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

It sounds like you have really been through the mill. I really empathize with you. I have been reading about this a bunch and I will very much watch out for everything, simply everything. This is just a horrible cluster of symptoms. What a disaster....depressing
Thank you for the info, daunting as it is.

Licorice or licorice root acts like steroids in the body but you have to be careful since it can increase blood pressure. I used it in the beginning for several months with great relief. I felt like my cells were getting support since they lacked something. Anyway, licorice was an ingredient in a product called Glutamed by NuMedica. Of course it’s not a prescription but not everything has to be prescribed to work. It is all trial & error since there is not much experience with OLP out there. There’s no real treatment & it’s frustrating to treat. I’ve been dealing with this for 8 years.

Did you have an awful taste in your mouth along with sores in checks and mouth? They haven’t been able to decide what is causing my horrid taste for eight weeks now?

So happy for you!!! Do you mind sharing what meds you were given? I have been treated for a bit over a year. Clobetasol and a wash with an anti-rejection mixture. I have dealt with thrush from time to time but for the most part my mouth is responding

Clobetasol is what I was given as well as an anti rejection wash. I didn’t understand the severity of this disease. I ran out of Clobetasol and figured I would wait until my appointment for a new prescription. I don’t have lesions or really pain-mine results in flaming red tissue. My appointment resulted in a lecture from my specialist who said this must be consistently treated throughout life as it is a possible precursor for squamous cell carcinoma which I have had on my body. I have a new respect for this as a result.

@microgirl it is wise to keep stocked up on clobetasol but there are other ointments left that have less steroid strength that will result in less loss of skin elasticity if your dermatologist is open to them. If you rarely have an outbreak clobetasol is fine but I tend to get them everywhere so have tacrolimus and desonide for my lips. Please watch your scalp closely. If you notice unusual hair loss report it to your dermatologist. They probably won’t take you seriously but early, aggressive treatment is critical for females to keep as much of their hair as possible to avoid permanent hair loss. LP of the scalp is lichen planopilaris. In a pinch Emuaid first aid ointment has worked for me on skin lesions. May I ask where you have LP on your body so far?

@dancing1 No, I can honestly say I didn't have an awful taste in my mouth from OLP. I am so sorry you are having this issue, too! Some things just aren't fair.

My gums are painful and raw in places. Have been diagnosed with lichen planus. Anyone else dealing with this. Told to keep mouth clean, which I have always and get teeth cleaned every 6 months, water pik, dental floss etc. Also recommended Crest Pro Health mouth wash. Anyone else dealing with this? . I am probably overly paranoid too as my spouse is recovering from tongue cancer and lymph node removal surgery. Thank you.

Welcome @elmore! I think you have a right to your touch of paranoia, since you and your spouse have first-hand experience with tongue cancer. Being diagnosed with lichen planus (LP) of the gums may increase one's risk of certain cancers. You are wise to be diligent with following the advice you got from your doctor and to see your doctor or dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings, or more often as directed by your dentist (or if more often would give you piece of mind).

Elmore, you may have noticed that I moved your post to this existing discussion about LP:
- Oral lichen Planus: What home remedies or medications help you?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/oral-lichen-planus-3/

I did this so that you can read previous posts and join a welcoming group of fellow LP members like @lovebug61 @jshdma @maryz @cmtg @bustrbrwn22 @fancyrph @steveandsteph @dancing1 @microgirl who offer tips, support and encouragement.

Did your spouse's diagnosis begin with lichen planus? I sure hope those painful, raw places calm down soon.

@elmore Yes, there are many of us out there dealing with this, unfortunately, so I really sympathize with your pain. It is hard to adjust to oral LP if it becomes a permanent part of your life. When your gums, cheeks, and under your tongue become covered in sores they call it erosive oral lichen planus. May I ask who diagnosed you with LP? To help with the pain, ask for what's called a Miracle Mouthwash. I don't know why it isn't offered right away. This is a swish and spit that has lidocaine, antacid, and sometimes an antihistamine. A dentist or dermatologist generally prescribes this. This will allow you to floss and brush without pain, and also eat to a certain degree. It seems everyone has different triggers for their OLP. I cannot use many flavored products or those with fluoride most of the time to brush my teeth or floss with so if the Crest inflames your LP, look for a Tom's of Maine children's Silly Strawberry toothpaste. I can usually use that. If not, I use my special order Cleure toothpaste with no flavor or fluoride that I purchase on-line. I had a teleconference with a specialist on OLP at Texas A&M University and he also recommended I use unwaxed, unflavored floss. The best one I have found is OraMD online. It doesn't shred if you have a lot of dental work. For those of us with severe OLP, any dental visit can be painful and trigger a worse outbreak but it is important to find a dentist who is EXTREMELY gentle and does not press against anything in your mouth or lips. It is possible to get LP on your lips so that could become sensitive, too. It is a good idea to have cleanings every 3 months, if you can handle it and afford it. Gums being inflamed this often can cause dental issues and you want to nip that in the bud ASAP. Your dentist will also be on the lookout for signs of cancer as well. They thought the LP on my lips was cancer several times but it always turned out not to be (and many dentists have told me this is extremely rare) but a good dentist will always be watching for this. If this is a temporary, one time inflammation, the Miracle Mouthwash will be a godsend. If it becomes chronic, you will learn to adjust your eating so that you don't eat anything crunchy, salty, sugary, chocolatey, or acidic. I've gone through months with only being able to drink Glucerna out of a straw and they really taste pretty good. If you have many sores in your mouth, they may prescribe a prednisone solution to swish in your mouth to assist with healing. If there aren't too many sores, they will generally prescribe a steroid ointment for you to apply to sores individually.

I am so sorry you have been diagnosed with this and hope it contains itself to just your mouth. Please reach out if you have any questions or just need encouragement. It does become easier to deal with after time. I never thought I would say that!