Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison	Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Lichen simplex chronicus on the ankle	Lichen nitidus on the abdomen	Lichen simplex chronicus	Lichen simplex chronicus on the back

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

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Lichen simplex chronicus

Symptoms

• Itching of the skin
  • May be chronic
  • May be intense
  • Increases with nervous tension, stress
• Skin lesion, patch, or plaque
  • Exaggerated skin lines over the lesion
  • Circumscribed lesion with distinct borders
  • Skin lesion becomes leathery textured (lichenification)
  • Darkened (hyperpigmented) or reddened skin
  • Excoriation, raw areas
  • Scratch marks
  • Scaling
  • Commonly located on the ankle, wrist, neck, rectum/anal area, forearms, thighs, lower leg, back of the knee, inner elbow

Exams and Tests

The diagnosis is primarily based on the appearance of the skin and a history of chronic itching and scratching. Askin lesion biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Review Date: 10/29/2004
Reviewed By: Jonathan Kantor, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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