Stories
Influencer Sarah Sarosh Diagnosed with Rare Skin Disease Lichen Planus Pigmentosus
- •Entrepreneur and influencer Sarah Sarosh was diagnosed with Lichen Planus Pigmentosus (LPP) after noticing spreading dark patches on her skin following a beach vacation.
- •She initially mistook the pigmentation for a severe sunburn, but after a year of it worsening, a dermatologist diagnosed her with the rare chronic inflammatory skin condition.
- •Sarosh believes extreme stress from witnessing a major fire at her warehouse triggered the autoimmune response, as stress and trauma are known to affect inflammatory conditions.
- •Lichen Planus Pigmentosus causes grey-brown or dark patches mostly on the face, neck, and torso, and is often seen in middle-aged patients of colour.
- •She urges anyone experiencing persistent, spreading pigmentation to consult a dermatologist rather than treating it like a normal tan.
Key Questions Answered
Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) is a rare, chronic inflammatory skin condition where skin inflammation leads to increased pigmentation, usually presenting as stubborn grey-brown or dark patches on areas like the face, neck, back, and chest.
Sarah Sarosh first noticed dark patches while on a beach vacation in Goa and initially mistook them for a severe sunburn. After the pigmentation continued to spread across her back and chest for a year, she finally consulted a dermatologist and received her LPP diagnosis.
The exact cause of LPP is not completely understood, but it is linked to an immune-mediated inflammatory process. Potential triggers and causes include an autoimmune response, sun and UV radiation exposure, genetic predisposition, chemical or drug exposure, and severe stress.
