Dermatoscopy of Nail Lichen Planus: A Boon for Early Diagnosis

Saurabh Sharma; Jasleen Kaur; Roopam Bassi; Harkanwal Kaur Sekhon

Dermatoscopy of Nail Lichen Planus: A Boon for Early Diagnosis

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021 Jul;14(7):34-37. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Authors

Saurabh Sharma^{1

2}, Jasleen Kaur^{1

2}, Roopam Bassi^{1

2}, Harkanwal Kaur Sekhon^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Drs. Sharma, Kaur, and Sekhon are with the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
² Dr. Bassi is with the Department of Physiology at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

PMID: 34840648
PMCID: PMC8570357

Abstract

Background: Lichen planus is an immune-mediated disorder affecting the skin, mucous membranes, scalp, and nails.

Objective: We sought to evaluate dermatoscopic nail patterns in patients with lichen planus.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study performed in the outpatient dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital. Thirty-one patients with skin biopsy-proven lichen planus with nail changes were included. An evaluation of clinical nail patterns and dermoscopic assessment of nail patterns were performed.

Results: Longitudinal ridging with splitting, longitudinal melanonychia and splinter hemorrhages were the most commonly found nail patterns in patients with lichen planus. Pterygium has been found to be most pathognomic feature of nail lichen planus.

Conclusion: Dermatoscopy has been demonstrated to be a valuable, noninvasive tool to identify subsurface nail bed changes and subclinical surface findings to facilitate early diagnosis and timely management of lichen planus to avoid long-term sequelae.

Keywords: Lichen planus; dermoscopy; nail.