Home / Common Concerns / Lichen Planus

Lichen Planus

Follicular Lichen Planus (aka Lichen Planopilaris) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the scalp.

Lichen Planopilaris may cause permanent hair loss and scarring due to primary Cicatricial Alopecia.

The distinct feature of this disease is hair loss in patches that occur in many different patterns and may cause itching and burning.

Lichen Planopilaris

When Lichen Planus affects the scalp and causes bald patches, it is called Lichen Planopilaris.

It damages the hair follicles by causing inflammation and leading to hair loss and scarring. The hair follicles are often observed to be reddish and scaly due to inflammation. Individuals sometimes experience pain and itching and yet in others there will be no physical symptoms at all.

Lichen Planopilaris is generally said to have three subtypes: Classic Lichen Planopilaris, Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, and Graham Little Syndrome.

Classic Lichen planopilaris presents a patch on the scalp whereas Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia presents as a receding frontal hairline and scarring at the frontal scalp, at times eyebrows are affected too.

Graham Little Syndrome represents Cicatricial Alopecia on the scalp causing permanent hair loss, and non-scarring alopecia on other regions of the body.

The cause of the disease is not clearly understood but the primary mechanism remains the same, where the hair follicle gets inflamed causing hair loss due to scarring of follicle.

What can you do about Lichen Planus?

Unfortunately there is no specific cure for Lichen Planopilaris, but there are treatments that help to relieve the symptoms to an extent and slow down the progression of the disease.

Spotting the disease early provides better scope of treatment because any hair loss due to scarring alopecia cannot be revived and is permanent.

When the disease has reached its burnt-out stage, non-surgical hair transplantation can be considered. Scope of recovery is very little and relapse is a common occurrence.