close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor or dermatologist makes a diagnosis of lichen planus or another skin disorder based on the information you provide about symptoms, a careful examination of the skin abnormality and, if necessary, the results of laboratory tests. These tests may include:
- Biopsy. A punch biopsy test may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out another cause. During a punch biopsy test, the doctor uses a circular tool to remove a small section of your skin's deeper layers. A punch biopsy extends about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) deep. You'll receive a local anesthetic to numb the site and likely receive stitches to close the wound. The skin sample is examined under a microscope to identify a typical pattern of T lymphocytes consistent with a diagnosis of lichen planus. Other more specialized microscopic tests may be needed to identify profiles of immune system proteins commonly associated with the disorder.
- Hepatitis C test. A nurse or assistant may draw a small sample of blood for a lab test to deteremine if you have hepatitis C, a possible trigger for lichen planus.
- Allergy tests. Your doctor may refer you to an allergy specialist (allergist) for tests to identify agents to which you may be allergic and that may act as triggers for your condition.
References
- 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.
Find Mayo Clinic on