Lichen Planus

jenniewb

I just wondered if anyone here has been diagnosed with Lichen Planus?

Its been described as an "auto-immune skin disorder" on web searches which I read as my skin attacking itself. There are no known causes and no ways to stop it, your supposed to let it run its cause and its supposed to burn out in anything from 6-18 months (and sometimes longer). It mainly affects people who are 35-50 (I am 28...)

I have and its driving me mad! Its an intensely itchy rash- I don't sleep for more then 2 hours at a time as it wakes me up. I have been to the doctor who has prescribed me some pills to reduct the itching- worked for 3 weeks but I found I had to take more and more to get any sort of a result to the point where I now take too many so have been prescribed something else.

I also have a serried cream which again used to work but does not work for more then an hour if I am lucky. In the mean time the rash is spreading and quite rapidly. On my last visit I am now taking a stronger anti histamine pill and aqueous cream alongside the steroid cream (somehow all that doesn't feel strong enough)

I have seen my doctor now several times over the past month about this and though she diagnosed this very quickly, theres not much she can do. I am trying everything but nothing is really working. I am at a loss as to what to do next. I get the feeling I am irritating my doctor now and the surgery works in quite a tight knit group, I know I'd get a similar story if I saw a different doctor there. I just want to sleep at night for more then 3 or 4 hours! Its driving me mad!!

Has anyone had this skin thing? and are there any better options?

tirednewdad

See a dentist as they know all about this disease, which is more common than you think.

jenniewb

tirednewdad wrote: »

See a dentist as they know all about this disease, which is more common than you think.

Thanks- the rash is on my ankles and waist- will the dentist still have ideas on how to help? (am due to see the dentist monday)

Toothsmith

Lichen Planus is a mouth problem as well, I initially was going to say 'see your dentist' as wee see a lot of it in the mouth, and I didn't see that yours wasn't in your mouth.

If it's elswhere on your body, I would stick with the doc though.

jenniewb

Toothsmith wrote: »

Lichen Planus is a mouth problem as well, I initially was going to say 'see your dentist' as wee see a lot of it in the mouth, and I didn't see that yours wasn't in your mouth.

If it's elswhere on your body, I would stick with the doc though.

Ah well I'll mention it anyway- see if she has any other ideas- this thing is driving me so mad I am getting desperate- nothing the GP has precribed has worked for more then a week and I am getting the feeling she is getting fed up of seeing me! I called NHS direct and it was kind of clear they didn't know what it was (mis-pronouciation and asking alot of obvious questions) they said I should see a dertmatologist, to be brief, I don't think my GP will do that.

mazza111

Jennie I think the best thing you can do is be referred to a dermatologist for this. They are more up to speed on the creams that work better on the symptoms.

Haven't had it, thankfully, but my mother has suffered from it, and she has suffered badly with it

jenniewb

mazza111 wrote: »

Jennie I think the best thing you can do is be referred to a dermatologist for this. They are more up to speed on the creams that work better on the symptoms.

Haven't had it, thankfully, but my mother has suffered from it, and she has suffered badly with it

Do you know if a self referal is possible? I don't think my doctor would do this and its just spread so rapidly. I'm trying not to be but I am scared as to where its going to end up next.- And does anyone know how to make a self referal?

Hope your mum gets well soon!

Toothsmith

I think it would be best to follow the proper protocols and ask your G.P. for a referral. I can't think why he would refuse.

It's not an easy thing to treat, and it is very variable in it's severity (Similar to other conditions like excema or psoriasis) It's not unreasonable to ask a specialist for a proper diagnosis.

It could well be a case of trying different things, maybe avoiding certain things in your diet, certain toiletries. There will be no dfinative 'cure' for you - just management.

lolly5648

I have suffered with this for over 30 years. I get it mainly on my inner thighs, wrists and under my arms. It is very unsightly and each time I have had it it takes about five years for it to fade. Then a couple of years later I get another load of them. I do a lot of swimming and people are always asking if it is catching.

I was referred to a dermatologist who took a biopsy and he said all they can do is give me a prescription for a corticosteroid cream which did stop the itching. If the one you have been given doesn't work then ask for a different or stronger one. I also took antihistamines.

I think you should go back to your doctor and say you are exhausted and depressed because of lack of sleep and the itching and would she please refer you to a dermatologist. (If you think she is getting fed up with you she will probably be delighted to refer you on)

Good luck

mazza111

jenniewb wrote: »

Do you know if a self referal is possible? I don't think my doctor would do this and its just spread so rapidly. I'm trying not to be but I am scared as to where its going to end up next.- And does anyone know how to make a self referal?

Hope your mum gets well soon!

Mum has suffered for years with it, gets a few weeks break then it flares up again. Now her creams control the symptoms but I believe you would need to ask your GP for a referral. Explain to the GP how the symptoms are affecting your day to day life and I'm pretty sure that he will refer you.

jenniewb

Thanks- will try again with the GP. I just don't hold out much hope as I have now seen her 4 times in the same month about this (it begain at the end of Jan but I didn't seek treatment until I got a separate 2 other rashes to give me a real reason to go). I'd have thought now seeing as I go back, its gotten worse, I need something else or I am showing signs of it stressing me out (as lack of sleep would) that she'd already have refered me. Instead today I felt as if I were irritating her which makes me not want to go back at all.

I did see a pharmasist today who said a few names of even 'harder' steroid type creams to ask my GP about. I already take a strong antihistamine which I have just started (we're not allowed to name medicines here are we?) after the last one was not working after 2 weeks of taking it and a strong steroid cream. I have to say the new antihistamine isn't all that great so far but maybe it needs to get into my system for a few days or something? (I really hope I can hold out that long!)
The pharmasist said I should ask for a referal. I guess I'll give it another week, if its not under control or is spreading or I am still unable to sleep with the itching I will see if I can refer myself.

I have read up on it, its an autoimmune skin disorder. It means your immune system is attacking the skin. A way to treat it is to reduce the immune system so the thing can heal- but (and here lies the other problem) I now have warts and I know well in order to get rid of warts you have to improve your immune system. The current method seems to be to use an antihistamine to stop the itching and a steriod which attempts to reduce the immune system so prevent the rate at which it attacks the skin and apply it in whatever area you apply the cream rather then if you were to do something to reduce the entire immune system as some internet searches have suggested. Some wild ideas out there on Google...