Lichen planus: understanding it without fear
Video in Spanish · subtitles available
"Doctor, how did I catch this?" Lichen planus is neither contagious nor a sexually transmitted infection. In this video I explain what it really is and why early diagnosis matters so much — especially when it affects the scalp.
«How did I get this? Did someone infect me?» That is one of the questions I hear most often, especially when lichen planus appears on the genitals. In this video I clear it up: lichen planus is NOT contagious, nor is it a sexually transmitted infection — it is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, mucous membranes, genitals, nails, or scalp. I explain why it is mistaken for an infection, why lichen planopilaris of the scalp can cause irreversible scarring alopecia, and why early diagnosis — through clinical examination, dermatoscopy or trichoscopy and, if necessary, biopsy — is so important. The goal of treatment is not to eliminate a germ, but to control the inflammation.
Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera
The doctor on video
Informational content by Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera. It does not replace an in-person consultation or an individual diagnosis.
