Rarely a person who receives a vaccine may develop lichen planus or a lichenoid drug eruption.
Vaccines with reports of lichenoid reactions:
(1) COVID-10 mRNA
(2) measles
(3) influenza
(4) papillomavirus
(5) hepatitis B virus
(6) Herpes zoster
The patient may develop a new onset or exacerbation of lichen planus or lichenoid eruption.
The lesions may be cutaneous or mucocutaneous. Some patients have lesions limited to the oral mucosa.
The onset is delayed, with the mean time for onset around 14 days. The patient may have a history of fever or other reaction within a few days of the vaccination.
A biopsy shows histological changes consistent with lichen planus.
The diagnosis requires:
(1) a history of recent vaccination
(2) exclusion of other causes of a lichenoid reaction (drugs, autoimmune disorder, HCV, etc)
(3) exclusion of another skin diagnosis
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
