What is cause of lichen planus?
What is cause of lichen planus?
The cause of lichen planus is usually not known, although possible causes include: Hepatitis C, a virus that attacks your liver. Certain medicines, including some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and malaria. Reactions to metal fillings in your teeth.
What does lichen planus look like on the scalp?
Lichen planus of the skin appears as small, flat-topped, red-to-purple bumps with round or irregular shape. You may have just a few small bumps or you may have many. If you take a closer look, you might see white scales or flakes on them. Some may have wispy, gray-to-white streaks called Wickham’s Striae.
What are the different types of lichen planus treatment?
Treatment of Lichen Planus Topical steroids are the first-line treatment of cutaneous lichen planus. Oral metronidazole has been shown to be effective in some patients. Oral acitretin [retinoid agent] has been shown to be effective. Other drugs under study are mycophenolate mofetil and sulfasalazine, apremilast.
Can lichen planus turn into cancer?
There have been few cases reported lichen planus turning into skin cancer of the vulva. This was seen within one year of initial diagnosis of lichen planus. However, the risk is very low when compared to the oral cavity cancers.
What kind of Doctor treats lichen planus?
A dermatologist is the most qualified physician it treating Lichen Planus due to its way of manifestation. The areas that a dermatologist is trained on are the same areas that lichen planus appear.
What are the differential diagnoses for lichen planus?
- Chronic graft-versus-host disease
- Psoriasis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Lichen simplex chronicus
- Subacute cutaneous or discoid lupus erythematosus
- Pityriasis rosea
- Secondary syphilis
- Prurigo nodularis
- paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome (PAMS)
- Oral leukoplakia