Familial colocalization of lichen planus and vitiligo on sun exposed areas

Abstract

Lichen planus and vitiligo are common skin disorders. Colocalization which is rarely reported may consider the koebner phenomenon related to the photo damage causing initiation of lichen planus over vitiliginous skin. We report a 37-year-old mother and her 23-year-old daughter, both farmers and known cases of vitiligo with subsequent gradual onset of pruritic skin lesions of lichen planus starting first over previous vitiliginous skin on sun exposed areas. Coexistence and colocalization of lichen planus and vitiligo in two members of a family is very rare and has not been reported previously according to our knowledge. Predominant colocalization was on vitiliginous areas which may explain actinic damage as a triggering factor for inducing lichen planus in long-standing vitiligo and supports its pathogenic relationship. Copyright © 2008 The Korean Dermatological Association.