title: Nail dystrophy due to lichen sclerosus?
abstract: Lichen sclerosus (LS) affects anogenital skin alone in 80% of cases. When extragenital disease occurs, it usually affects the trunk, neck, axillae and wrist flexures. Nail involvement with LS is rare. In contrast, lichen planus (LP) commonly affects extragenital skin. Mucosal lesions occur in 50% of cases, affecting the mouth and genitalia. Nail disease in LP is common, and, if severe, can lead to destruction of the nail bed. LS and LP can coexist. We report two cases of LS with nail involvement. In the Case 1 disease was confined to the nail, and nail biopsy confirmed LS. In the Case 2, the nail changes formed part of the widespread genital and extragenital LS, confirmed histologically. We review existing literature on nail disease in LS and discuss the possible aetiology of the nail changes.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Dermatology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ramrakha-Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McHenry
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Burden
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology; D009264:Nails, Malformed; D014844:Vulva / Q000473:pathology; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002990:Clobetasol