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Actinic lichen planus in a Japanese man: first case in the East Asian population
Author(s) -
Dekio Itaru,
Matsuki Shingo,
Furumura Minao,
Morita Eishin,
Morita Akimichi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2010.00548.x
Subject(s) - dermatology , oral lichen planus , histiocyte , medicine , erythema , population , pathology , biopsy , lichen , biology , environmental health , botany
Actinic lichen planus (ALP) is a rare variant of lichen planus in which lichen planus develops on the light‐exposed areas of the skin. ALP is reported to occur in the African, Middle Eastern, and Indian populations, with very few cases reported in Caucasians. Here, we report a case of ALP in a Japanese man; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurence of ALP in the East Asian population. A 52‐year‐old Japanese man developed recurrent painful annular erythema on the face and hands. Histopathological examination of his skin biopsy revealed lichenoid‐type infiltrates of lymphocytes and histiocytes. We established a diagnosis of ALP on the basis of the distribution of eruptions only on the sunlight‐exposed areas and histological findings. Oral administration of systemic steroids proved effective in improving his condition. Lichen planus is known to be induced by an irritant (Koebner phenomenon); we believe that our patient is genetically susceptible to sunlight exposure and that sunlight acted as an irritant stimulating the development of ALP.