Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, oral cavity, genitalia, and nails. It is considered autoimmune in nature and has been described as a papulosquamous disorder and mucocutaneous disease. It occurs more commonly in adults between 30-60 years of age and affects women more often than men. Risk factors include certain medications and diseases like hepatitis C. Treatment involves topical or systemic steroids, immunosuppressants, or retinoids depending on the severity and location of the lesions. Lichen planus often comes and goes over years without a definitive cure.

2. By
M.D.

4. Lichen planus has been described
as an
 autoimmune disease
 a papulosquamous disorder
 a mucocutaneous disease
 an inflammatory disease

5. EPIDEMIOLOGY
 Risks :
– Drugs: Exposure to medicines, dyes, and
other chemicals such as gold, chloroquine,
quinacrine, quinide, phenothiazines, and
diuretics)
– Diseases such as HCV, GVHD
 Race: No racial predispositions
 Sex: M:F=2:3
 Age: Any ag, more in adults, 30-60 y
Epidemiology

10. Variants
6-LP of the Nails1-Classic
7-LP of the MM2-Hypertrophic
8-Erytheodermic LP3-Annular atrophic
9-Vsiculo-bullous4-Actinic
10-LP-pemphigoides5-Planopilaris

85. Oral lichen

166. Oral lesions

168. White fixed plaques

202.  Squamous cell carcinoma in
oral ulcerative lesions.
 Cicatricial alopecia in scalp LP.
 Post-inflammatory hyperpigm.
Complications of LP

207. SystemicTopical
Steroids, MTX,
Azathioprine,Hydroxych
loroquine
Topical steroids
Metronidazole,
Griseofulvin
Intralsional steroids
Acitretin, Thalidomide,
Isotretinion
Tretinoin
CelceptCyclosporine,
Dapsone, Biologics
Tacrolimus, Calcipotriol
Treatment

209. Treatment of LPP
 Avoid triggering factors
 Photo protection: every 2-4 hours
 High potency steroids, not in the inversus
 Tacrolimus ointment
 Depigmenting agents
 Chemical peels (G or TCA 30%)
 Q-Switched nd YAG

210. Treatment of LPP
 Systemic steroids: pulse therapy
 or deflazacort 45 mg/day
 Dapsone 100 mg/day
 Isotretinion

213. Course and Outcome
 No curative drug
 LP can flare up years after being cured.
 The condition often clears up within 18
months but may come and go for years.