Lichen planus following Covid-19 vaccination: a narrative review

Abstract Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease that afflicts skin, mucous membranes, cutaneous appendages. Moreover, LP represents a prototype of lichenoid dermatosis, being characterized by the presence of a dense dermal cell infiltrate. Although most cases of LP are idiopathic, infectious and drug-related factors must also be considered in the etiology. In this context, the occurrence of LP and lichenoid drug eruption following different types of vaccination is a possible event. Therefore, the aim of our review is to provide a broad perspective to clinicians by analyzing the current literature cases of LP and lichenoid eruptions following COVID-19 vaccination, also investigating the possible pathogenetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. A total of 61 cases of LP and lichenoid eruption following COVID-19 vaccination have been collected. However, the number of cases of LP and lichenoid drug eruption is extremely low if compared to the number of vaccines administered overall, suggesting that the risk of LP and lichenoid eruption following COVID-19 vaccination is extremely low. Certainly, further studies are desirable to identify the population most at risk and the possibility of taking preventive measures.