Red lichen is called a chronic disease that occurs on the skin and mucous membranes and requires adequate symptomatic treatment. The disease can appear at any age, in adults more often than in children. At the same time, rashes in the mouth are much more frequent in women after 40 years.
Causal factors
Unfortunately, red flat lichen refers to those diseases, the causes of which are thoroughly unknown. Scientists only managed to establish the attendant factors that increase the risk of the symptoms of the disease. They include:
- genetic factor;
- neurological disorders and stress;
- disturbances of immune processes;
- viral factor;
- allergic status;
- toxic substances, chemical irritants;
- mucosal trauma;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- diabetes mellitus ;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- pathology of the dentoalveolar system.
Signs of a red flat lichen
The disease is manifested by the appearance of a rash in characteristic places. These include:
- mucous membrane of the mouth, the initial section of the vagina;
- axillary cavities
- flexor surface of forearm;
- area of wrist joint;
- inner thigh and groin;
- extensor surface of lower leg.
The rash consists of small papules, a few millimeters in diameter, usually flat and having a depression in the center. Papules are sharply limited from the skin that surrounds them, and have a characteristic bright crimson-red color, sometimes with a purple hue. Foci of rashes can merge into islands, the surface of which begins to peel off with small scales. Rash accompanied by itching, often strong, as well as pain syndrome, which often causes neurosis-like conditions.
Mucous membranes, especially in the mouth, can be affected by a rash, without the appearance of rashes on the skin. The rash in the mouth is usually grayish, in the form of very small nodules, which are arranged in groups and make up patterns among themselves like a mesh or ring. They are located more often along the line of closing the teeth on the cheeks. A rash can also occur on the tongue, here it is in the form of polygonal white patches with outlined edges.
Approximately a quarter of patients also suffer nail plate damage. Longitudinal strips appear on the nails, focal plaque of the plate, its thinning and brittleness. The nail bed gets a bright red inflammatory color.
How to treat red flatuling?
Since red flat lichen is a disease that does not have a specific cause, then its treatment is usually symptomatic. The diagnosis is usually established by a dermatologist or dentist when examined. The latter in this case conducts full sanation of the oral cavity. All carious teeth require curing, if necessary, prostheses change, a diet is prescribed.
Nutrition with red planar lichens includes the rejection of products that can cause additional trauma and so inflamed mucous. Such products include:
- spicy food;
- marinades;
- smoked products;
- alcohol;
- coarse food;
- hot food.
With skin rashes, vitamin therapy is prescribed (long-term use of drugs containing vitamins A and E). Often, immunomodulators and hormone therapy are prescribed. Antihistamines and antidepressants help to remove the itch and normalize the general mental state. As a topical treatment ointments are prescribed for red flat lichen containing glucocorticosteroid homon (Hydrocortisone, Betamethasone, Solcoseryl, Prednisolone). In some cases self-healing is observed.