National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Oral lichen planus

Not a rare disease Not a rare disease
Other Names:
Oral lichenoid lesions
Oral lichen planus is a inflammatory condition that affects the inside of the mouth.  Signs and symptoms include patches of fine white lines and dots most commonly in the inside of the cheeks, gums, and/or tongue. Most people with lichen planus experience no to few symptoms, others may have painful sores or ulcers in the mouth. Severe lichen planus slightly increases the risk for oral cancer. Oral lichen planus may occur alone or in combination with other skin forms of lichen planus.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 7/20/2011
It is important to identify and remove any potential agent that might have caused a lichenoid reaction.[4] Chemicals or medications associated with development of lichen planus include gold, antibiotics, arsenic, iodides, chloroquine, quinacrine, quinidine, antimony, phenothiazines, diuretics such as chlorothiazide, and many others.[1] Consideration regarding role of drugs that were started in recent months prior to the on set of oral lichen planus, as well as any contact allergens identified by patch testing is recommended.[4]

Symptoms may improve with the following measures:[4]

Meticulous oral hygiene
Stopping smoking
Topical steroids as drops, pastes, gels or sprays (e.g., triamcinolone paste)
Steroid injections (intralesional triamcinolone)
Mouth rinse containing the calcineurin inhibitors: cyclosporin or tacrolimus

In severe cases systemic corticosteroids may be used.[4]

Other possible therapeutic agents may include:[4]

Thalidomide
Systemic retinoids (acitretin or isotretinoin)
Griseofulvin
Azathioprine
Cyclophosphamide
Dapsone
Metronidazole
Low molecular weight heparin

Last updated: 7/20/2011

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • A dermatologist is a doctor whose training is in treating conditions that involve the skin, hair, and nails. This condition may be treated by a dermatologist. To find a dermatologist near you, you can search the American Academy of Dermatology online directory by clicking on the link above.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Oral lichen planus. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition.
  • The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) has developed an information page on this condition. Click on the link to read more.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Oral lichen planus. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Diagrams/Images

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  1. Berman K. Lichen Planus. Ocotber 2010; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000867.htm. Accessed 7/20/2011.
  2. Habif TP, ed.. Clinical Dermatology, 5th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2010;
  3. Lichen Planus. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. 2012; http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/lichen_planus.html.
  4. Oral Lichen Planus. New Zealand Dermatologic Soceity, inc.. Ocotber 2010; http://www.dermnet.org.nz/scaly/oral-lichen-planus.html. Accessed 7/20/2011.