Visual Dermatology: Onychatrophy in a Patient With Nail Lichen Planus

Abstract

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia The authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this article, and have received no funding for this work. Corresponding Author: Ivan Maximov, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Bol’shaya Pirogovskaya St, 2/4, Room 106, Moscow, 119991, Russia. Email: maximov [email protected] A 45-year-old man with lichen planus (LP) for more than 20 years presented to our department with total nail lesion. The physical examination showed splitting and fragmentation of the nails, erythema, and induration in the nail bed. On the beginning of nail changes, the patient injured his nail apparatus with a sharp blade for an aesthetic purpose, which worsened the course of nail LP in his youth. Onychatrophy is a rare form of nail LP. The lack of the necessary treatment and trauma of the nail areas promoted the development of this condition. The first-line systemic therapy for severe nail LP includes methotrexate, etanercept, and systemic corticosteroids.