Lichen planus - complete knowledge

1. Lichen Planus

2. What is Lichen Planus? • Lichen Planus is an obstinate skin disorder has baffled not only the patients but also the practitioners equally. The cases of Lichen Planus have been observed all over the world, irrespective of the race, skin color and culture. The medical field today finds little help for this chronic disease. Fortunately, homeopathy, the fast growing alternative medicine has a definite, promising treatment for Lichen Planus. • It is a long standing (chronic), recurring, non-allergic, non-infectious, non-contagious disease of the skin, of which the exact cause is not yet fully understood. • It can affect skin, oral mucosa, tongue, scalp, genitals and nails. However, it is less likely that it affects all the areas as stated, at the same time. It has a tendency to relapse after some months or years. Females are more frequently affected as compared to the male counterpart, however, uncommon to find it in children. Over 1.9% of the total population is affected by Lichen Planus.

3. Causes of Lichen Planus Lichen Planus is found to be an immunologically  mediated disease. The exact cause of Lichen Planus is not very clearly understood. Some triggers have been found which are clinically found to be responsible for Lichen Planus. It is one of those conditions where the exact cause remains unknown till the date.

4. Symptoms of Lichen Planus • Lichen Planus symptoms may appear on skin, nails, mouth, scalp or genitals in one or more of the following ways.  • Round, irregular, thickened, flat-topped, dark skin lesions • Pink, gray, brown or reddish eruptions, raised above skin level, with roughness and mild scaling in some cases. • Slow, gradual onset • Rough, oily look of lesions • Intense itching or no itching • New lesions of Lichen planus come up in areas where skin is scratched or injured. This is called as Koebner’s phenomenon • Bleeding may be present on scratching • Oral Lichen planus presents as white streaks on the mucosa of mouth, tongue and gums. There may be ulcers in the oral mucosa, any part of mouth. The ulceration can be mild or extensive. • Genital Lichen planus shows white streaks or ulcers on vulva, vagina, prepuce or shaft of penis.  Genital Lichen planus in both sexes can be painful. • Lichen Planus of nails may present with ridged, deformed nails • Burning in mouth while eating spicy food

5. Oral Lichen Planus Oral Lichen Planus is a chronic inflammatory, non-infectious disease that causes lesions on the buccal mucosa, tongue and/or gums. It affects approximately 1-2% of the general adult population. Although oral Lichen Planus predominantly occurs in adults older than 40 years, younger adults and children can also be affected. Lichen Planus may affect either skin or mouth or genitals or the nails; or in any combination of two or more. In a large study at Life Force, we have not come across many cases of children having oral Lichen Planus.

6. Lichen Planus of Nails • Lichen planus can affect nails in about 10 percent of the cases. Nail involvement in LP in isolation is uncommon and has always been associated with typical skin lesions. Rarely nail lichen planus may occur in the absence of skin, oral or genital lesions. • The majority of nails changes results from damage to the nail matrix, or nail root. Nail changes can occur with or without skin involvement. The nails when affected tend to become deformed. Commonly only two or three fingernails or toenails are involved. Occasionally all the nails could be affected.

7. Variants of Lichen Planus • Lichen Planus Hypertrophicus: It looks like a keloid or hypertrophied scar, often found on the ankles. • Lichen Planus Actinus: • Lichen Nitidus: Observed along with regular eruptions of LP, more on the light-exposed body parts. • Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophics: A rare condition affecting the vulva, male genitals. With tremendous itching, there is atrophy and scaring of the affected organ. • Lichen Planus Linearis: More closely aggregated eruptions, extending along the entire limb, seen in children. • Lichen Planus Annularis: Often affecting the genitals and scrotum. • Lichen Planus Follicularis (Lichen Planopilaris): Observed in the hair bearing areas such as scalp, pubic region. • Lichen Planus Atrophicus: • Bullous Lichen Planus: Bullous eruption and vesicles. • Lichen Planus Pigmentosa: As the name suggests, there is a kind of hyper-pigmentation which is grayish in color. Seen more in females in the western countries.

8. Homeopathy Treatment for Lichen Planus • Though Lichen planus appears on skin, mouth, genitals, nails or scalp; its roots are found in the immune system, which is governed by some genetic factors. It means, the treatment for Lichen planus has to be aimed by correcting or improving the immune system. If this is done, the disease would be treated or cured for a long time. If the treatment is done superficially by applying cortisone or such immunosuppressive medicine, the disease will get elevated superficially only to re-surface as soon as the effect of the medicine would be over. • Homeopathy offers research proven and highly effective treatment for Lichen Planus which has been scientifically documented. Contrary to the conventional treatment, which is governed by the use of cortisone, homeopathic treatment is amazingly curative, safe and longer lasting.  • The homeopathic treatment for Lichen Planus is based on the individual case study of the patient's disease, its cause, its spread, the area affected, the genetic tendency, mindset, etc. The treatment plans thus designed is addressed towards correcting the immune system, in turn treating Lichen Planus from within.

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