Lichenification is a

cutaneous condition A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this sys ...

caused by consistent irritation of the skin, such as scratching or rubbing, but can also be caused by

friction Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. Types of friction include dry, fluid, lubricated, skin, and internal -- an incomplete list. The study of t ...

from clothing or chemical irritants. Lichenification can develop from scratching existing skin conditions that cause itching such as

eczema Dermatitis is a term used for different types of skin inflammation, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened ...

psoriasis Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small localized patches to complete b ...

(secondary lichenification), but also appears on previously healthy skin when repeatedly aggravated (primary lichenification). Often times, in the case of primary lichenification, skin irritation is self inflicted due to psychiatric conditions, usually obsessive-compulsive disorder or

anxiety disorder Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear such that a person's social, occupational, and personal functions are significantly impaired. Anxiety may cause phys ...

Appearance

The initial stage of lichenification presents as

hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation, also known as the dark spots or circles on the skin, is the darkening of an area of Human skin, skin or nail (anatomy), nails caused by increased melanin. Causes Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or ...

of the skin, which is followed by the appearance of small hard

papules A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the skin. It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip. It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty. It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth. Some ...

, which can often be perceived only by touch, giving the lesion a bumpy or “pebbly” texture. When these

are damaged, they will excrete blood and

pus Pus is an exudate, typically white-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammation during infections, regardless of cause. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collect ...

and as the condition progresses, deeper layers of the skin become thickened and indurated. Once fully developed, the effected skin will present with a leathery, "bark-like" texture and remain itchy and inflamed. Common areas of occurrence are noted in points of the body that are easily accessible or prone to itchiness, notably the nape of the neck, wrists, hands, forearms, waist, scrotum, vulva, thighs, lower legs and feet. The term lichenification was coined by Louis-Anne-Jean Brocq in 1891, due to the condition’s visual similarity to lichen.

Treatment

There are several treatments for lichenification. If affected skin is left alone, the ailment can slowly go away on its own. However, due to the itch-scratch-cycle, this method is not very common. Generally, lichenification is treated with topical steroids and moisturizers, but remedies including light-therapy and acupuncture are noted as well.

References

{{reflist Cutaneous conditions