Pink Lichen (Gibert) In Humans - Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Symptoms and treatment of pink lichen in humans

Zhibera pink lichen in humans is a dermatological disease that has an acute onset and is characterized by the appearance of skin rashes. The rash appears as pink spots that originate from the maternal plaque. You can find such a name for pink lichen, as peeling roseola, pityriasis.

The disease is most often diagnosed in people at a young age from 10 to 40 years. Pink lichen is not typical for the elderly or for children under 10 years of age. The peak of the sick falls in autumn and spring, which is explained by the increase in the number of patients with colds, against the background of which Zhiber's lichen often occurs. There is evidence that this skin pathology is more common in women than in men. Among the total number of skin diseases, lichen pink accounts for up to 4% of cases.

A person who has once been ill with pink lichen should normally develop immunity, however, this does not always happen. Sometimes cases of repeated exacerbation of the disease are recorded, which occurs with a pronounced decrease in the body's defenses.

The overwhelming majority of medical sources indicate that lichen rosacea does not require any kind of therapy. From the moment of manifestation of the disease to the complete recovery of a person, it should take from 2 weeks to 1 month. During this time, the body will independently cope with the disease, and a relapse should not occur. Nevertheless, cases are recorded when lichen affects an impressive part of a person's skin and gives him not only psychological, but also physical discomfort. In the most severe cases, lichen can haunt the patient for six months. With a similar clinical picture, it is possible to prescribe various drugs designed to alleviate the patient's condition.

Although lichen pink is not transmitted from person to person, it is classified as an infectious-allergic disease, to be more precise, in the group of infectious erythema. This is due to the fact that this type of lichen occurs against the background of infectious diseases and is an allergic reaction of the skin.

Content:

• Symptoms of pink lichen
• Causes of the appearance of pink lichen
• Why is pink lichen dangerous? Consequences and complications
• Diagnosis of pink lichen
• Answers to popular questions:
• Treatment of pink lichen in humans

Symptoms of pink lichen

Both in childhood and in adulthood, the disease proceeds in the same way, so the following symptoms of pink lichen can be identified:

• A single large spot appears on the human body, which can reach 10 cm in diameter. Doctors call this spot maternal. Its color varies, it can be from pale pink to red. The skin in the affected area becomes dry.
• Itching and burning can bother the patient, but only 50% of patients with lichen rosacea complain about these sensations. However, a quarter of patients indicate severe itching, which is most often associated with other effects on the dermis, or arises due to increased emotional lability of the patient.
• The places in which the spot is located are most often the following: chest, back, neck. The disease usually does not affect the feet, hands, face.
• After a week (maximum 10 days) after the formation of the primary spot, multiple small rashes appear on the body, having an oval or round shape. They are not as large in size as the maternal spot, most often they do not exceed 15 mm in diameter. New spots are clearly visible against the background of unaffected healthy skin.

• A distinctive feature of the secondary spots of Gibert's lichen lies in the peculiarities of their location. They tend to unite in groups that resemble the outlines of a Christmas tree. On the edges of the spots have clear boundaries, in the center they are slightly peeling.
• Often, secondary eruptions are located along Langer's lines. The so-called conditional lines on the surface of the skin, which indicate the direction of maximum extensibility of the dermis. Pityriasis rosea chooses these places, since it is along their course that bundles of collagen fibers are located.
• Rashes do not appear instantly, they appear in stages with an interval of about 10 days. Before the next group of spots appears on the body, a person may experience malaise, weakness, and sometimes chills. This condition is explained by the intoxication of the body.

In no case should you make a diagnosis yourself, focusing on the description of the symptoms of the disease, or by comparing photographs. For some other varieties of lichen, the appearance of one reddish spot is also characteristic. People often confuse lichen rosacea with lichen planus, which is more dangerous to health. In addition, secondary syphilis, psoriasis, measles, rubella have a similar clinical picture. Contacting a dermatologist to clarify the diagnosis is mandatory, self-medication for any skin diseases is unacceptable.

Many adults do not experience any symptoms of the disease at all and pay attention to it only because of the appearance of spots. They may itch only after taking a hot shower, or under stress.

In childhood, the appearance of spots is often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, headaches, rhinitis, and sore throat.

Causes of the appearance of pink lichen

Until now, it has not been established what is the true cause of the appearance of pink lichen. Also, the pathogen that provokes this disease has not been identified. Some scientists are of the opinion that Zhibert's lichen may be associated with herpes infection, namely herpes viruses 6 and 7.

They explain this by the fact that before the rash appears on the human body, some patients experience flu symptoms. In addition, a seasonal association with the disease has been established. Its peak occurs in autumn and spring, when there is a drop in temperature, a decrease in immune forces occurs, and the number of people with colds increases.

The question of how to transmit lichen rosacea also remains open. There is an assumption that the disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets. However, there is still no consensus on whether lichen rosacea is contagious at all. Indeed, with a strong immune system, the development of the disease does not occur at all, since the body can easily cope with it.

Another theory regarding the cause of pink lichen is based on the fact that this disease is an infectious-allergic reaction. Scientists, as confirmation of this version, cite the fact that patients with lichen rosacea have a positive reaction to the intradermal administration of streptococcal vaccine.

Adherents of the third theory point out that pink lichen is only a kind of reaction of the body to hypothermia. They call Gibert's lichen a cold of the skin, which occurs due to a drop in immunity.

Finally, the latest theory of the cause of lichen rosacea considers nervous shock, psychological breakdown, severe stress (symptoms and causes of stress).

Why is pink lichen dangerous? Consequences and complications

Pink lichen is not considered a disease dangerous to human health. It rarely contributes to the development of any complications and consequences, and the spots that the disease leaves behind on the skin will disappear after 1-11 weeks. It is extremely rare that the disease can last for six months.

Complications of the disease are recorded in isolated cases, these can be:

• Development of pyoderma;
• Hydradenitis;
• Ostiofolliculitis;
• Folliculitis;
• Streptococcal impetigo;
• Eczema.

The reasons for this or that complication are: friction of skin areas with pink lichen, excessive washing, illiterate therapy, hyperhidrosis, the presence of an individual predisposition to allergic reactions.

Diagnosis of pink lichen

If the disease has a typical course, then only a standard examination in a dermatologist's office is enough to make a diagnosis. After examination, the doctor will order a dermatoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

When the skin rash persists for more than 6 weeks, a skin biopsy followed by a histological examination is advisable. This makes it possible to exclude parapsoriasis.

If infectious complications join, then the doctor will refer the patient to the delivery of a skin scraping from the focus of inflammation, followed by a bacterial culture.

To make sure that pityriasis versicolor is not hidden behind the symptoms of pink lichen, it is possible to perform fluorescent diagnostics and perform a skin scraping to detect fungi in it. An RPR test for syphilis is performed to rule out secondary syphilis.

Answers to popular questions:

• How long have they had pink lichen? The disease can last from 1 week to 1 month. In isolated cases, pink lichen can bother a person for more than 5 months.
• Can I get lichen rosacea again in the future? The recurrence of lichen pink is possible, however, this happens quite rarely. In most cases, the human body develops strong immunity to disease.
• Can pink lichen get infected from pets or stray animals (from cats, dogs, etc.)? The only pet that can get lichen rosacea is a pig. However, infection from this animal, like from any other, is impossible.
• Do I need to smear spots with pink lichen? Often, having fallen ill with lichen rosacea, people seek to speed up recovery by applying various ointments and compositions to the spots (for example, boric or acetic acid, iodine, zinc or sulfuric ointment, antimycotic ointments, sea buckthorn oil, etc.). However, there is no scientific evidence that these agents are in any way capable of affecting skin recovery from disease.
• Can it be spread from person to person or sexually? Official medicine claims that lichen pink is not a contagious disease and its transmission from person to person, or through sexual contact, is impossible. However, science knows cases when the whole family fell ill with deprivation of Zhibert at the same time. If pink lichen develops in a child, then this is not a contraindication to visiting an educational institution.
• Is it possible to sunbathe or relax on the sea if I get lichen rosacea? You can sunbathe and relax at the seaside resorts, but you should try not to get burnt at this time. The fact is that burns from ultraviolet rays can worsen itching. Plus, it's always worth remembering that excessive sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer. (read also: Stages, Symptoms, Signs and Treatment of Skin Cancer)
• Can I wash in the shower / bathroom if I have lichen rosacea? You can take a bath or shower without any fear. However, if the patient is concerned about itching, then too hot water should be avoided.

Treatment of pink lichen in humans

First of all, it is important to remember that the skin should not be overdried and irritated.

Therefore, in no case should you apply to the inflamed areas of the skin such products as:

• Any ointment or other formulation containing sulfur;
• Iodine;
• Salicylic acid;
• Alcohol.

Treatment of pink lichen in a person can not be carried out at all, because in the vast majority of cases the disease passes without any outside interference.

Nevertheless, to minimize the risk of developing any complications, you can adhere to the following recommendations:

• Do not wash the affected skin under hot water. Do not steam the skin. Some experts do not recommend taking a bath, as they believe that the rash spreads faster after such water procedures. When taking a shower, do not rub the affected areas of the body with sponges or washcloths. Better to stop using soap. The skin should not be rubbed with a towel; it is enough just to blot excess moisture.
• Excessive influence of ultraviolet rays on the affected area can worsen the patient's condition. When, on the contrary, the skin condition improves when exposed to the sun, it makes sense to reconsider the diagnosis. Most likely, the person is faced with pityriasis versicolor.
• Underwear worn by a sick person should not be made of synthetic fabrics. Such materials negatively affect the condition of the skin.
• It is important to avoid exposing the skin to perspiration for too long. This will avoid unnecessary itching and prevent the disease from progressing. Therefore, it is necessary to abandon overheating of the body, from playing sports, from physical overstrain, from excessive physical exertion.
• The diet should not allow allergenic foods, as there is a theory regarding the allergenic nature of the origin of the disease. It is worth refusing to take alcohol-containing drinks, as they intensify any inflammation processes.
• If the patient is haunted by severe itching, then you can consult a doctor about taking antihistamines. It can be Suprastin, Claritin, Tsetrin, Zodak, Zyrtek. These drugs do not affect the healing process, but they help relieve itching.

Special attention should be paid to ointments, which many people decide to use on their own in order to speed up recovery. You should not use products that can irritate the skin, do not use ointments containing corticosteroid hormones. Such drugs are prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

Of course, hormonal ointments give a quick effect in terms of eliminating the manifestations of the disease. However, they have a negative effect on the body as a whole, provoke the development of addiction, and contribute to atrophy of the skin. In addition, the risk of recurrence of the disease increases, and the number of allergic reactions increases.

With pink lichen, you can use the following remedies:

• Soften the skin with sea buckthorn, rosehip, peach oils, with milk thistle and St. John's wort oils. This does not affect the speed of recovery, but helps to eliminate itching and dryness of the skin.
• To avoid the addition of an infection, the following antiseptics can be applied to the skin: Romazulan ointment, Chlorfillipt, Sanguirithrin.
• To level the surface of the stains, you can use Lassar's paste. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

There are several dermatological studies that indicate the presence of a positive effect from taking Erythromycin and Acyclovir, if treatment is started from the first days from the onset of the disease.

As for preventive measures, it is worth strengthening the immune system in all possible ways, avoiding hypothermia of the body, infectious diseases, foods that contribute to the development of allergies should not be included in food.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).