Coping with… LICHEN PLANUS
Lichen planus (LP) can affect many areas – the skin, mouth, genital areas and, more rarely, the tear ducts, nails, scalp, anus, or oesophagus. It’s unclear why this abnormal immune response happens, it isn’t contagious and most often affects middle-aged women
While it can settle without treatment, it can last for years. LP can be triggered by hepatitis C infection, flu vaccine, chemicals and metals. It can also be caused by analgesics, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, or some heart disease, blood pressure or arthritis medications.
On the skin, LP shows up as shiny flat-topped, very itchy purplish
