Medical Science
Volume 25, Issue 109, March, 2021
Lichen nitidus: A case report of generalized form
Malak A Aldahasi1, Walaa A Takrooni1, Khalid A Al hawsawi2♦
1Faculty of Medicine, Um Al-qura University, Makkah,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2Department of dermatology, King Abdulaziz hospital,
Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Consultant dermatologist, Head of dermatology department,
Department of dermatology, King Abdulaziz Hospital,
Makkah, Saudi Arabia;
Email: hawsawik2002@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
Lichen nitidus (LN) is a relatively rare chronic inflammatory skin condition of unknown etiology. Here-in we present this is a 28-
year-old male patient presented to the outpatient clinic complaining of very itchy persistent skin lesions which have been observed
for 6 months. Skin examination revealed multiple widespread, non-scaly, skin colored, tiny papules all over his body including
face, neck, chest, back, abdomen and upper parts of all extremities. Hair, nail and mucous membranes were all normal. Skin biopsy
was taken from the skin lesion. The epidermis showed mild spongiosis. The dermis showed patchy mononuclear cellular infiltrate
in the upper dermis and vacuolar degeneration of the basal layer. Diagnosis of lichen nitidus was made. The patient was treated by
topical corticosteroid and narrow-band UVB Phototherapy with excellent response. Our case is unusual in that it is a generalized
form of LN with severe pruritus.
Keywords: Skin Diseases, Lichen Nitidus, Phototherapy
Medical Science, 2021, 25(109), 565-568
