Cutaneous body image in patients with lichen planus: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Dear Editor, Lichen planus (LP) poses a significant challenge due to its chronic inflammatory nature, profoundly affecting the quality of life (QoL) of those afflicted. 1 The present study sought to comprehensively evaluate the QoL in patients with LP, utilizing a multidimensional approach to capture the diverse facets of their lived experience. Consecutive patients with LP were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Dermatology Department at a University Hospital in Greece between January 2021 and January 2024. Inclusion criteria comprised individuals aged 18 years and above, diagnosed with LP by a qualified dermatologist. Patients with comorbidities affecting QoL or those unable to complete the study questionnaires were excluded. Demographic and clinical data were collected from eligible participants, including age, gender, duration of LP, and disease severity based on the physician's global assessment of disease (PGA). The patient's disease severity was assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater severity. Additionally, participants self-reported the intensity of pruritus associated with LP using a similar 11-point NRS. Participants completed four validated self-administered questionnaires to assess various dimensions of QoL: Cutaneous body image scale (CBIS), 2,3 Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), 4 Skindex-16 4 and EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) and EQ-VAS. 5