When should you worry about skin bumps if you have lichen planus?

Lichen planus can cause itchy, raised bumps that may appear on the wrists, ankles, lower back, or legs. They can have a flat top and may look reddish, purplish, or darker than nearby skin. Scratching can irritate the surface and lead to new marks. A new bump is not automatically part of lichen planus, so a clinician may need to examine it, especially when its appearance differs from your usual pattern.

Avoid scratching, harsh scrubs, fragranced products, and unapproved creams on the area. Use a gentle cleanser and a bland moisturizer, keep nails short, and note when the bump appeared. Photographing changes in the same lighting can help your appointment. Follow the treatment plan prescribed for your lichen planus rather than applying strong medicines to an undiagnosed lesion.

Arrange a dermatology review if a bump grows quickly, becomes unusually firm, forms an open sore, bleeds without being scratched, develops pus or spreading redness, or remains different from your other lesions. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, trouble breathing, fever with rapidly spreading skin redness, or severe pain. Bumps in the mouth or genital area also deserve medical review because those sites can need different care.

Ask whether the bump matches your known lichen planus, whether another condition should be considered, and whether any test is needed. You can also ask which treatment is appropriate for its location, how to reduce scratching, and what specific change should prompt an earlier review.