What should you know about dermnet lichen planus?

Typical lesions are often flat-topped, firm, and itchy, and may occur on the wrists, ankles, lower back, or legs. [Itchy Skin](/symptoms/itchy-skin/) and [Skin Bumps](/symptoms/skin-bumps/) have many causes, so an examination is needed rather than relying on appearance alone.

Lichen planus can also involve the mouth, nails, scalp, or genital skin. Scratching may create new areas along lines of injury and can leave darker or lighter marks after inflammation settles. A clinician may examine the skin closely and sometimes recommend a biopsy or other review.

Use gentle, fragrance-free skin care, keep nails short, and try not to scratch. Tell your clinician about mouth soreness, painful intimacy, nail changes, hair loss, or medicines started before the rash, because these details can change the assessment.

Treatment depends on the site and severity. A clinician may prescribe [Topical Corticosteroids](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-corticosteroids/) for local inflammation or discuss [Oral Corticosteroid Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/oral-corticosteroid-therapy/) and other options when wider areas or difficult sites are involved. Do not start steroid tablets without medical supervision.

Seek review for painful mouth sores, difficulty eating or swallowing, eye symptoms, genital sores, rapidly spreading blistering, or a scalp rash with hair loss. Prompt care is also sensible for lesions that bleed, become infected, or fail to improve with the prescribed plan.

Ask which body sites are involved, whether a biopsy is needed, how long to use each treatment, how to protect sensitive areas, and which symptoms should trigger an earlier review.