COVID-19-Vaccination-Induced Localized Lichen Planus Successfully Treated With Phototherapy

TL;DR

A case of localized lichen planus on the upper extremities, triggered by a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, was successfully treated with phototherapy.

Contribution

This paper adds a new clinical case of localized cutaneous lichen planus following a COVID-19 vaccination and its successful treatment with phototherapy.

Findings

Localized cutaneous lichen planus developed after both doses of an mRNA vaccine.

The condition improved successfully with phototherapy treatment.

This case adds to the growing evidence of vaccine-related cutaneous reactions.

Abstract

Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory autoimmune mucocutaneous disease with different forms and presentations. It mainly affects the skin and oral mucosa but could also affect genital mucosa, nails, hair, and, rarely, the larynx and esophagus.

Since the start of the COVID-19 era, multiple cutaneous manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination have been reported. Different rare cases of lichen planus were reported after COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

This report elaborates on and adds an additional case of localized cutaneous lichen planus (CLP) to the upper extremities, which developed after both doses of the mRNA vaccine and improved after phototherapy.

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