Lichen Planus - Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

Summary about Lichen Planus in Urdu

لچین پلانس سوزش کی بیماری ہے جو کہ جلد ،بال، ناخن اور جھلیوں پر اثر انداز ہوسکتی ہے۔ بعض لوگ اس سے بغیر علاج کے ہی ٹھیک ہو جاتے ہیں لیکن کچھ افراد کے لیے معالج سے رابطہ ضروری ہو جاتا ہے خاص طور پر اگر جلن کی علامات سامنے آنے لگیں۔ ‎یہ بیماری ظاہری طور پر یہ جلد پر ہموار ابھار کی صورت میں نمودار ہو تی ہے۔ ہیپاٹائٹس سی سے متاثرہ افراد اکثر اس بیماری کا شکار ہو جاتے ہیں۔  

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Summary about Lichen Planus in English

Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. On the skin, the lichen planus usually appears as itchy, flat-headed bumps that develop over several weeks. In the mouth, vagina, and other areas covered with a mucous membrane, lichen planus produces white and jagged areas, sometimes accompanied by painful wounds. Hepatitis C frequently leads to lichen planus. Furthermore, some specific drugs having arsenic, bismuth, or gold as their composition may also be responsible for its onset. Mostly lichen planus is relatively mild and affected individuals cured without any special treatment.

Most people can deal with mild and typical cases of lichen plan at home without medical treatment. If the illness causes severe pain or itching, you may need medications. To cure the unpleasant appearance of the rashes topical corticosteroid creams or topical calcineurin inhibitors like may be recommended.


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Symptoms of Lichen Planus

The most common symptoms are listed below:

  • Purple bumps appear usually on the forearm’s inner part, the wrist or ankle and, less frequently, the genitals
  • The appearing bumps are itchy
  • Blisters also appear which go on to form scabs
  • White patches appear in the oral cavity or the lips
  • Mouth or vagina might fill up with hurting sores
  • Hair loss
  • The scalp color might change
  • Damaged nails

Causes of Lichen Planus

Lichen planus results when an individual’s immune system starts attacking the skin cells or the mucous membranes. The reason the immune system attacks is still unknown. Furthermore, lichen planus is not contagious.

There are some triggers that medical research has found. Hepatitis C infection and flu vaccine have can trigger this reaction. Furthermore, some chemicals, pain relievers (including Advil, Motrin IB and naproxen) and certain heart medications have also ben identified.

Risk Factors of Lichen Planus

Lichen planus can affect any person regardless of their age or race. While lichen planus could affect all ages and all races, research has shown that it is more common in people with certain characteristics; middle-aged people, females and suffering from liver diseases like cirrhosis or hepatitis C can increase the risk.

Preventive Measures of Lichen Planus

No guaranteed method or measure has yet surfaced to completely avoid getting lichen planus. However, one could modestly lower vulnerability by eating a healthy diet filled with several vegetables and fruits. Quitting smoking and restricting alcohol intake has also been recommended.

Types of Lichen Planus

  • Cutaneous lichen planus. This type is the most common lichen planus type. The symptoms exist on a continuum; from no symptoms at all (which is very rare) to extreme itchiness.
  • Oral lichen planus. The primarily affected region is typically the mouth. Often the inner cheek area and tongue sides, inside the oral cavity are affected. However, oral lichen planus might also affect the gums and lips.
  • Vulval lichen planus. In this case, the lichen planus might appear on labia majora, labia minora and vaginal introitus.
  • Penile lichen planus. The head of the penis is the area that is affected by this type. White streaking could also occur, along with erosive lichen planus, this is quite uncommon.
  • Lichen planopilaris. The involved area in lichen planopilaris is the scalp. The symptoms appear the form of small follicular bumps. While blistering in the lesions is possible, it rarely occurs. Furthermore, bald patches on the scalp appear as the hair follicles are destroyed. These bald spots are permanent and only have a few, sparse hairs in them.
  • Nail lichen planus. As the name suggests, this type affects the nails and could exclude the skin. 'Twenty-nail dystrophy’ is the name that is given if every nail is affected while no other body part is. The nail plate basically becomes thin and ridged and grooved.
  • Lichen planus pigmentosus. This condition is characterized by poorly defined circular marks with a faint brown color on the torso, arms and legs, or neck and face without inflaming. This is a kind of dermal macular hyperpigmentation. 
  • Lichenoid drug eruption. Medications can sometimes cause a lichen planus-like rash. This condition is called lichenoid drug eruption and is characterized by pinkish, brownish or purplish patches typically on the trunk with none to fairly significant itchiness.