September 21st, 2008 by admin

Lichen Planus, a recurrent disease and pruritic, begins as a rash of small, discrete papules which are then combined to form rough and scaly plaques (plaques bulky).

About half of those affected by lichen planus also have sores in the mouth. The cause of lichen planus is unknown. A similar rash usually appears in people exposed to drugs containing gold, bismuth, arsenic, quinine, quinidine, or quinacrine and certain chemicals used in the digital photographs in color. Consequently, lichen planus may be the body’s response to a chemical or other external agent.

Symptoms
The first episode may begin suddenly or gradually and persist for weeks or months. Although lichen planus usually clears up by itself, the plates often reappear and the episodes are repeated for years. The eruptions are almost always accompanied by itching, sometimes intense. The bumps tend to be purple and have angular edges, illuminated by hand, emit a characteristic glow. Papules may form a new scratch or if there is a mild skin lesion. In some cases, the skin is dark in color with a cure after the eruption.

Usually, the lesions are distributed symmetrically (more often in the mouth on the trunk, in the inner surfaces of the wrists, on the legs, in the glans penis and vagina). The face is rarely affected. In the legs, injuries can be especially long and scaly. In other cases causes alopecia (hair) in plaques on the scalp.

Ulcers that produces lichen planus in the mouth are particularly annoying; usually are white and blue can be formed following a line. Often oral ulcers that appear before the skin lesions and while not usually cause pain, if they are deep, they can be painful. Are frequent eruption cycles followed by healing. Although this happens very rarely, ulcers of long duration can degenerate into cancer of the mouth.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis can be difficult because many diseases are similar to lichen planus. The dermatologist usually recognize by their appearance and recurrence characteristics, but it may be necessary to perform a skin biopsy (which is to take a sample and examine it under a microscope) to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment
Should avoid the use of drugs or chemicals that can cause lichen planus. For people who suffer from intense itching they may prescribe an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, or the chlorpheniramine, but can cause drowsiness. You can use corticosteroids injected directly into the lesion, applied to the skin or orally administered, sometimes along with other medications such as tretinoin. In cases where the ulcers of the mouth are very painful, it is advisable to use before meals, a mouthwash containing lidocaine to form a blanket against the pain.

Lichen Planus can disappear and then reappear after many years. May require prolonged treatment during outbreaks of the disease; between two successive outbreaks and the next does not need any treatment.