Is the skin disease Lichen Planus related in any way to lupus?
A. Lichen planus is usually a separate skin disease from lupus erythematosus. However, there are patients who have an overlap between cutaneous lupus and lichen planus, meaning that they have both types of skin lesions. Since skin lupus and lichen planus frequently look very different clinically and under the microscope, it is possible to tell the difference between them, even in the same person. Both diseases are caused by inflammatory cells that home to the skin, often forming a “band-like” infiltrate between the first and second layer of skin. There are some differences in the type of cells in the skin between the two conditions. Q. Is treatment with lasers, collagen, restalyne, Botox or Thermage okay for people with either cutaneous or systemic lupus? What about microdermabrasion chemical peels and sclerotherapy for spider veins? A. With the recent attention on plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures, more people — including those with lupus — are questioning the safety of
