Symptoms of lichen planus can be divided into general and specific, while specific manifestations depend on the form of lichen.
Lichen planus looks like a collection of small papules that can alternate with plaques (compacted formations). In general, skin with lichen planus looks like a glossy sheet of crimson-cyan color paper.
Symptoms of lichen planus are very remarkable, and it is difficult to confuse them with another dermatological pathology. For example, Wickham's symptom or mesh is the blue-purple color of the rashes and the visible reticulation. To be more precise, the Wickham net appears when a drop of vegetable oil is applied to the affected area of the skin. As a result, you can notice whitish stripes and dots - a pathological increase in the stratum corneum of the epidermis in certain places, which is visible through the epithelium.
The phenomenon of depriving elements in places of greatest traumatization is called the Kabner phenomenon: belt, collar, etc.
CPL is a rather dangerous disease, because it often has a chronic undulating course with damage to internal organs and the attachment of a secondary infection. Itching with this disease is sometimes unbearable, patients begin to comb the whole body, erosive surfaces form that can suppurate. Patients with flat lichen simply cannot fall asleep from itching and discomfort on the skin.
CPL is mainly located on the flexion surfaces of the upper shoulder girdle and lower extremities. The appearance of papules and plaques in the abdomen, thighs, groin and other areas is not ruled out. It should be noted that the face and hair are almost never affected by lichen planus, only occasionally can individual plaques be found.
Specific symptoms of lichen planus can be detected with hypertrophic warty form. As the name implies, against the background of the classical clinical picture of lichen, one can detect multiple warty growths. It is impossible to ignore the fact that with the localization of this form in the hair area on the head, alopecia occurs, which can knock down the doctor with the correct diagnosis.
Pemphigoid (vesicular) and fulminant form of CPL are infrequent. They are dangerous in that the clinical picture is not characteristic of ordinary flat lichen, which means that the diagnosis is not made immediately, i.e. the flow drags on. Symptoms of lichen planus, which appear with a bubble form, are quite diverse. The clinical picture may begin with the appearance of small cavities filled with a clear liquid or blood. Bubbles can open with the formation of crusts.
Other forms of lichen are also very rare in clinical practice and require differential diagnosis with psoriasis, eczema, syphilis and other pathologies. However, the localization of lichen planus in the mucous membranes is quite common. For example, lichen planus is found in 50% of cases. Rashes on the tongue are not clearly expressed and look like a thick white coating (as with secondary syphilis), therefore, they also require additional diagnosis.
The causes of lichen planus, unfortunately, are not exactly identified. Scientists only noticed a certain pattern that lichen most often occurs after severe stress, against the background of immunodeficiency conditions, and diabetes mellitus. Also, the viral theory of CPL and genetic predisposition are not ignored. A connection is traced in generations where one of the relatives suffered from lichen planus, and also viral particles were found in pathological foci. However, none of the theories has yet been proven.