Does lichen planus affect your nails?

Lichen planus is a benign, chronic, mucocutaneous disorder that affects the skin, mucosae, and nails. The occurrence of nail lichen planus has been reported to be about 10% to 15%. 1,2 Nail lichen planus is more common in adults than in children, and it mostly affects the fingernails rather than the toenails.

What causes lichen planus in fingernails?

Different clinical appearances such as Yellow nail syndrome and Lichen planus or lichenoid reactions can originate from close or identical etiologies. They may result from dental restorative materials or metal allergy.

What does lichen planus on nails look like?

Nail lichen planus is manifested with nail plate thinning, longitudinal ridging, distal nail plate splitting, onycholysis, onychorrhexis, subungual hyperkeratosis, lunular erythematous patches, and pterygium.

Can lichen sclerosus affect the nails?

Nail involvement with LS is rare. In contrast, lichen planus (LP) commonly affects extragenital skin. Mucosal lesions occur in 50% of cases, affecting the mouth and genitalia. Nail disease in LP is common, and, if severe, can lead to destruction of the nail bed.

Can lichen planus cause nail pitting?

Signs of Nail Lichen Planus: Pitting, Nail thinning, The nail becomes fragile and there may be a loss of nails.

Is lichen planus serious?

Lichen planus is not a dangerous disease, and it usually goes away on its own.

Is lichen planus an immune deficiency?

Lichen planus (LP) is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in patients with a genetic predisposition but may be caused by drugs or be associated with disorders such as hepatitis C. LP is characterized by recurrent, pruritic papules that are polygonal, flat-topped, and violaceous and can coalesce into plaques.

Is lichen planus a virus?

General Discussion. Lichen planus (LP) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory autoimmune skin and mucous membrane disease. LP most commonly presents as itchy, shiny, reddish-purple spots (lesions) on the skin (cutaneous LP) or as white-gray lesions in the mouth or on the lips (oral LP).