Oral Medications

• People with lichen planus will often be prescribed medications to help relieve the inflammation and itching caused by the condition. Among the options are oral antihistamines such as Benadryl, which is commonly used to help relieve itching. In severe cases, corticosteroids such as prednisone may be prescribed.
  
  

Topical Medications

• When itching from lichen planus becomes bothersome, patients can use topical creams and ointments. Over-the-counter ointments such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone will typically be helpful, but prescription-strength drugs are also available. In severe cases, a doctor may prescribe a steroid-containing cream such as Aldara or Protopic to help treat the inflammation, which in turn will help control the itching.
  
  

Light Therapy

• Ultraviolet light can sometimes be used to treat lichen planus. This therapy, which is called phototherapy, involves transmitting ultraviolet light on the skin affected by lichen planus.
  
  

Home Remedies

• Because the itching caused by lichen planus can be quite bothersome at times, some people will use various home remedies. Among the popular remedies to control itching are soaking in baths containing colloidal oatmeal, which has a skin-calming effect. Cool compresses or ice packs applied to the affected skin can also provide some relief. People who don't want to apply medicinal creams to their skin may have some luck by making a paste from baking soda and water.