Comparative Efficacy of Topical Curcumin and Triamcinolone for Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. Its treatment is often symptomatic and includes topical and systemic corticosteroids. Although corticosteroid therapy is usually successful, it has side effects and thus, an alternative treatment is favorable. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of topical curcumin and triamcinolone for treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 50 patients (36 women and 14 men) in the age range of 38 to 73 years with OLP were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received 0.1% triamcinolone or 5% curcumin oral paste three times a day for four weeks. Assessment of the appearance score and severity of pain was done at baseline and at the end of two and four weeks and recorded in the patients’ questionnaires. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17 software, using the Mann-Whitney and Spearman's tests. RESULTS: With respect to pain reduction, nine patients (36%) in the curcumin group and eight patients (32%) in the triamcinolone group showed complete remission. With respect to the appearance score, one patient (4%) in each group showed complete remission. No statistically significant difference was noted between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Application of curcumin is suggested for treatment of OLP because of its desirable anti-inflammatory effects and insignificant side effects.