Lichen planus
Supplements studied for lichen planus.
Overview
Aloe has the strongest evidence for lichen planus, with medium ratings across nine studies. Used as a gel or mouthwash, aloe may reduce pain and help heal oral sores, working about the same as some medicines though not as well as laser treatment. Aloe gel may also help women with vulval lichen planus feel better than placebo.
Ashwagandha, Selenium, and Vitamin D have limited or uncertain evidence from single studies, and Echinacea lacks an available summary. The heatmap and evidence reviews below provide a fuller comparison.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Aloe | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Selenium | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Echinacea | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★ | Low |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
5 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
AloeView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Some studies show aloe, used as a gel or mouthwash, may help reduce pain and heal sores from lichen planus in the mouth.
- It may work about the same as some medicines, but not as well as laser treatment.
- Aloe gel can also help women with vulval lichen planus feel better than placebo.
Browse 9 studies·1 meta-analysis
RCTComparative Efficacy and Safety of Interventions for the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis2023
Network meta-analysis of 37 oral lichen planus trials ranked aloe vera second for symptom improvement after purslane, suggesting promise but needing more high-quality trials.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Ages
- 30–60
RCTEfficacy of Aloe Vera and Clobetasol Propionate in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Parallel Clinical Trial2023n=60
RCT in 60 oral lichen planus patients found clobetasol was more effective than Aloe vera gel plus juice, though Aloe was a safe alternative for management.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 10 ml aloe vera juice twice daily plus topical 97% aloe vera gel
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 18+
RCTComparative efficacy of topical aloe vera and low-level laser therapy in the management of oral lichen planus: a randomized clinical trial2022n=60
9-month RCT in 60 oral lichen planus patients found low-level laser therapy reduced pain and activity scores more than topical aloe during 2-month treatment; groups were similar at follow-up.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 9 months
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
- Participants
- 60
MetaInterventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites2012n=473
Review of 15 erosive lichen planus RCTs found aloe vera gel was 6 times more likely to achieve at least 50% pain improvement versus placebo in 45 oral ELP participants.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 473
Systematic reviewInterventions for treating oral lichen planus: a systematic review2012
Cochrane review of 28 oral lichen planus trials found weak evidence that topical aloe vera may reduce pain versus placebo, with insufficient evidence to support any single treatment as superior.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
RCTRandomized trial of aloe vera gel vs triamcinolone acetonide ointment in the treatment of oral lichen planus2012n=18
8-week RCT in 40 oral lichen planus patients found aloe vera gel more effective than triamcinolone acetonide for clinical signs and symptoms, and may be a safe alternative.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
- Participants
- 18
RCTComparison of aloe vera mouthwash with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% on oral lichen planus: a randomized double-blinded clinical trial2011n=46
4-week RCT in 46 oral lichen planus patients found aloe vera mouthwash and triamcinolone both reduced pain and lesion scores similarly; 74% versus 78% showed healing at follow-up.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
- Participants
- 46
MetaInterventions for treating oral lichen planus2011
Cochrane review of 28 oral lichen planus trials found weak evidence aloe vera may reduce pain versus placebo; no steroid-placebo trials were identified, limiting treatment comparisons.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
RCTEfficacy of aloe vera gel in the treatment of vulval lichen planus2008n=17
8-week double-blind RCT in 34 women with vulval lichen planus found 82% of aloe-treated patients improved at least 50% versus 5% on placebo, with no side effects.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Population
- Women with vulval lichen planus
- Participants
- 17
EchinaceaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- No summary is available.
Browse 1 study
RCTEvaluation of the efficacy of Echinacea on clinical indices of Erosive Oral Lichen Planus: A randomized double-blind clinical trial2022n=70
In 70 patients with erosive oral lichen planus over 35 days, systemic echinacea plus topical steroids significantly reduced pain (VAS), lesion size, and lesion number versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 35 days
- Population
- OLP patients
- Participants
- 70
- Ages
- 20–60
SeleniumView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research suggests that applying selenium gel to the inside of the mouth for 6 weeks may help reduce pain from oral lichen planus after 12 weeks.
- Taking selenium pills twice daily for 6 weeks seems to work just as well as usual treatments like corticosteroids and antifungal medicines, but it doesn't seem to make a difference right after treatment.
Browse 1 study
RCTSelenium: A sole treatment for erosive oral lichen planus (Randomized controlled clinical trial)2020
In erosive oral lichen planus over 6 weeks, topical or systemic selenium improved symptoms similarly to topical steroids, with topical selenium showing lower pain at 12 weeks.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
Vitamin DView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if vitamin D helps people with lichen planus, a skin and mouth condition.
- A small study found that taking vitamin D once a week, along with steroid medicine, helped reduce pain and heal mouth sores better than steroids alone.
- But the study did not have a placebo group so results should be taken with a grain of salt.
Browse 1 study
RCTThe role of vitamin D in amelioration of oral lichen planus and its effect on salivary and tissue IFN-γ level: a randomized clinical trial2024n=40
In 40 oral lichen planus patients, adding vitamin D to systemic steroids for 4 weeks improved pain relief, clinical lesion resolution, and reduced salivary IFN-γ more than steroids alone.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 1 month
- Population
- Patients
- Participants
- 40
AshwagandhaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain if applying ashwagandha helps oral lichen planus.
- One small study found that using ashwagandha twice daily for 4 months reduced pain, burning, and the size of mouth sores, similar to turmeric or aloe vera.
- The study did not compare it to placebo or usual treatment, so more research is needed.
Browse 1 study
Evaluation of Turmeric, Ashwagandha, and Aloe Vera in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus Lesion2024n=30
In 30 oral lichen planus patients over 3 weeks, topical ashwagandha paste reduced lesion size and pain similarly to turmeric and aloe vera.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Population
- Patients with oral lichen planus
- Participants
- 30
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe | ★★★★★72% | 9 | 1 | 69% |
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 8% |
| Echinacea | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 8% |
| Selenium | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 8% |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 8% |