Abstract
Lichen simplex chronicus is a secondary skin condition that occurs in response to severe pruritus, which drives an itch–scratch cycle. Individuals scratch the pruritic areas of the skin and cause them to become thickened, leathery plaques. The initial pruritus may be caused by atopy, or a number of underlying systemic illnesses such as renal or hepatic insufficiency, thyroid disorders, HIV, and lymphoma. Treating the underlying cause is an important element of treating lichen simplex chronicus. The symptoms may be addressed by use of topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. Oral antihistamines may provide additional symptomatic relief.
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Reich, D., Psomadakis, C.E., Buka, B. (2017). Lichen Simplex Chronicus. In: Top 50 Dermatology Case Studies for Primary Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18627-6_34
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18627-6_34
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