Lichen Planus is a skin condition that causes reddish-purple, flat-topped scaly bumps on the arms and legs. Sometimes the bumps have tiny white lines through them. Lichen Planus can appear on the skin and/or inside the mouth. It can also appear on the genitals or on the scalp, and even change the way the fingernails or toenails look.
The most common places for these bumps to appear are the wrists, lower back and ankles, but they can appear anywhere on the skin, including the genitals. On the legs, the bumps tend to be darker. As older bumps clear, new bumps may appear.
How do you know if you have lichen planus? When lichen planus develops on the skin, you can experience:
- Thick patches of rough, scaly skin – if bumps continue to appear in the same place, thick patches of rough, scaly skin can form; these patches develop with time and are most common on the shins and around the ankles
- Itch – sometimes the bumps and patches itch; thick patches are most likely to itch
- Blisters – these are rare
- Pain, especially on the genitals; the skin can be bright red and raw, and open sores can appear, making sex painful or impossible
