Lichen Planus
About Lichen Planus
What is it?
Lichen planus is a common skin condition that can affect one or multiple areas of the body. It may appear on the skin, inside the mouth, or in both places at once. In some cases, it also affects the scalp, genitals, or even the appearance of fingernails and toenails.
While its symptoms can vary, lichen planus is not contagious—you can’t catch it from someone else or pass it on. It’s also important to know that lichen planus is not a form of cancer.
What causes it?
Common treatments
A dermatologist often can tell whether you have lichen planus by looking at your skin, nails, and mouth. To make sure that you have this condition, your dermatologist may do a skin biopsy. There are many different ways to treat this, and your doctor will walk you through what these are, based on your diagnosis. Options can be as simple as taking an antihistamine, a topical ointment, or prednisone in pill form. All treatments depend on your diagnosis, so schedule an appointment today if you are concerned that you have lichen planus. Your skin deserves the best—Skin and Cancer Associates is ready to help.
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