Best Doctors for Lichen planus in Mumbai

Types/Stages of Lichen Planus

Lichen planus can manifest in various forms. These include:

• Cutaneous Lichen Planus: This form affects the skin with purple, itchy papules and plaques mainly on wrists, lower back, and ankles.

• Oral Lichen Planus: This form causes asymptomatic lesions on the inside parts of the cheeks, sides of the tongue, gums, and lips.

• Genital Lichen Planus: This affects the vulva, vagina, and male genitalia, presenting as erosive lesions, adhesions, and scars.

• Nail Lichen Planus: This form affects approximately 10% of those with lichen planus causing thinning, ridging, splitting, and destruction of nails.

Symptoms of Lichen Planus

Lichen planus symptoms vary widely depending on the location affected:

• Clusters of shiny, raised, purple-red bumps or blotches, often on the wrists, lower back, and ankles

• Thick, rough, scaly patches of skin

• Itching

• Bright red, raw, and painful skin, especially on the genitals

• White patches, dots, or lacy patterns on the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips

• Redness, swelling, and peeling of the gums

• Ridges, grooves, splitting, thinning, or temporary/permanent loss of nails

• Redness, irritation, bumps, thinning hair, patches of hair loss, and scarring

Tests to Diagnose Lichen Planus

The best doctors for lichen planus treatment at Apollo Hospitals, Mumbai, use several diagnostic tests. These include:

• Clinical Examination: A dermatologist or dentist examines the characteristic skin or oral lesions.

• Skin Biopsy: If diagnosis based on appearance is unclear, a small skin sample is taken for microscopic examination.

• Direct Immunofluorescence: This test is added when bullous lesions are present to rule out pemphigus or pemphigoid.

• Blood Tests: Though not routinely needed to diagnose lichen planus, blood tests may be used to rule out other conditions.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Lichen Planus at Apollo Hospitals, Mumbai

Doctors for generalised lichen planus at Apollo Hospitals, Mumbai, offer the following treatment options:

• Topical Corticosteroids: These medications are considered the first-line therapy for cutaneous, genital, and mucosal erosive lichen planus.

• Oral Corticosteroids: These are prescribed for severe, widespread lichen planus.

• Laser Treatment: Carbon dioxide laser evaporation can lead to long-term remission of symptoms in painful oral lichen planus.

• Phototherapy: Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy can be used for severe cutaneous lichen planus not responding to topical treatment.