Lichen Planus Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Lichen planus is a skin disorder characterized by the appearance of redness on the skin or lesions in the mouth. This disorder is caused by impaired immune system.
This disease often causes discomfort to the sufferer. However, lichen planus is not contagious and is not harmful. Lichen planus treatment takes several weeks.
Symptom
Areas of the skin that are often affected by lichen planus are the arms, legs, chest, back, oral cavity, nails, scalp, vagina, and penis.
On the skin, lichen planus generally takes the form of purplish-red spots measuring 3–5 mm, the skin is thickened, and itchy. In the oral cavity, signs of lichen planus are red or white patches that adhere to the walls of the oral cavity, which may be accompanied by pain or burning.
Symptoms of lichen planus in the vagina are similar to those of lichen planus on the skin, accompanied by pain or burning in the genital area, pain during sexual intercourse, or a yellow-green discharge mixed with blood.
Reason
The cause of lichen planus is not yet known with certainty, but this disease is related to disorders of the body’s immune system (immune system). Lichen planus is not an infectious disease so it is not transmitted to other people around it.
There are several conditions that often trigger lichen planus, including:
- Viral infection
- Allergic reaction
- stress
- Genetic disorders
- Autoimmune disease
- Side effects of certain drugs, eg chloroquine, methotrexate
In the early stages of determining the diagnosis of lichen planus, the doctor will perform a skin examination. If a skin disorder is suspected as a result of lichen planus, a skin biopsy is generally needed.
A biopsy is done by taking a small amount of skin tissue and examining it under a microscope to confirm lichen planus disease.
Treatment
Lichen planus treatment takes several weeks. If the skin disorders are few and don’t cause any complaints, lichen planus usually doesn’t need to be treated.
However, if the skin disorder is quite extensive, several types of treatment are used, namely:
- Retinoic acid cream
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
- Antihistamines to reduce itching and allergic reactions
- Ultraviolet light therapy
The treatment is carried out by a skin and genital specialist. In addition, to prevent lichen planus from getting worse, sufferers are advised not to scratch their skin and apply cold compresses to the reddish areas of the skin.
Prevention
Until now there is nothing that can be done to completely prevent lichen planus. However, because one of the triggers for lichen planus is stress, avoiding stress is one way to reduce the risk of developing lichen planus.