Lichen Simplex Chronicus – Pictures, Treatment, Causes and Diagnosis

What is Lichen Simplex Chronicus?

Lichen simplex Chronicus or also known as Neurodermatitis Circumscripta is a skin condition that is itchy that will eventually caused the skin to become thickened due to repeated scratching and rubbing in the affected area. This Lichen Simplex Chronicus is not a disease but a response by the skin from any physical trauma. This disease will start from anything that scratches or irritates the skin and it will cause an individual to rub the affected area that will result in constant scratches that will make the skin to be thickened and the thickened area will cause more scratching that will add up to the thickening of the skin. The thickened skin can eventually become leathery and brownish.

Lichen Simplex Chronicus Pictures

Visibly Peeling or Scaling of the Skin

Lichen Simplex Chronicus Causes

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a type of skin disorder that makes the affected area to become scaly and rashes that are itchy.
Psoriasis is one of the common skin disease that cause the skin to become reddened and irritated.
Nervousness, anxiety, depression, and other psychologic disorders that might affect the scratching habits of an individual.

Symptoms

Itching of the skin
Can be chronic that can lead in having more problems in treating the disease.
Eventually it may became concentrated in one area
It will increase especially if the person is in stress or nervous. This must be taken seriously because it can lead in more scratching that might result in formation of pus especially if the lesion is not taken care properly.
Skin lesions
It is commonly located at the wrist, ankles, neck, anal area, forearm, thighs, elbow and lower leg
There is a visible exaggerated lines in the affected area
There are visible borders in the lesions
Due to continuous scratching it will eventually become leathery in texture
The area become darkened or reddened
There is visible scratch marks
And visible peeling or scaling of the skin

Lichen Simplex Chronicus found at anogenital area

Diagnosis

Patient History

Physical features:

it is most common with women and it can affect both children and adults;
the itching feeling is usually worst at night;
there is an intense rubbing or scratching the affected area that might lead in formation of Pus;
the patient will report that scratching feels pleasurable that leads them not to stop it;
usually the patients will not report any pus formation especially during the feeling of stressed and depressed.

Medical history:

history about psychiatric disorder like anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive;
history about personal or familial history like asthma that it might lead in having Lichen Simplex Chronicus;
presence of pus in the affected area;
presence of underlying skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and dermatophyte infections that can laed in the formation of Lichen Simplex Chronicus;
possible presence of systemic condition like renal failure that can also cause in a formation of pruritis must be determined for the medical professionals will diagnosed the present disease correctly and to avoid errors.

Physical Examination

It is crucial in order to check signs of intensive itching that eventually will result in having Lichen Simplex Chronicus. It will guide the medical professionals on how extensive the scratching are and they can locate the affected area to aid them in the appropriate treatment to be given to the patient with Lichen Simplex Chronicus.

Biopsy

It is also done in patients with Lichen Simplex Chronicus to determine whether there is another underlying condition that leads in having the disease and it can aid the medical professionals to determine if the lesions that is present in the client responds to the specific treatment or therapy.

Histopathology

This consist of microscopic findings about elongated and widening of rete ridges and there is a visible irregular thickening of the affected part. There is also a chronic inflammation in the affected area of the skin.

Treatment

STOP scratching the affected area of the skin. The patient must be aware the cons of scratching, stress management and some behavior modification to avoid by making the disease worst.
Topical Medications for inflammation as well as itching. It usually treated by topical medications like creams or lotions that had a steroid content and apply it in the affected area.
Covering, protecting and moisturizing dressings is also applied to the patients with Lichen Simplex Chronicus to avoid contamination and possible infection.
Oral Medication like antihistamines and sedatives that can be used for reducing the inflammation and itching in the affected area to avoid making the condition worse.
Wearing non-irritating clothing to avoid the patient to scratch that can make the condition worse.

Complications

Bacterial Infection in the skin if the scratching leads in having an open wound and the patient don’t took care of it or the patient doesn’t protect well the affected area there is a possibility that the area will acquire infection.
Permanent change of the color of the skin due to the damage made by scratching the skin.
Permanent scar is normally due to over scratching that leaves damage in the skin that can lead in the formation of scars.