Lichen Planus - Dental Health Message Board

claujuh · 04-04-2002, 07:51 AM

does anyone else have lichen planus in their mouths? it is just one of the several autoimmune disease i have. i am interested in hearing how it manifests itself for other people. thanks.

Debbie46 · 04-04-2002, 12:30 PM

Hi there, Claujah. I have lichen planus. I first got it back in 1978...I suffered with it for a few years, then it finally got better. I had it on my legs, back, stomach, palms of my hands, feet. I might have had it in my mouth back then; but I'm not sure. Once it got better, I never had a problem with it (but I always retained a little bit of it, but it never bothered me). The past few months I have gotten it back again. I had several white areas of it in my mouth....its on my chest, stomach, back, legs. I have to be careful about scratching my itches now...I'm liable to break open a lesion, and it'll bleed. When I first developed it, I was in the US Army. I was prescribed every cream you can imagine...nothing worked. Since my reaccurance this time, I haven't sought medical treatment....the lesions in my mouth seem to be better...I don't feel them with my tongue so much now. How are you treating your Lichen Planus? I've been worried about the lesions in my mouth, but am not sure what would help...has some treatment worked for you? I'd appreciate knowing what might help...good luck to you...Debbie
P.S. One thing that seems to help, is to try and never scratch the lesions. If you can do this, they over-all won't itch so bad.

claujuh · 04-05-2002, 07:14 AM

hmmmm.....first, thanks for your reply. my lichen planus is only in my mouth, specifically it affects the gums around the eye teeth and back a few....i will notice the white patchy stuff on the roof of my mouth and then, within a couple of days, the gums in these areas are red and incredibly sensitive, and they bleed when i floss. i've been to an oral surgeon, periodontist, the whole nine yards, and it's not gingivitis or periodontal disease or any of that....and it is one big pain in my a--! well, not literally ofcourse, as it is only in my mouth! the peridex mouthwash is a nightmare, prescribed by my dentist...it destroys my sense of taste completely. so i just use peroxyl mouthwash every now and then, and sometimes a very weak listerine/water combination, to knock off the bacteria. this is a most hateful condition!

Michelesss · 04-05-2002, 03:06 PM

Hi, I have lichen planus in my mouth and on my legs. The insides of both cheeks and under my tongue are covered. It is very painful and I can not eat anything spicy or I will almost be in tears from the pain. My doctor prescribed something called Kenalog/Orabse for my mouth. It is very thick and gritty and you just put it on at night. I think it helps but to be honest, I only used it a couple of times because I thought it made my teeth very sensitive, maybe it was just me. I also heard a dermatologist on tv talking about something called Olus foam for the mouth. I do know that you have a risk of getting mouth cancer if you don't take care of the lichen planus.
The lesions on my legs itch terribly. The strange thing is right after I got this, I got all kinds of joint and muscle pain too. I have been tested for just about every autoimmune disease there is but they haven't come up with anything else.

Debbie46 · 04-05-2002, 04:56 PM

Hi...this Lichen Planus is such an odd disease. The lesions in my mouth are getting smaller. The first time I came down with it, I was in torment, the lesions itched so much. At the time I was in the Army. I remember the terrible itching on my feet (when I was at work, with boots on!). The Army must have sent me to every dermatologist in the area...I had a drawer full of creams...nothing really helped. This time I have lesions over all lot of my body, and in my mouth; but they don't really bother me. I'll scratch at them sometimes, without thinking. But I don't have the terrible itching I once had. They itch, but I can control scratching them. But this time I'm getting it in my mouth; so its kind of scary. Its awful when its bad. I hope mine stays controllable. I hope both of you get better soon. It can go away (mine did, for years and years). Try not to over stress. I think maybe stress can bring it on. I went through a stressful time, then I suddenly find I've got this Lichen Planus problem back again. So stay calm as possible...good luck to you both...Debbie