Lichen planus and Pregnancy hormones

Posted by gamora24 @gamora24, Jan 19, 2019

Hi all I'm 12 weeks pregnant and have lichen plains. Over the past few years my flare ups havr been throughout the year since I moved to a more humid climate as a result of work. I go on strong prednisone treatment to keep it at bay. I tapered off in July 2018 and was busy dealing with getting back into shape. I got pregnant in november and oddly enough this is typically when I start a severe flare coinciding with the onset of a humid summer..since getting pregnant my lichen planus has disappeared. This is great obviously but I am wondering if this is also telling me something about my body. Any medicalperson our there who thinks progesterone might be the key to assisting lichen planus in woman? Thinking that is whay pregnancy does..change your hormones..

My real worry is that once my pregnancy is over the lichen planus may come back aggressively unless I try to understand at this stage what could help it. Don't feel like going on cortisone for an extended period of time again as it affects my lifestyle and confidence.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 19, 2019

Hello @gamora24, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm tagging our Director @colleenyoung to see if we should move your discussion into the following discussion where it will have more visibility and you can meet other members discussing lichen planus.

Groups > Autoimmune Diseases > Erosive oral lichen planus
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/erosive-oral-lichen-planus/

While we wait for other members to respond to your post you may want to read through the discussion above and post any questions you might have by tagging other members (typing their @username to tag a member so they will receive an email notification of your post). Also, you may be interested in listening to the following Medical Edge Radio episode, Mayo Clinic Dr. Phillip Sheridan discusses Treating Oral Lichen Planus.

-- https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/treating-oral-lichen-planus/

Have you had a chance to discuss if hormones could be playing a part in your lichen planus flare ups with your doctor?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 19, 2019

Hi @gamora24
As John suggests, I encourage you to read the posts in this discussion about oral lichen planus. Members there share effective ways of preventing and managing flare ups.
Groups > Autoimmune Diseases > Erosive oral lichen planus
— https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/erosive-oral-lichen-planus/

You ask a unique question about oral lichen planus related to pregnancy and hormones. I'm tagging members @mrmie @dreamer60 @alpaca @loli and @wisgrama. It must be a relief that the lichen planus has disappeared during your pregnancy, but I can understand your concern that it may come back as hormones change after birth and/or breastfeeding. I wonder if anyone else has experienced changes specific to hormonal changes during pregnancy or even related to menopause.

Gamora, Have you discussed your hypothesis with your doctor?

gamora24 | @gamora24 | Jan 19, 2019

In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @gamora24, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm tagging our Director @colleenyoung to see if we..." + (show)

Hello Mr John thank you for your response. I have only manager to share this theory with my obgyn and general practitioner but haven't been able to see my dermatologist. Most of my lichen planus affects all of my skin below the bust to thighs, and arms and back. The most severe is my scalp and I experience extreme hsir loss. Definitely going to check through the other thread as suggested.. thank you

gamora24 | @gamora24 | Jan 19, 2019

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @gamora24 As John suggests, I encourage you to read the posts in this discussion about..." + (show)

Hello Colleen. Thank you for your response I will read through the other thread but haven't discussed with my doctor as of yet what I was thinking

Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Jan 19, 2019

Hello @gamora24 Strange how the body reacts to stress and hormones and we can only guess if lichen planus is related to these factors. I don't know of any research on it. I had oral lichen planus for years. It was meant to go away by itself as it often does but with me it did not - long story.
I knew a young woman afflicted by it on the skin on her legs. She had light therapy which helped and I could check but I think it was better during pregnancy.
It's such a frustrating and painful condition that I can understand how you must be pleased to see that there's a possible key to what causes it and makes it go away. I was a migraine sufferer in my younger days.I didn't get migraines during my pregnancies.