Lichen amyloidosis is a skin condition caused by an abnormal collection of amyloid proteins in the skin, resulting in itchy, raised bumps. It is more common in people with Chinese ancestry and can be associated with other skin conditions or Sipple syndrome. Treatment aims to control itching and may include antihistamines, steroid creams, phototherapy, or surgery. It is a type of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis and is not as serious as systemic amyloidosis.
Amyloidosis is a medical term that can refer to a number of conditions. These conditions all result from an abnormal collection of amyloid proteins in one place. In the case of lichen amyloidosis, the deposits collect in the skin and form itchy, raised bumps. Lichen amyloidosis is associated with certain diseases.
When amyloid proteins collect in someone with lichen amyloidosis, they usually form on the front of the legs and feet, but can also be found on the back, thighs, and arms. The initial symptom is an extremely itchy rash. The rash consists of many flat red or brown bumps that are raised and flaky. These lesions may join together to form larger plaques on the skin.
The most common life span to develop lichen amyloidosis is between the ages of 50 and 60. People with Chinese ancestry are more likely to have the condition, although it is also more common in Southeast Asia and South America than in other areas of the world. Men suffer from it more often than women. The condition can affect patients suffering from atopic dermatitis or other skin conditions such as lichen planus or mycosis fungoides.
An inherited syndrome called Sipple syndrome is also associated with lichen amyloidosis. People with this syndrome may suffer from thyroid problems and adrenal and thyroid cancers. Usually, these people only have a rash on their backs between the shoulder blades.
Doctors diagnose the condition through visual examination of the lesions and also by a microscopic examination of the affected tissue. Treatment of patients with lichen amyloidosis usually aims to control itching. Antihistamines can help, as can steroid skin creams and steroid injections into the lesions. Phototherapy with ultraviolet light can have a beneficial effect, as can the application of dimethyl sulfoxide.
Surgery to remove the plaques is another possible treatment. Laser surgery, dermabrasion, and simple excision of lesions can help temporarily resolve the problem. Usually, the rash comes back, so surgery isn’t a permanent cure.
Lichen amyloidosis is one of a group of skin conditions known as primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. These conditions only affect parts of the skin and do not spread to other parts of the body. The lichen form is the most common of localized cutaneous amyloidosis and is distinguishable from other types by the appearance, itching, and location of the rash. More serious forms of amyloidosis include systemic amyloidosis, in which deposits of amyloid build up around organs and can cause death within a few years.
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