10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lichen Planus

4. Symptoms

Symptoms present themselves primarily as raised, purple to red colored bumps on the skin. They appear shiny and flat on the surface of the bump. These papules are small, measuring about three to five millimeters around. Sometimes white lines appear on them. The condition can also appear as scaly patches, known as hypertrophic lichen planus, typically around the ankles. Patches can be thick and scaly, or there may be ring-like marks. Itchy skin is also a common symptom.

3. Chemical Exposure

Other drugs and chemicals are believed to be related to an outbreak of lichen planus on the skin. Drugs with the ingredients arsenic or bismuth are known to result in similar-looking rashes. The legs can be affected by the hypertrophic form of the condition following extensive use of quinacrine or quinidine. Such drugs treat abnormal heart rhythms, like heart flutters. Some findings have discovered the use of photo development chemicals produce a rash like lichen planus.