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Vanessa (Okinawa, Japan) on 09/20/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I have suffered with Lichen planus since I was 10 years old. I once had a severe outbreak that lasted almost 4 years. This included oral lesions and lesions on my legs, feet, ankles, arms, back, neck, scalp, and vaginal lesions. After unsuccessful topical cortisone treatment, the doctor placed me on prednisone. Because prednisone depletes Vitamin D stores, I was told to take a very large amount of Vitamin D supplements. I started the prednisone, but did not start the Vitamin D supplements for a couple weeks. I noticed a drastic improvement in my lichen planus. They began to shrink in size, and the itch began to fade. However, once I started my vitamin D supplement, I flared back up. Thats when I put 2 and 2 together. I told my doctor, and he dismissed it. I would not take his word for fact though since I was also told that lichen planus is not genetic...my father and his sister both suffer with lichen planus. I followed my gut and cut vitamin D completely out of my diet for a while. milk, eggs, fortified cereals, fish, less sunlight, etc. My lichen planus went away. My father did the diet with me, and his went away as well. Once they went away, I took, I ate normal again, and whenever I notice old scars turning pink and starting to itch, I watch my Vitamin D for a couple of weeks. I recently had another outbreak, and I think it is due to the fact that I have had 2 back to back pregnancies and have been on prenatal vitamins for 2 years, which have a significant amount of vitamin D. I think its finally caught up with me, so I started the diet that I did ten years ago once again, I have already noticed I am getting better. My father is currently getting another outbreak because he was supplementing his diet with Fish Oil, which has large amounts of vitamin D. Since he has cut it out of his diet again, he is also improving.
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Replied By Monica (Ontario, Canada) on 06/15/2009

Is it possible the problem may not be just Vitamin D, but the inability of the liver/ kidney to metabolise the pro-vitamin (as ingested) into vitamin D2 and D that gets released into the blood stream? Have you tried taking liver supplements (such as Milk Thistle) that will promote detox and better liver enzyme function?
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Replied By Docw (Los Angeles, Ca) on 03/11/2010

This is the strangest logic I've heard yet... You have no idea what is causing your malady, why would you toy with your calcium homeostasis? Has it occured to you that the waxing and waning of your disease is just that... Part of the natural course of your disease?

Just because prednisone can alter your level of vitamin D doesn't mean it did in your case and it certainly doesn't mean that the prednisone had no effect on your disease. In fact, Vitamin D is a critical component in dampening the immune response to your mucocutaneous lesions(lichen planus).

Stick with your doc, he knows best.

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Replied By Askbeforeyouact (Las Vegas, Nv) on 03/28/2012

The one thing I've learned through my 50 plus years is never trust your doctor. Ask all the questions you can and get as many different opinions as you need! No two people react to the same remedies in the same way, so find out what works for you and stick with it! How many times have you been to the Doctor and he has said, try this and if it doesn't work come back and see me. It's your body and money, spend both of them wisely, you only get 1!
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Replied By Mrs. Yarb (Emmaus Pa) on 08/10/2016

I agree with her 100% My daughter has had LS from the age of 2. We did everything her Dr. said nothing worked for years. Her LS had gotten so bad I had to take her out of school and started homeschooling. I would be up day and night reading on LS looking for anything to help her out calling LS Doctors sending out emails. One day I he had received a phone call from a Dr. in L.A. He had just finished reading my email. He told me change her diet cut out milk he said to try coconut, almond milk not milk from a cow or any animal. More white meat less red meat lots of green veggies. To buy gluten free foods. My daughter has had no LS problems for 5 years now. But this summer she was at her grandparents house. She came home in pain crying that she had burning again I took a look and her skin was right back. The only thing different my parent did was the milk they drink regular milk. My daughter loves regular milk but I never buy it, so when she was at my mom's she went overboard my mom said she had to buy milk everyday. Now that she is home her pain is less and less I too believe the milk has a lot to do with. Everyone is different but I believe changing her diet and giving her coconut milk or almond milk has helped her alot.
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Replied By Maria (Vic) on 05/24/2017

What diet did you do, can you give me an example?. I find itching is unbearable. Thanks
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Replied By Seema (Va) on 10/02/2017

Very interesting. A year back I was diagnosed with low vitamin d and I added vitamin d supplements to my diet. A year later, I have oral lichen Planus.

Prior to that I never took any supplements. I see a logic here.

Seema

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Replied By Dionisia (Chester, Sc) on 07/03/2020

I have 4 children and with each pregnancy, I took prenatal vitamins and my LP would go completely away. At my house, we drink a lot of milk and eat a lot of cereal and it does not cause me to break out. I think it is individual to each person.

I am very low on Vitamin D and take pills to bring up my levels but I do not have breakouts. I have been on all the creams and steroids and it did not work. I have been on Plaquenil and all types of antibiotics and they did not work.

Now, I am taking Methotrexate and Folic acid and I am seeing great improvements. Why are people responsive to some treatments and not responsive to others? It is a difficult disease!

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