Pediatric lichen planus pigmentosus possibly triggered by mercury dental amalgams

Lichen planus pigmentosus is uncommon in childhood and its treatment is often challenging. We report a case of cutaneous lichen planus pigmentosus in a 10-year-old boy, without oral mucosal involvement, two months after an amalgam dental restoration. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological examination of a skin biopsy, the positive patch test to mercury, and the improvement after amalgam removal. Our case report suggests that metal allergy may play a role, and amalgam replacement may be followed by clinical improvement.