Oral lichen Planus: What home remedies or medications help you?

I called them scabs for lack of a better term. The sores were and are brilliant red and as they become better, they get a white opaque cover on them that looks like a soft, mucous like cover. The "scab" is easily lost when touched, like applying ointment with a QTip. Does the Clobetasol help heal?

Absolutely! I got my prescription through my family physician. It is a must have... when dealing with any form of Lichen Planus. I apply it especially at bedtime. I understand now what you meant by "scabs" Those white spots are normal with mouth sores.

Sadly, I found out the hard way that dairy (lactose free dairy) flares up my oral and cutaneous (skin) lichen planus. I did a really good job avoiding it for a few weeks, then I ate a whole bunch of lactose free milk and yogurt for about 3 days and the last bowl of yogurt I got all itchy about half an hour after eating it. So dairy is out! Almonds have been out for a couple years, but that’s more because of GI issues. I’m holding off on gluten for right now… so I’ll reintroduce it in a few weeks and see what happens.

Marymaryoregon, I have yogurt every day, maybe that is what triggered this? I have also started a daily dose of probiotics, with 20 billion live cultures. I also take another product called ProDenton, also probiotic and especially formulated for support of teeth and gums. They are also, I think, helping with the healing. The ProDentin was specifically designed to get your mouth healthy, and thus creating a healthy oral environment. How long have you been with this condition Mary., and do you also get the bleeding gums and tenderness?

For me it’s just the dairy- I do fine with all the nondairy yogurt. Let’s see- my lichen planus is in my mouth, on my skin, on my vulva, and has caused all my nails to have ridges. Reading through all these posts I feel pretty lucky and that I have a relatively mild case. I was diagnosed about a year ago but I have had it at least a year or two longer. I mostly get a general burning/irritated mouth for along with my kind of dry mouth - my mouth is just super sensitive now. When I flare up I have small mouth ulcers that show up in various spots and go away quickly but I almost always have a new one before an old one is gone- pain wise is varies. Side of the tongue ones are worst, most are cheek ulcers. Sometimes it’s just 1, sometimes it clusters and I’ll have like 8 or 10 ulcers scattered around. When I REALLY flare up, my cutaneous (skin) lichen planus comes out to play too. So my mouth will just be rolling along with never ending new ulcers and my hands will crop up itching in these permanent spots of LP that get inflamed and so so so so itchy, then a couple spots near my mouth which are not pretty but not very itchy. Oh! Forgot that when my oral LP flares the outside top edge of my lips (usually one side or the other itches like the dickens and I can’t help but rub it until it’s a little swollen like I put on lip liner for about an inch, but just a tiny bit). Let’s see what else?

It’s basically a grab bag of being itchy on my skin and getting pink skin lesions (I am very fair skinned) that I scratch until the skin breaks open because I can’t help it. Yes, I have clobetasol to slap on there… and eventually it works hours later. My mouth hurts from very mildly to a lot depending on the day, but I do not suffer from chronic ulcers. And my vulva flares up once a year so I can only wear boxer shorts and have to slather on ultra potency steroid ointment to get the inflammation to calm down- this time it’s taking like 3 days?

This is my third chronic illness in as many years and this one has taken me much longer to come to terms with the fact that the oral LP might not go away……….. ever?

Hello to you all! I am Julie and brand new here. Seven months ago I was told by my hygienist and family dentist that I had Oral Lichen Planus (OLP). I've been a nurse for 43 yrs and never heard of it. I was shocked when they reviewed all the oral pictures they had taken. I got instructions to brush at least twice daily, floss or water pick, use BioGaia for Teeth and Gums (oral probiotic) and mouth rinse with CloSys, a gentle rinse. Also they have me using mouth lozenges overnight for dry mouth. Well I did all of this religiously.

Three weeks ago I go for another cleaning, feeling very proud of all I had done. Unfortunately my oral health had gotten even worse. My mouth was inflamed, I had ulcers, and my gums were blood red along the gum line. They tell me I now has periodontal disease and will need a deep cleaning and scaling.

It didn't feel right. So on my own, I mad an appt to see a Periodontal Dentist. She told me this is not periodontal disease but a bad exacerbation of my OLP and I should go see a rheumatologist who may be able to treat me with drugs for my immune system. So far, everyone has told me they don't treat OLP. She did prescribe the Clobetasol Cream and I did smear that on my gums last night. Of course one treatment didn't do anything.

I live in East Central Coastal Florida, Melbourne to be exact. I'd love to see a provider that actually has experience in OLP and wants to treat it. If anyone knows of a provider in this general area, please let me know. Thank you.

No. But it is so painful I can hardly hear it. I cracked a tooth and it needs a crown but it is so painful, I can barely stand my cleaning. I have a wonderful hygienist and she has been very supportive..Thank you for idea.

I am going to try suggested self-help. I will do it when I get up for church and again when I get home and twice more before bed. Thank you so much. I will get back and let you know. I have no idea how I got it but I can say it's AWFUL!

I saw a Periodontist before I went to the dentist. They charge a fortune. The one I go to wanted $100 to write me a steroidal mouthwash which I think helped but my physician was going to fill it for me and I didn't have the name of it. I was told exactly what you were. I have fibromyalgia for years and knew it affected my immune system but never dreamed this could be part of it. I just take Celebrex for it and only take it when I have a flare-up. That Closys is a joke. It's gross. I told my hygienist and she said just don't use it. It was $35.00 a bottle and didn't help at all. I use Biotene toothpaste and the Biotene in the tube for dry mouth, My problem is not dry mouth. But when it feels unbearable, I use it just because it seems to calm it. When I first went to periodontist, I tried to make him understand what was going on but he said my mouth looked fine and maybe the steroid solution would help. I have allergies also and this may sound crazy but before I go to church or out for dinner, I take a decongestant which seems to help some. I'm going to see if I can get a mouthwash that doesn't burn to use. If I do, I will let you know.

BTW, I cracked a tooth on the bottom and when the dentist was going to put a crown on, my mouth, tongue, cheek all were so sore, I had to cancel. I will let you know how soda/salt works. I'm going to use it before I go to church and when I get home. I will use it for times a day in purified water. The periodontist suggested I not use tap water so I only use water from store.