Reasons As To Why Patients With Oral Lichen Planus Tend To Be Very Distressed9169743

{There are two major reasons as to why patients with lichen planus on tongue  Before we get into those two reasons, however, let us first try to find out what we could about this condition called oral lichen planus. Essentially, this is a condition whereby growths that look a lot like lichens start showing up on the skin surface of a person. If you take note of their appearance, they are of a dark color, and touching them would reveal a hard texture. We come to learn that this condition can manifest in many parts of the body, with one of those being the oral zone. We also come to learn, as alluded to earlier, that patients with lichen planus manifesting on the oral zone tend to be rather distressed. But why do many people find it more disturbing and distressing to have lichen planus appear on the oral zone more than the other areas of the body?

This condition becomes a source of so much distress for patients for the simple reason that they look glaringly obvious once they appear on the oral zone. After all, it is a fairly visible body part. Once a person develops lichen planus in his or her mouth, it is very hard to hide it (unless one opts to take a solemn and strictly observed vow of absolute silence for the duration of the illness). People who are suffering from this condition are assigned a certain stigma because other people who spot the oral lichen planus immediately jump to conclusions that it is a condition worse than it really is.

The second reason as to why patients with oral lichen planus tend to be very distressed is something to do wit the fact that the condition (in that particular manifestation) can greatly interfere with people's lives. A person with severe lichen planus manifesting in his or her mouth is, for instance, likely to have difficulties speaking well. Such a person may also have difficulties eating, drinking and performing other essential day to day living functions that involve the use of the mouth or the tongue.

Given the high levels of distress experienced by patients with oral lichen planus, it is often necessary to counsel them adequately first, before making any attempt at (practically) treating them. They would have to be counseled and made aware of the fact that managing their oral lichen planus condition is entirely feasible. While it is, first and foremost, an incurable condition, oral lichen planus can still be managed and controlled through the use of certain medication. Most of the patients fear that the condition is likely to become chronic, thus messing up with their lives completely. What most patients don't know - and thus have to be counseled about - is that oral lichen planus is essentially transient. It could disappear after a while. A courageous physician may also alert them to the fact that although conventional medicine lacks cures for this condition, there are definitely some alternative therapies that are known to bring near-permanent relief.