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Liquen plano

  • Overview
  • Theory
  • Diagnosis
  • Management
  • Follow up
  • Resources
Last reviewed: 13 Sep 2025
Last updated: 20 Dec 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • prurito
  • placas o pápulas violáceas de aspecto plano en la parte superior
  • estrías de Wickham
  • erosiones mucosales y red blanca en encaje
  • alopecia cicatricial
  • afectación de las uñas
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • pterigión dorsal
  • antecedentes de hepatitis C (VHC)
Full details

Risk factors

  • hepatitis C (en algunas poblaciones de pacientes)
  • polimorfismo -308 G/A en el gen de factor de necrosis tumoral (TNF) alfa
  • vacunación contra la hepatitis B
  • vacunación contra la gripe
  • vacunación contra la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
  • estrés psicosocial
  • alérgenos orales
  • uso de determinados fármacos
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • diagnóstico clínico
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • histopatología
  • cribado de hepatitis C (VHC)
  • inmunofluorescencia
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

enfermedad cutánea

enfermedad en el cuero cabelludo

enfermedad de la cavidad oral

enfermedad genital

enfermedad ungueal

Contributors

Authors

Deepani Munidasa, MBBS, MD

Consultant Dermatologist

Department of Dermatology

Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka

Disclosures

DM declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Deepani Munidasa would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Susan Cooper, Dr Rebecca Dunn, Dr Julia S. Lehman, Dr Megha M. Tollefson, and Dr Lawrence E. Gibson, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

SC is chair of the British Society for the Study of Vulval Disease and receives royalties for contributions to UpToDate. RD, JSL, MMT, and LEG declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Brian Swick, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor

University of Iowa College of Medicine

Iowa City

IA

Disclosures

BS declares that he has no competing interests.

David Cassarino, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

University of California

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

DC declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice bulletin no. 224: diagnosis and management of vulvar skin disorders. Jul 2020 [internet publication].Full text  Abstract

Edwards SK, Bates CM, Lewis F, et al. 2014 UK national guideline on the management of vulval conditions. Int J STD AIDS. 2015 Aug;26(9):611-24. Abstract

Ioannides D, Vakirlis E, Kemeny L, et al. European S1 guidelines on the management of lichen planus: a cooperation of the European Dermatology Forum with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Jul;34(7):1403-14.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Liquen plano images

  • Differentials

    • Liquen simple crónico
    • Psoriasis
    • Liquen plano pénfigo
    More Differentials

  • Guidelines

    • 2021 European guideline for the management of vulval conditions
    • British Association of Dermatologists and British Photodermatology Group guidelines for narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy
    More Guidelines
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