Lichen planus, Lichenoid keratoses, Lichen, Rashes, Swell, Itchy, Flat bumps, Herpes zoster, Allergy, Purple bumps, White dots, Sores, Purple, Polygonal, Pruritic, Papules, Plaques.
What is Lichen Planus?
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the skin and mucosal surfaces. It is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder in which inflammatory cells attack an unknown protein within the skin and mucosal keratinocytes.
Root Cause of Disease
Lichen planus occurs when your immune system attacks cells of the skin or mucous membranes. It’s not clear why this abnormal immune response happens. The condition isn’t contagious.
Types:
There are several clinical types:
- Cutaneous lichen planus
- Mucosal lichen planus
- Lichen planopilaris
- Lichen planus of the nails
- Lichen planus pigmentosus
- Lichenoid drug eruption.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of lichen planus vary depending on the areas affected. Typical signs and symptoms are:
- Purplish, flat bumps, most often on the inner forearm, wrist or ankle, and sometimes the genitals
- Itching
- Blisters that break to form scabs or crusts
- Lacy white patches in the mouth or on the lips or tongue
- Painful sores in the mouth or vagina
- Hair loss
- Change in scalp color
- Nail damage or loss
Typical features include:
- Irregularly thickened epidermis
- Wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, ‘saw-tooth’ shaped rete ridges
- Civatte bodies (apoptotic keratinocytes) in the lower epidermis and upper dermis
- Liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer of the epidermis
- Band-like lymphocytic infiltrate at the dermo-epidermal junction.
- Anyone can develop lichen planus. But the condition most often affects middle-aged adults. Oral lichen planus most often affects middle-aged women.
Causes
Lichen planus can be triggered by:
- Hepatitis C infection
- Flu vaccine
- Certain pigments, chemicals and metals
- Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others)
- Certain medications for heart disease, high blood pressure or arthritis
- Reactions to metal fillings in your teeth
- An autoimmune reaction, meaning the body’s own defense system, the immune system, attacks your mouth and skin cells by mistake
- Drugs, gold, quinine, quinidine, and others can cause a lichenoid rash.
- Contact allergy, such as to metal fillings in oral lichen planus (rare) and color photographic developers
- Injury to the skin; lichen planus often appears where the skin has been scratched or after surgery (koebnerization)
Disease Prone Areas:
- Skin: Purple bumps. These bumps are firm and may itch a little or a lot; you may have just a few or many of them. Fine white lines or scales may accompany the bumps, Thick scaly patches may appear on your shins and ankles. Sometimes, bumps on your skin may appear in an area where your skin has been scratched or burned. Dark skin patches may replace skin bumps that fade. These patches usually fade away after many months.
- Mouth: Lichen planus inside your mouth looks like lacy patches of tiny white dots. These patches may occur on the inside of your cheeks or on your tongue. They may not cause any other symptoms; in severe cases, redness and sores develop.
- Nails: Lichen planus may appear on a few, or all, of your fingernails and toenails. Thinning, ridges, splitting, and nail loss are signs of the condition.
- Scalp: Redness, irritation, and tiny bumps can form on your scalp. In some cases, hair may start to thin and patches of hair loss may occur.
- Genitals: Lichen planus in your genitals can cause bright red, painful areas.
Home Remedies to treat Lichen Planus
Remedy – 1: Turmeric Paste
Materials : Turmeric
A turmeric ointment may be beneficial in changing the appearance and discomfort in oral lichen planus
Procedure:
To make the turmeric paste, you will need one dried turmeric root and chandanstone which you can buy from your local market. You can add a few drops of water to the stone and then grind the turmeric root against it until a smooth paste forms. You can keep adding some more drops of water while doing so to get the desired consistency. Once the paste is ready, you can apply it to the sores in your mouth with your fingers or even use an ear bud to reach other areas of your mouth that your finger can access.
Apply the turmeric paste to the affected areas twice a day. You will get relief from the pain after a week and the oral sores and blisters will subside after three-four weeks depending on how severe they are.
Product Link: Turmeric
Remedy – 2 : Epsom Salt bath
Materials: Epsom Salt
Used for generations to relieve sore muscles and detox the body, Epsom salt can provide relief. It is known for helping to reduce stress, eliminate toxins and reduce pain and inflammation.
Procedure
Prepare a warm bath, and add 2 cups of Epsom salt, stirring it around with your arm. Soak at least 30 minutes for best results. Also, the addition of your favorite essential oils can provide additional relief.
Product Link: Epsom Salt
Remedy – 3: Tea Tree Oil
Materials: Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil’s benefits are well known. When treating lichen planus on the scalp, my recipe for itchy scalp shampoo may provide some relief.
Product link: Tea Tree Oil
Remedy – 4: Folate
Materials: Folate
People at risk for folate deficiency include those with liver disease and people on certain medications, including diuretics and those used to treat diabetes. As mentioned above, liver disease, diuretics and diabetes medications can increase your risk of developing this disease
A treatment plan should include folate rich foods from the legume’s family including garbanzo beans, pinto beans and lentils, as well as beets, asparagus, avocados and beef liver.
Other Remedies
- Coconut oil
- Oats
- Sunshine
- Manage stress
- Vitamin A
Sunshine
The conventional treatment known as photochemotherapy light treatment is effective in this treatment, but it can cause side effects. This is a reason why you should get the Vitamin D from the sunlight along with the Vitamin D supplements. When you are getting direct and unprotected sun exposure, then it can speed up the healing process of lichen planus and it will give you a relief from the symptoms of this condition. You should make a priority while you have lichen planus to spend at least fifteen minutes each day in the direct sunlight, without using sunscreen. The optimal exposure time is in the middle of the day. Whenever is possible, you should roll up your sleeves or pant legs and expose the affected area on sun during this period of the day.
Oats
There are many natural beauty treatments which are including oats due to its property of gentle exfoliator and skin soother. These lesions and blisters transform though the course of the lichen planus, so the sloughing off the dead skin can give you a relief from the itching and improve the appearance. You should mix one part of oats with one part of raw yogurt and you should let it stay there for twenty minutes. Then, mix it in a quarter part of raw honey. You should spread it liberally over the affected areas and let it stay there for ten to fifteen minutes. You should rinse it thoroughly with warm water and pat dry it.
Coconut oil
If you suffer from oral lichen planus, then the coconut pulling two times per day can help to improve the symptoms and give you a relief from the symptoms. This process can help to detoxify your mouth by literally sucking out of the toxins. It can boost the immune system, reduce the inflammation, soothe a dry mouth and kill bad breath. When the lichen planus is present on the skin, then you can apply coconut oil to the affected areas because it can help to minimize the pain, burning sensation and itching. You should apply this natural cure several times a day, or as desired.
Manage stress
There are some studies in which are said that the stress can complicate the symptoms that are associated with lichen planus. You should do things that can ease stress, soothe your mind and your spirit. You can incorporate natural stress relievers, yoga and guided meditation in your daily routine. You will feel better when you use them. Limiting the stress in your life, can help you a lot in the managing of the symptoms of lichen planus.
Preventions
- Avoid soaps and shower gels that will exacerbate scaling
- Use& emollients regularly
- Sedating antihistamines may help troublesome nocturnal itch
