucosa (known asWickham’s striae) or as smaller papules (small raised area). The lesions tend to be bilateral and are asymptomatic. The lacy streaks may also be seen on other parts of the mouth, including the gingiva (gums), the tongue, palate and lips.
• The bullous form presents as fluid-filled vesicles which project from the surface.
• The erosive form presents with erythematous (red) areas that are ulcerated and uncomfortable. The erosion of the thin epithelium may occur in multiple areas of the mouth, or in one area, such as the gums, where they resembledesquamative gingivitis. Wickham’s striae may also be seen near these ulcerated areas. This form may undergo malignant transformation.

The microscopic appearance of lichen planus is pathognomonic for the condition

• Hyperparakeratosis with thickening of the granular cell layer
• Development of a “saw-tooth” appearance of therete pegs
• Degeneration of thebasal cell layer
• Infiltration ofinflammatory cells into the subepithelial layer of connective tissue

Lichen planus may also affect the genital mucosa – vulvovaginal-gingival lichen planus. It can resemble other skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis andpsoriasis.

Rarely, lichen planus shows esophageal involvement, where it can present with erosive esophagitis and stricturing. It has also been hypothesized that it is a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Clinical experience suggests that Lichen planus of the skin alone is easier to treat as compared to one which is associated with oral and genital lesions.

Care of OLP is within the scope of Oral medicine speciality. Currently there is no cure for lichen planus but there are certain types of medicines used to reduce the effects of the inflammation. Lichen planus may go into a dormant state after treatment. There are also reports that lichen planus can flare up years after it is considered cured.