Lichen planus

Lichen planus — a chronic disease, affecting the skin, mucous membranes, rarely nails. More common in adults.

Risk Factors:

• age 40-60 years (mostly women)
• genetic predisposition,
• trauma-,
• Diseases gastrointestinal tract
• diabetes,
• injury of the mucous membranes of the mouth

Accurate cause occurrence of lichen planus is unknown. On the development of the disease can affect:

• disorders of the nervous system
• impaired immunity,
• allergic reactions
• the presence of foci of chronic infection in the body: tonsillitis, dental caries, sinusitis, etc.

What's going on?

Most often, a rash appears on the flexor surface of the forearms, inner thighs, the front surface of the tibia, as well as in the groin and armpits. This small nodules with a shiny surface, sharply demarcated from the surrounding skin. Color rash dark-red, cyanotic, and sometimes brownish. At the heart of the individual nodules have pupkoobraznym impression. The nodules may coalesce to form plaques on which you can see a kind of mesh pattern is clearly noticeable after lubrication oil.

Symptoms:

• Expressed itch.
• Defeat the mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals occurs in nearly half of patients. It can be a single or may be combined with skin lesions. The isolated defeat the mucous membranes of the mouth is often associated with the presence of metallic dental crowns, especially from different metals. At the oral mucous whitish nodules are often grouped and arranged linearly in the closing of the teeth.
• Nail infections observed in10-15% Of patients and is characterized by thinning, brittle, clouding of the nail plate, forming on the surface of the longitudinal grooves.

First rashes kept for several weeks or months, and recurrences occur for many years.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of lichen planus is set dermatologist at the examination. If rash on the mucous membranes of the mouth to the dermatologist is usually the patient directs the dentist.

Due to the fact that disease can last for years, often exacerbated and hard cured, need constant supervision of a dermatologist and a thorough examination of the patient to identify his visceral. Therefore, a dermatologist may prescribe additional tests with other specialists (gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, neurologist, dentist, etc.)

The disease usually resolves itself, but in a few years it may be again.

If there is a suspicion that the disease is caused by some a drug or chemical substance, its use should be discontinued. Careful examination of patients to identify their internal diseases. The first thing to explore gastrointestinal tract, glycemic control, neuropsychological state.

In the absence of the treatment of symptoms is not required. To reduce itching use antiallergics. Also, the doctor may prescribe vitamins, sedatives, physiotherapy. Patients with reduced immunity and complications can be treated with antibiotics.

Prevention of exacerbations is the treatment of chronic foci of infection (sinusitis, tonsillitis, dental caries, etc.), the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders of the nervous system fatigue and stress.