‘I learnt to hide my smile’: a young male’s perspective of living with erosive oral lichen planus

Psychodermatology is an increasingly recognised entity of clinical Dermatology. We present the case of a patient with oral lichen planus - apparent since his later adolescent years. This chronic inflammatory condition peaks in an older cohort. The patient describes the social implications of the aesthetic appearance of his gum-line. The erosive and ulcerated component of erosive oral lichen planus can impact significantly on patients particularly in the formative adolescent years of life. The condition can prove a source of frustration for patients secondary to its often long course and uncertainty regarding natural history. We hope this patients viewpoint will allow Dermatologists and specialists in oral medicine to understand the disease burden associated with this condition.