4. Medications and Drugs: The Unexpected Culprits Behind Lichen Planus
Medications are formulated to help us, but sometimes, they come with unforeseen side effects. For some, certain drugs can act as a trigger for LP. It’s a classic case of how one solution to a problem might unintentionally lead to another.
The list of medications associated with LP is diverse, ranging from specific antihypertensives to certain painkillers. The exact reason behind this is still a topic of exploration, but it’s believed that these medications might cause cellular changes, leading to an inflammatory response manifesting as LP.
One theory suggests that these drugs might form complexes at the skin’s level, making them appear foreign to the body. This could incite an immune reaction, with the body attacking these ‘foreign’ entities, inadvertently leading to LP.
Additionally, it’s also worth noting that not everyone on these medications develops LP. It often comes down to individual reactions, highlighting the unique way each person’s body interacts with external substances. It’s this unpredictability that makes drug-induced LP a challenging area to navigate.(4)
