Lichen Planus Pigmentosus and Vitiligo in a 61-Year-Old Filipino Man: Case Report

Abstract

AbstractPigmentary disorders have been implicated in causing psychosocial turmoil in patients as they can cause some degree of cosmetic disfigurement. Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) presents as ashy, dermatosis-like eruptions on sun-exposed areas, particularly on the head, neck, and earlobes. On the other hand, vitiligo is a chronic disorder that appears as depigmented patches on the skin. A 61-year-old man with Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV presented to us initially with LPP but eventually also developed vitiligo. The patient was treated with low-dose oral isotretinoin for LPP and topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment for both LPP and vitiligo with a good clinical outcome. One case of segmental vitiligo and zosteriform LPP, affecting a 22-year-old Indian woman, has been previously reported in the English-language literature. An autoimmune etiology that causes melanocytorrhagy may be a plausible hypothesis for the coexistence of these 2 conditions.