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Lichen planus pigmentosusL43.8

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 12.03.2026

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Synonym(s)

Inverse lichen planus pigmentosus; Pigmented inverse lichen planus; Pigmented lichen planus inversus; Pigmented lichen ruber planus inversus

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HistoryThis section has been translated automatically.

Pock, 2001

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Rare, brownish-colored variant of classic lichen planus, usually localized in the large bends of the joints, in which the characteristic red-violet color of lichen planus is overlaid or completely replaced by a brown color (pigment incontinence). agert

Occurrence/EpidemiologyThis section has been translated automatically.

Has been described preferentially in Caucasians and Asians.

Worldwide, about 50 cases have been described so far (note: such numbers, however, say little about the actual prevalence of lichen planus pigmentosus inversus).

ManifestationThis section has been translated automatically.

Affected are adults between 40 and 60 years of age. In children this clinical picture has not been described. w>m=2:1

LocalizationThis section has been translated automatically.

Lichen planus pigmentosus inversus occurs mainly in the intertriginous areas, such as the axillae, popliteal fossae, submammary region, groin, vulva and penis.

ClinicThis section has been translated automatically.

Well-demarcated, disseminated, 0.2-0.5 cm, only slightly pruritic, purplish-brown or homogeneous brown patches are found. These may confluence to form extensive, irregularly configured, patches (see Fig.). The lesions tend to be chronic, lasting months or years.

HistologyThis section has been translated automatically.

The histology of this variant of lichen planus shows the characteristic phenomena of lichen planus, with a band-shaped, lichenoid infiltrate, usually only slight orthohyperkeratosis (intertrigines) and a conspicuously strong pigment incontinence.

Differential diagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Chen S et al (2015) Lichen planus pigmentosus-inversus: report of three Chinese cases and review of the published work. J Dermatol 42: 77-80
  2. Ghorbel HH et al (2014) Lichen planus pigmentosus inversus. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 80:580
  3. Murzaku EC et al (2014) Axillary lichen planus pigmentosus-inversus: dermoscopic clues of a rare entity. Diagnosis: lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP). J Am Acad Dermatol 71:e119-20
  4. Pock L et al (2001) Lichen planus pigmentosus inversus. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 15: 452-454
  5. Schmid C et al (2018) Slate grey patches in both armpits. Dermatologist 69: 177-179
  6. Sindhura KB (2015) Lichen planus pigmentosus: a retrospective clinico-epidemiological study with emphasis on the rare follicular variant. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol doi: 10.1111/jdv.1345

Authors

Last updated on: 12.03.2026

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer