Six Cases of Lichen Planus Limited to the Nails

Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory dermatosis of an idiopathic origin that can involve the skin, mucous membranes, hair and nails. Nail involvement occurs in 10% of patients with LP and permanent damage of at least one nail occurs in approximately 4% of these patients. LP limited to the nails without cutaneous involvement has rarely been reported in the literature. We report here on six cases of LP limited to the nails. The two patients presented as 20 nail dystrophy characterized by nail roughness and excessive longitudinal ridges. The other patients presented with typical nail LP that was characterized by nail plate thinning with longitudinal ridges and fissures.