28 Jun 2023

What is Skin Lichen Planus & its Symptoms

Skin lichen planus is very common these days. It is an autoimmune disorder in which body’s immune system attacks its own skin cells.

This causes inflammatory lesions on skin which are reddish, purplish, flat, scaly, and itchy. During healing these become dark brown in color.

These lesions can happen anywhere on the skin but generally they affect wrists, ankles and genitals. Hair and nails can also become affected.

The problem is more common in middle-aged people.

Genital lichen planus is more common in females, and it affects vaginal and vulvar area.

Does Skin Lichen Planus Spreads by Touch or Contact?

Skin lichen planus never spreads by touch & contact because it is not caused by germs, bacteria, virus or fungus.

You can neither catch skin lichen planus nor give it to another person.

It is not cancer, and it is not inherited.

Causes & Risk Factors

Nobody knows the exact cause of lichen planus, but we know that it is an allergic & immune system problem.

Lichen planus is known to be triggered by exposure to dyes, chemicals, metals, flu vaccine, medicines like ibuprofen, naproxen, heart & BP medicines, arthritis medicines, malaria medicines, diuretics and so on.

I have seen in my clinical practice, which I am doing since 1997, that emotional stress increases lichen planus.

Allopathic Treatment

  1. Topical corticosteroids: These are given in the form of cream or ointment. Side effects include skin irritation, thinning of skin, wrinkles, ageing of the skin.
  2. Oral corticosteroids: These are given in the form of pills or injections. These have serious side effects like increase in appetite, weight gain, water retention, sleeplessness, mood swings, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, high BP, diabetes, cataract, glaucoma, catching infections easily.
  3. Immunosuppressant drugs: For example, azathioprine and methotrexate. These are prescribed when corticosteroids stop working. These have serious side effects like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, damage to liver & kidneys, bronchitis, fever, tiredness, dizziness, prone to infections, cancer, bone marrow damage, bleeding, hand trembling, increased hair growth and so on.
  4. Antiallergic medicines: These are given for itching. The side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, mood swings, blurred vision, dry mouth, nausea & vomiting, difficult urination.
  5. Ultraviolet therapy: Sunburn is the major side effect.
  6. Retinoids: When both corticosteroids and ultraviolet therapy fails then retinoids are prescribed. Pregnant ladies should not use retinoids because it causes birth defects in children. I think this is enough to understand the seriousness of its side effects.

What to Expect with Homeopathic Treatment?

  1. Homeopathic medicines correct the disturbance of immune system; as a result, skin lichen planus lesions start healing and itching subsides.
  2. As our medicines start working the requirement for allopathic medicines reduce. All this takes time and patient should have patience and cooperate with the doctor.
  3. Homeopathy also reduces mental stress which is known to aggravate lichen planus.
  4. According to my experience success rate of homeopathy in skin lichen planus is more than 85%.
  5. Homeopathy is safe, there are no side effects, and the results are long lasting.

Number of Medicines

There are around 46 medicines in homeopathy for skin lichen planus which are very effective.

Now which of these medicines are to be given, in how much potency, how many times in a day – this is a complicated process which only a highly qualified and experienced doctor can do.

A sensible doctor never prescribes on the name of the disease “skin lichen planus”. He takes complete history of the patient, then studies his symptoms properly.

After that he selects the medicines keeping in mind the susceptibility of the patient and decides upon the potency and repetition of medicines.

In skin lichen planus I prescribe for one month and then review the patient after that. Every month the case is studied again thereby finetuning the medicines and their potencies.

Nothing is fixed in homeopathic treatment and remedies change according to the condition of the patient. As I always say, “homeopathy is not readymade, it is tailormade” and the treatment constantly changes according to the situation of the patient.

Name of Medicines?

Friends in this blog I have not named any medicines, nor I have promoted medicines of any company; because by doing so I will be playing with your health and may harm you. A sane doctor will never do this.

Home Remedies

  1. Apply homeopathic calendula ointment on the lesions.
  2. Apply coconut oil on the skin after bathing.
  3. Keep your skin well moisturized.
  4. Avoid scratching your skin.
  5. Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.
  6. Stop smoking.
  7. Add vitamin B rich food in your diet like green vegetables, whole grains, pulses.
  8. Add vitamin A rich food in your diet like carrot, spinach, sweet potato.
  9. Start taking 2 cod liver oil capsules per day.
  10. Drink one cup of green tea a day which is a natural antioxidant.
  11. Consume omega-3 fatty acid rich food like nuts.
  12. Drink plenty of water.