Lichen planus with lesions on the palms and/or soles: prevalence and clinicopathological study of 36 patients

Abstract

According to the literature, palmoplantar lesions in lichen planus (LP) are uncommon, and do not usually have the classically described clinical morphology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of palmoplantar lesions in LP and to describe the characteristic clinicopathological appearances of LP affecting palms and soles. Palmoplantar LP with accompanying skin involvement accounted for 26% of our cases. The presence of very pruriginous erythematous scaly and/or hyperkeratotic plaques, with well-defined edges, located on the internal plantar arch, without involvement of the fingertips, and which usually disappear in a few months, is characteristic of palmoplantar LP. Histopathological examination shows the characteristic features of LP.