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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff
Cancer risk
There is some evidence that lichen planus may increase the risk of certain cancers:
- Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer
- Oral cancer
- Penile carcinoma
- Vulvovaginal cancer
Your doctor may recommend routine screening for evidence of cancerous cells in tissues affected by lichen planus.
Vulvovaginal complications
Lichen planus lesions affecting the vulva and vagina often don't respond well to treatment and are difficult to manage. Therefore, the condition can result in significant sores or permanent changes to vulvovaginal tissues that at times may scar. Because severe itching, pain and burning sensations are common, the condition can cause painful sexual intercourse and subsequent sexual dysfunction.
- Lichen planus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch116/ch116g.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Lichen planus. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_lichen.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Lehman JS, et al. Lichen planus. International Journal of Dermatology. 2009;48:682.
- Holzberg M. Common nail disorders. Dermatologic Clinics. 2006;24:349.
- Goldstein AT, et al. Vulvar lichen planus. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2005;48:818.
- Psoriasis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Psoriasis/default.asp. Accessed April 18, 2010.
- Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/gi-osteoporosis.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
- Choonhakarn C, et al. The efficacy of aloe vera gel in the treatment of oral lichen planus: A randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology 2008;158:573.
- Rajar UD, et al. Efficacy of aloe vera gel in the treatment of vulval lichen planus. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons - Pakistan. 2008;18:612.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 31, 2010.
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