DEAR DR. GOTT: You recently wrote about lichen planus and gold as a risk factor. I’ve had lichen planus for more than five years, and you are the only reference I’ve encountered that claims gold could be a problem. I have two gold bridges and two gold caps. Could these be contributing factors?

DEAR READER: This inflammatory condition can affect skin and mucous membranes. When on the skin, it resembles raised, flat bumps or lesions that are itchy and somewhat purple in color. They can crust or scab, resembling poison ivy or other forms of plant dermatitis. When mucus membranes of the mouth are affected, white patches that resemble lace can appear and be quite painful. Lichen planus occurs when the immune system attacks the cells of the skin or mucus membranes.
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