Lichen Planus on the skin and oral lichen planus mostly on the gums
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi all,
I have had Lichen Planus on my arms and legs for about a year, with only very infrequent itch. Just recently I have been prescribed some steroid cream for this as it flared up, and it seems to be clearing up, I have never had any kind of treatment before so please with this response . In December I developed what my dentist thinks is erosive lichen planus on my gums. This is mostly reddened areas interspeared with white areas and ulceration (as in desquamtion ) mainly in the four back quadrents of my mouth above the molars It does change appearance and nearly went a couple of weeks ago but has come back worse than ever now . My gums seems very red in places and a bit swollen...has anybody else had this? Can you advise any treatments that might help? I am waiting for an appointment with oral medicine at Wythenshawe hospital in Miss Adams clinic . This appointment is on May 2nd, I wonder if anybody might be able to tell me what to expect? Feeling very miserable about the oral lichen planus atm.
0 likes, 18 replies
Neena6 Anne2428
Posted
Hi There! I'm so sorry you're going through this. I too have Erosive Oral Lichen Planus......although on and off and thankfully at this time its OFF! It. the really red inflamed areas do you you old silver amalgam fillings?
Anne2428 Neena6
Posted
hi I do, but where it is mostly is above crowns. although I do have it where I do not have any dental work too.....
Neena6 Anne2428
Posted
So I had my old Amalgum fillings removed and ever since I removed all 9 which my dentist did one every other week because he wanted to make sure that it really was effective. I noticed that once he removed the first one which was my molar in the back, my gums in that area became hard and they weren't hurting. so he moved in and every two weeks he would change another filling. he didnt want to do all 9 at once as he said with the inflammation the trauma from the dental work and may not hold the tooth since most of my fillings were side by side. since the change I have not had an erosive episode. I do take Turmeric and Vitamin C Orally. I have not had an episode in 9 months.
Anne2428 Neena6
Posted
hi thanks for this will have a chat with my dentist....
Etha16 Anne2428
Posted
Hi Anne,
I have oral LP and LP on my leg and neck. with regards to my mouth, I was examined by a specialist dentist who has lots of experience of this in Norfolk and he advised that I have 3 monthly hygienist appointments and prescribed Durophat toothpaste to be used daily. It's really helped and my gums seem less sore, red and have stopped bleeding. The LP on my neck is subsiding and I've been able to reduce the scarring by applying cocoa butter skin therapy oil. The LP on my leg is a different matter; it's a lot more persistent and am trying various ongoing treatments for it. As this condition is autoimmune-related it's always going to be tricky to deal with totally but I am trying to help myself by improving my gut bacteria. Hope this is useful.
karen41728 Etha16
Posted
hi Etha
i have both, there are different causes for this disease, mine is linked to a virus hpv, which was found after an abnormal smear about 18 years ago for which i had colposcopy, have you had any problems with smears
Anne2428 Etha16
Posted
Hi Etha, thank you so much for replying ..yes very helpful. I will wait until I have my oral medicine appointment to see what they say , but will def check out this toothpaste . Atm I am trying to work out which foods make it worse.......chocolate , crisps and apples seem top of the list, as does anything too hot or hard ie crusty , sharp etc 😦 .
Etha16 karen41728
Posted
No. They've always come up clear.
rajkiwi Anne2428
Posted
Red chilly powders are out! You may end up with inflammed mucosa. Vineger and other salad toppings may hurt. ketchup could hurt as well. In short acids. Pepper is more tolerated I have observed. Egg plant could hurt at times, similarly bananas that are just ripe. A fully ripe banana is okay. Doctors will ask you to avoid, onions, garlics, leeks and others in the same family. A bulb of garlic lasts me a month and so I still have them.
gill42353 Anne2428
Posted
HI Anne,
i have had oral lichen planus for a few years, was very much as you described. i have found turmeric really helps. You can buy it in tablet form online from a company called Pureclinica. You can also use powdered turmeric, mix with water to a paste, boil gently for about ten minutes, allow to cool then add olive or coconut oil and freshly ground black pepper. Keep in the fridge and take twice a day, starting with a quater of a teaspoon building up to a full teaspoon. Good luck!
Anne2428 gill42353
Posted
Thank you Gill for your reply...I have heard that turmeric does help from others , think I will check out the tablets ...not sure I could drink the turmeric solution 😃
gill42353 Anne2428
Posted
i use both, the paste doesn't taste very nice but if you mix it with a little milk and knock it back like it's a shot of tequila you get used to it. There is a Facebook page called Turmeric Users Group, i joined that and it's amazing what it can do. Give it a go.
irana gill42353
Posted
Hi I also have OPLi would like to try. the temeric. pills but their is no pureclinica i found
tumeric curcumin with bioperine black pepper. do you think it wpuld work or should i look for temeric pills only...and it says 10mg dayly
txs Gill
rajkiwi Anne2428
Posted
Very Sorry to hear of your condition Anne. I think I am almost 5 years into it and still hoping for a remission. My condition was a lot worse as I have another auto immune over the same oral mucosa (If that is of any relief to you).
I did not take it very seriously initially till one day, I though my upper palate was melting away. The skin just sloughed off Brushing and maintaining hygiene is the hardest challenge you will face over the years to come. As the gums erode, the teeth will stick out with their roots exposed. Food gets stuck on the teeth, inside the teeth any where they can lodge. Even your gums get sticky. If you can swing your tongue like a frog then you are lucky to some extent. I carry a light saline solution everywhere I go. If not a sachet of salt. I also carry a brush in my car, office, and anywhere else I regularly spend time. I also use a mouth wash called Curesept. This I started in the last few months. Its non staining.
Try and avoid any erosion of the jaw bone that supports the teeth. If that happens then you will be referred to a periodontist to try and save as many of your pearly teeth for as long as you can. If you have wisdom tooth or any tooth that is lodged inside the gums then get them pulled out ASAP. The periodontist will not touch the area till the inflamation has not subsided. I travelled overseas to get the procedure done as dental surgeons in Western countries are too careful to approach the situation. Also the practical experience is a bit difficult to source.
I also has this creep upto my lips. I had to use a saline gauze to take the puss out. Also used coconut oil (which did not work out...ad it can get sticky) then used olive oil on my lips as they would stick to each other and was very painful as in sleep you involuntarily open your lips. Steroid creams thin the skin on the lips and make them fragile. Also oral cavity is prone to fungal growths with steroid application. So get a balance over time.
If your mouth has these lesions get them sorted fast, as they can heal with a scar and the ability to open your mouth will get limited. I eat a banana sideways 😃 and also resort to regular stretching of the mouth.
Different countries make different medications available. Some countries will even mix the steroid on a dental creme of sorts. its hugs your wet cheeks. For my lips I got a waxy creme, its good as well. I stopped work for a year + when the lips were bad. I am back on my feet, thanks to the brilliant team of doctors in Melbourne - Australia.
As you get over all this, your diet will improve, you will eat healthy foods, keep oral hygiene high, drink responsibly (as you need to keep oral hygiene), maybe meditate and improve breathing and you will come out a winner. Have a better life than most of your colleagues who will end up worse off as they are carefree and careless. Note: you may have a build up saliva with puss if the lesions are open. Get up and rinse with a light saline and hit the bed again.
rajkiwi Anne2428
Posted
I saw a comment on Gut Bacteria, As your diet improves, you should work yourself to a good gastrointestinal bacteria levels. Avoid red meats etc..as such if meat fibers remain in your mouth, you are going to have bacteria, you really want to stay very very far away from.