Living with Actinic lichen planus
A rare form of lichen planus with mildly itchy, coin-shaped patches on sun-exposed skin.
Understanding Actinic lichen planus
People develop mildly itchy, coin-shaped patches on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, and backs of the hands. It is extremely rare in Caucasians but more common in dark-skinned populations. GARD lists onset as any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD's summary lists these:
- Mildly itchy skin
- Coin-shaped patches
- Patches on sun-exposed skin (face, neck, backs of hands)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include skin, hair, and nail specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Children's Skin Disease Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The exact cause of actinic lichen planus is unknown.
Also known as: actinic lp; lichen planus actinicus; lichen planus actinus; lichen planus subtropicus; lichen planus tropicus; lichenoid melanodermatitis
Patient organizations
- Children's Skin Disease FoundationSkin diseases · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Actinic lichen planus.
Explore research for Actinic lichen planus
Explore actively recruiting Actinic lichen planus studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Actinic lichen planus with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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