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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
The primary signs and symptoms of oral lichen planus are the lesions affecting 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 following sites:
- Inside of the cheeks, the most common location
- Gums
- Tongue
- Inner tissues of the lips
- Throat
- Esophagus
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 alone usually don't cause discomfort, except when they appear on the tongue.
Other signs or symptoms
Other signs or symptoms may include:
- A metallic taste or a blunted taste sensation if the tongue is affected
- Dry mouth
- Difficulty swallowing if the throat or esophagus is affected
- Sensitivity to hot or spicy foods
- Bleeding and irritation with tooth brushing
Other types of lichen planus
If you have oral lichen planus, you may have lichen planus lesions affecting other parts of the body:
- Skin. Lesions usually appear as purplish, flat-topped bumps that are often itchy.
- Genitals. Lesions on external genitalia resemble those affecting the skin. Lesions affecting the mucous membrane of the vagina resemble those affecting the mouth.
- 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.
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
- Notice any change in the way your mouth looks and feels
- Have lesions or sores on your skin, genitals, scalp or nails
- Lichen planus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch116/ch116g.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Eisen D. The clinical manifestations and treatment of oral lichen planus. Dermatologic Clinics. 2003;21:79.
- Lehman JS, et al. Lichen planus. International Journal of Dermatology. 2009;48:682.
- Farhi D, et al. Pathophysiology, etiologic factors, and clinical management of oral lichen planus. Part I: Facts and controversies. Clinics in Dermatology. 2010;28:100.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 31, 2010.
- Psoriasis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Psoriasis/default.asp. Accessed April 18, 2010.
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