Oral lichen planus
DEFINITION
Oral lichen planus (LIE-kun PLAY-nus) is an ongoing (chronic) inflammatory condition that affects mucous membranes inside your mouth. Oral lichen planus may appear as white, lacy patches; red, swollen tissues; or open sores. These lesions may cause burning, pain or other discomfort.
Oral lichen planus can’t be passed from one person to another. The disorder occurs when the immune system mounts an attack against cells of the oral mucous membranes for unknown reasons (autoimmune disorder).
Symptoms can usually be managed, but people who have oral lichen planus need regular monitoring because they may be at risk of developing mouth cancer in the affected areas.
CAUSES
The cause of oral lichen planus is unknown. T lymphocytes — certain white blood cells involved in inflammation — are normally active at the site of disease or injury and cause the lesions. Doctors and researchers don’t know what prompts T lymphocytes to be activated in oral lichen planus. However, in some people, certain factors, such as those below, may trigger an inflammatory disorder:
- Hepatitis C infection and other types of liver disease
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Allergy-causing agents (allergens), such as foods, dental materials or other substances
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others)
- Certain medications for heart disease, high blood pressure or arthritis
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of oral lichen planus affect the mucous membranes of the mouth.
Appearance
The lesions may appear as:
- Lacy, white, raised patches of tissues
- Red, swollen, tender patches of tissues
- Open sores
Location
These lesions may appear on the:
- Inside of the cheeks, the most common location
- Gums
- Tongue
- Inner tissues of the lips
- Palate
Pain or discomfort
The red, inflamed lesions and open sores of oral lichen planus can cause a burning sensation or pain. The white, lacy patches may not cause discomfort when they appear on the inside of the cheeks but may be painful when they involve the tongue.
Other signs or symptoms
Other signs or symptoms may include:
- Change in taste or a blunted taste sensation if the tongue is affected
- Sensitivity to hot or spicy foods
- Bleeding and irritation with tooth brushing
- Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis)
Other types of lichen planus
If you have oral lichen planus, you may have lichen planus lesions affecting other parts of your body.
Skin. Lesions usually appear as purplish, flat-topped bumps that are often itchy.
Genitals. Lesions on the female genitalia often cause pain or burning and discomfort with intercourse. The lesions are usually red and eroded and occasionally appear as white areas. This can lead to scarring and loss of normal vaginal function and an inability to have intercourse.
Ears. Lichen planus of the ears can lead to hearing loss.
Scalp. When skin lesions appear on the scalp — a rare condition — they may cause temporary or permanent hair loss.
Nails. Lichen planus of the toenails or fingernails, also rare, may result in ridges on the nails, thinning or splitting of nails, and temporary or permanent nail loss.
Eyes. Rarely, lichen planus may involve the mucous membrane surfaces of the eyes, and can cause a loss of tear duct function and scarring of the eyelids.
Esophagus. Lichen planus of the esophagus also is rare, but when it occurs, it may result in a narrowing of the esophagus or the formation of tightened, ring-like bands in the esophagus that can make swallowing difficult.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor or dentist if you:
- Notice sores inside your mouth that don’t heal
- Have white or red patches in your mouth
- Have mouth pain
- Have repeated bleeding in your mouth when brushing or flossing
- Notice any change in the way your mouth looks and feels
- Have lesions or sores on your skin, genitals, scalp or nails
- Develop unexplained scarring of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that covers the white part of your eyeball
- Develop ear canal inflammation (otitis) that does not respond to treatment or does not have an apparent diagnosis or cause
