Introduction: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disease affecting skin and mucous membrane. Oral lichen planus (OLP) appears clinically as symmetrically distributed rough white striations on a mild background erythema. Erosive and atrophic lesions characterized by causing sensitive sensation or pain ranging from episodic to severe discomfortable pain. Treatment of OLP is mainly by topical or systemic corticosteroids. Intralesional injection of corticosteroid was used for treatment of extensive or recalcitrant symptomatic OLP lesions. Various types of topical analgesics could be used in accompanied with corticosteroid therapy to decrease pain sensation in a safe way. Benzydamine Hydrochloride is used due to its anesthetic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory action as a topical non-steroidal agent.
Materials and Methods: Twenty patients participated in this study having symptomatic bullous erosive OLP. In the first group, ten patients treated by intra-lesional corticosteroid injection alone. In the second group ten patients treated with intra-lesional corticosteroid injection accompanied with Benzydamine Hydrochloride oral gel. Results: A statistical significant difference exists between both groups regarding visual analog scale by the end of first and third week. Also by the end of third and fourth week statistical significant difference exists between both groups in grades of clinical improvement which was in favor of the combination therapy group. Conclusion: Benzydamine hydrochloride gel is considered a simple, safe, well tolerated and effective method to reduce the severity of symptomatic oral lichen planus.