What does lichen planus look like and what are the symptoms?
Lichen planus of the skin The typical rash is small, red-purple bumps (papules). The bumps are usually shiny and flat-topped (planus means ‘flat’). They vary in size from a pinhead to about 1 cm across. The number of flat topped bumps that develop varies. The rash can appear anywhere on the body but is most likely to occur on the inner wrists, lower legs and lower back. Fine white streaks often develop on the top of each bump. These are called ‘Wickham’s striae’. Itch can range from mild to severe. A severe itch is common and is often the worst thing about lichen planus. The itch may disturb sleep and affect the quality of life. The itchiness is unusual in that affected people tend to rub the rash rather than scratch to ease the itch. Sometimes the rash develops quickly over a few days. Sometimes each bump develops gradually over several weeks. Sometimes, several bumps form in a line along a previous scar. Sometimes several bumps clump together to form a large patch. New bumps may appe
