Bridging the Gaps - Management of Lichen planus subtypes in a joint dermatology - oral surgery clinic.

Lichen planus (LP) presents with a range of clinical subtypes. It can affect the outer skin, involve the nails and present with alopecia and mucosal symptoms to varying degrees. While LP of the outer skin mostly shows a self-limiting course, this does not apply for Lichen planopilaris and the mucosa affecting subtypes. The pathogenesis of LP is still incompletely understood. Thus, an effective, targeted therapy is currently lacking and different immunomodulatory approaches are being used in clinical practice. The management of patients with severe oral Lichen planus mucosae can be particularly challenging. Although the true risk remains controversial, oral LP is considered a risk factor for the development of squamous cell carcinoma and subject to the need for regular screening. The quality of life in patients with OP is significantly impaired due to frequent clinical visits, pain, soreness, inability to eat certain foods, side effects to medication, frustrating therapy attempts and the worry regarding cancer risk. We here highlight the advantages of an interdisciplinary dermatology and oral surgery clinic, hereby addressing the domains of tooth status, nutrition, pain and malignant transformation and optimised patient management.