What Is Lichen Planus?

By james

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Our skin is very important for us for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is our first barrier of defense against disease. The appearance of our skin can be almost as important as functionality for some people, especially considering it is clearly visible. This means we tend to prefer clean and clear skin, but this is not always easy to achieve.

Some people develop medical conditions that cause clear rashes and other blemishes on the skin. One example of such a condition is lichen planus, which can be very uncomfortable as well as unsightly. It is not usually serious, but it will be in a small percentage of cases.

1. Lichen Planus

Lichen planus is a condition that affects the patient’s skin, mucous membranes, nails, and hair. It can cause irritation and swelling, and it can cause bumps to form on the skin. The bumps will tend to be purple in color and flat, and they will develop over the course of a few weeks. The bumps are also likely to be itchy.

While the condition will often appear on the skin it will also sometimes appear on mucous membranes such as the vagina, and in the mouth. The condition will usually not be serious even if it is uncomfortable, but it can become serious if it is left untreated.