Skin is the largest organ of human body. Skin is first line of defence system of human body.

Lichen Planus is a skin disease & is marked by chronic recurrent rash which is usually flat, purplish, rough, scaly, or bumpy. They can be single bump or aggregation of small flat topped bumps which are shiny, polygonal, with thin white line running in between (Wickham's striae). These bumps could be few millimetres in diameter. Lichen Planus is considered as an inflammatory disease.

There could be associated itching which can be mild to severe in intensity.

The lesions of Lichen Planus can be very uncomfortable, painful and itchy.

Lichen Planus is a chronic skin rash disease. There is no particular cause. Lichen Planus is not a dangerous condition and can be managed well.

Lichen Planus is a multi faced disease and it presents with wide range of variants. Few of the variants are Lichen planus pemphigoides, Lichenoid keratoses, Keratosis lichenoides chronica, Lichenoid dermatitis etc.

Usually Lichen Planus resolves in 12- 18 months. But it can also present itself in severe form.

Homeopathic Treatment and lifestyle adjustments can help you reduce or manage the signs and symptoms of Lichen Planus.

• General symptoms of Lichen Planus:
  • Purplish coloured rashes/lesions/bumps
  • Itching at the site of the rash
  • Oral lesions can be painful
  • Burning sensation
  • Thin white lines over the rashes
  • Blisters at the site of rashes
  • Lichen like appearance (lichen is a plant)
• Oral Lichen Planus:
  • It involves mouth, gums, tongue, and lips.
  • Blue white spots mostly inside the cheeks, gums, and sides of tongue.
  • Spider or net like appearance of white lacy lines (Wickham's striae)
  • Painful chewing
  • Redness, ulceration or erosion of inner surface of mouth
  • Dry mouth with metallic taste and burning sensation
• Nails:
  • Ridges and grooves on nails
  • Irregular longitudinal grooving
  • Thinning of nail plate and scar forms with destroyed cuticle
  • Atrophy of nail bed
  • Red streaks on nails
  • Subungal (beneath nails) hyper pigmentation
• Scalp:
  • Inflammation of hair follicles
  • Hair loss/Bald patches
  • Scaly itchy papules on scalp
  • Tiny red shiny papules around hair follicles
• Genitalia:
  • If genitalia are involved, it may cause difficult and painful intercourse.
  • stenosis of urethra causing difficulty in urination, itching at genitalia.
  • It causes painless or painful white streaks at genitalia which can be severely embarrassing.
  • It can cause stricture at entrance of vagina making intercourse painful. Vagina can bleed easily during sexual contact.
  • In males, it can cause lesion at the tip of penis.
• Others:
  • If lichen planus involves food pipe, it may cause pain during swallowing and difficulty in swallowing.
  • If it affects eyelids, ear, anus it can cause excoriation and erosion which can be painful.

Cause of Lichen Planus is unknown. But certain conditions can trigger Lichen Planus-

• Stress - Stress can trigger Lichen Planus.
• Viral Infections - Sometimes Viral infections especially Hepatitis C can trigger Lichen Planus.
• Genetics - Lichen Planus usually run in families.
• Allergic reaction - Allergic response of body to certain chemicals, dyes, medicinal substances, dental products can cause Lichen planus.

Lichen Planus is a not a life threatening condition but definitely, if left untreated it can put negative impact on all aspects of your life causing following complications.

• Cosmetic concern: Lichen Planus can make the skin patchy, papulated, pigmented, and colour of skin changes in affected area which may persist for some time even after lesion heals completely. This can cause severe cosmetic disfigurement and may cause embarrassment especially, if on visible areas.
• Lichen Planus can make the nails look bad too. This can severely cause cosmetic disfigurement and may cause embarrassment. Hair loss, in cases of scalp Lichen Planus, may cause cosmetic concerns.
• Lichen Planus causes intense urge to itch and cause pain. This disturbs sleep and other routine activities. Disturbed sleep may cause daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of focus. This can affect work productivity and also destroy interpersonal relationships.
• Affect on routine life: Oral lichen planus affects eating. It can also affect your choice of foods. Painful sore causes difficulty in eating spicy, hard, sharp foods.
  If lichen planus involves food pipe, it may cause pain during swallowing, difficulty in swallowing.
• Recurrence: Lichen Planus may recur even after it goes away completely.
• Sexual dysfunctions: Lichen Planus can affect private parts too in both the males and females. In females, it can cause lesions at vulva; these lesions can also cause strictures at vagina. Vaginal strictures can make the sexual intercourse painful (dyspareunia). In males, it can cause lesions at penis and scrotum. Such lesions can cause sexual dysfunctions.
• Secondary Infection: Scratching and itching can cause skin to bleed which may further cause bacterial infection of skin which may spread further. Persistent scratching can cause secondary infection of skin and may result in serious infection called cellulitis which is a potential dangerous condition.
• Chances of cancer: Though Lichen Planus is not cancer but, it increases the chances of skin/ Oral / genital cancer significantly, especially, if Lichen Planus is long standing. Ulcerative Lichen Planus can sometime precede Oral Cancer. Though, no proof is available, but Lichen Planus is also thought to increase risk of Squamous cell cancer (a type of skin cancer).

Homeopathy is very proficient in managing the symptoms of Lichen Planus and has an excellent success rate in homeopathic treatment for Lichen Planus. It corrects the genetic predisposition and susceptibility towards Lichen Planus.

• Exact cause of Lichen Planus is unknown but faulty immune system is believed to be behind it. Homeopathy can correct the fault in immune system with great efficiency. Homeopathy has wide range of constitutional medicines which corrects the same. Homeopathy helps to improve immunity and restores vitality to initiate healing from within.
• Homeopathy assures long lasting relief for Lichen Planus. It controls itching so that skin patches do not aggravate further and gets healed completely.
• Itching disturbs sleep, which is effectively tackled by Homeopathy. Since, itching can hurt the skin and break it, making it bleed which can cause infection. Homeopathy makes sure that itching and pain are entirely controlled and it also prevents infection.
• Moreover, it also helps in preventing the relapse of the condition and also tackles all complications. Homeopathic treatment for Lichen Planus provides complete holistic wellbeing to the patient.
• Steroids suppress the immune system and provide fast relief. But, this relief is temporary, short lived and full of side effects. Immune suppressive drugs can disturb the normal mechanism of your body. While Homeopathic medicines are absolutely safe, side effect free and steroid free.
• Homeopathic treatment for Lichen Planus has many medicines which are anti inflammatory and powerful pain & itching controllers.
• Homeopathic treatment is completely scientific and advanced and it has excellent success records in skin diseases.
• It is also capable of managing secondary infections and preventing as well as treating other severe complication of Lichen Planus.

• Have a look at some of the homeopathic remedies used for the treatment of Lichen Planus. The treatment given by our Experts is highly specific for the individual we treat and not limited to 2 or 3 drugs. Homeopathic treatment for Lichen Planus offers a many remedies effective against Lichen Planus.

Homeopathy improves immunity & self defence mechanism of body. Also it reduces frequency and severity of Lichen Planus. Moreover there are no side effects with Homeopathy.There are 60 plus medicines for Lichen Planus.

Do’s

• Keep your nails short. Longer nails can cause severe damage to skin.
• Place clean dressing over lesions to prevent itching during night.
• Cool compress can help to alleviate pain and itching.
• Apply aloe vera to soothe itching.

DON’TS

• Avoid soap or body wash at area affected with Lichen Planus. Use clear water only.
• Avoid spicy, hot, acidic foods or drinks
• Avoid very tight clothes.

• Vitamin B rich foods are good for skin. Eat green vegetables, sesame seeds, pulses, whole grain.
• Vitamin A rich foods like yellow orange fruits, vegetables, cereals, fortified foods can help.
• Cod liver oil supplements containing Vitamin A and D are also very helpful.
• Include Omega 3 fatty acids which are good for your skin such as flaxseed, olive oil, walnuts, corn.
• Green tea is a great antioxidant, which can help in autoimmune disorder like Lichen Planus.
• Folic acid rich foods like green vegetables prevent dry skin.
• Include low skimmed yogurt in your diet.
• Eat soft and bland mouth in case of oral lichen planus.
• Turmeric, garlic, onions, basil, thyme, oregano, fenugreek helps in increasing the immunity.
• Consume adequate water to maintain good hydration.
• Avoid excess of salt, sugar, refined foods, artificial foods, preservatives.
• Avoid yeast, sour and acidic foods, vinegar, tamarind, refined flours.
• Avoid foods which can cause allergy in you. Common foods known to cause allergy are soy products, peanuts, hazel nuts, eggs.