Lichen planus affects different areas of the skin resulting in equally different symptoms presenting. The common areas affected are: the skin, mouth, the penis, and external female sex organs. Lichen Planus is mostly likely to arise around the ankles, wrists, and base of the spine. However, in rarer cases the condition can also appear in other areas of the skin. You may have lichen planus in various areas of the body at the same time. You will recognize this medical condition by the different symptoms presented in each affected area.
Cause, Symptoms, Treatment of Lichen Planus
Lichen planus is non-infectious and is believed to arise as a result of an autoimmune disorder. The immune system begins to attack healthy tissue resulting in what appears to be an infection. As such, lichen planus is not contagious so you cannot catch it from or pass it onto other people. Symptoms in the skin include raised purple or red bumps, itching skin or scaly patches forming around the ankles. When the mouth is affected you will notice a white pattern on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks. Red and white patches may also appear in and around the mouth. Patches which are ring shaped will appear on the tip of the penis and you may also develop a rash or notice flat-topped bumps around the penis. An affected vagina will have white, red or pink patches. You will experience a burning sensation, discharge or narrowing of the vaginal passage.
As the condition is not curable, treatment concentrates on easing the symptoms and reducing inflammation in the affected areas. Kayal Dermatology can provide a combination of treatments, which will significantly reduce the effects of lichen planus. Contact us today and we can provide you with more information on the condition as well as booking an appointment to assess the severity of the condition. Dr. Kayal will put a treatment plan in place so that you can start experiencing relief from the symptoms of Lichen planus right away.
