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Imagine this.

You make time to exercise. You try to eat a reasonably healthy diet, especially compared to most people. Then one day, you notice your hair thinning more than usual. Soon after, small bumps appear on your hand. Something feels wrong.

You go to the doctor. You are then referred to a dermatologist. Appointments happen, tests are done, and it still feels like a guessing game. Eventually, someone gives your symptoms a name: lichen planus.

Naturally, you ask, “What is that?”

The short answer is this: Lichen planus is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues (1, 2). This immune attack induces inflammation, which leads to many of the symptoms people experience.

As time goes on, more symptoms show up. You notice scalp discomfort. Mouth sores appear. Fatigue sets in. Other health problems follow. These symptoms are not random. They are connected.

Eventually, you learn something surprising. You have been living with low-grade chronic inflammation for years, and you had no idea.

This is precisely what happened to my client, Lori W. At the age of 55, she suddenly felt old. She was faced with health challenges she never expected and never wanted to face.

Omega-6 vs Omega-3: A Simple Way to Understand Inflammation

To understand inflammation, it is helpful to understand omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Think of inflammation like a fireplace.

• • Omega-6 fats are like fire starters. You need them to start inflammation when you are injured or sick.
  • Omega-3 fats are like fire extinguishers. They help calm inflammation once it has done its job.

Both are essential. The problem today is that most people have too many fire starters and not enough fire extinguishers (5).

When omega-6 levels remain high and omega-3 levels remain low, inflammation never fully resolves. It is like a fire that keeps smoldering. You may not feel it at first, but over time, it damages tissues and stresses the immune system (5, 6).

This kind of inflammation can quietly build for years before it shows up as a condition like lichen planus.

Lori’s Turning Point

After months of confusion, Lori decided to stop guessing and get tested.

She learned that her omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio was far outside the healthy range. For the first time, she could see why inflammation had been quietly building in her body.

Understanding this connection gave her hope. Instead of chasing symptoms, she finally had a point of reference to start.

What Is Lichen Planus?

Lichen planus is a long-lasting inflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system (1, 2).

It can affect:

• • The skin
  • The mouth
  • The scalp
  • The nails
  • The genital area

It is not contagious and not caused by poor hygiene. It happens when the immune system becomes confused and attacks healthy tissue.

How Lichen Planus Can Affect Hair

When lichen planus affects the scalp, inflammation interferes with hair growth.

Think of a hair follicle like a plant in soil.

If the soil is healthy, the plant grows.
If the soil stays inflamed and irritated, the plant struggles or stops growing.

Chronic inflammation renders the scalp an unfavorable environment for healthy hair (4).

This may cause:

• • Itching or burning
  • Tenderness
  • Hair thinning
  • Permanent hair loss if inflammation lasts too long

In Lori’s case, thinning hair was not just cosmetic. It was a warning sign.

What the ANA Test Really Tells Us

Many people with lichen planus have an ANA blood test that is very high.

ANA stands for antinuclear antibodies. These are antibodies that mistakenly react against parts of the body’s own cells (7).

The ANA test is not a direct test of inflammation. Instead, it shows immune dysregulation, meaning the immune system has lost proper control.

ANA is like a smoke detector.
It does not indicate the origin of the fire, but it shows that something has been burning for some time.

How Inflammation and ANA Are Connected

Chronic inflammation puts constant stress on the immune system.

Over time:

• • Immune cells stay activated
  • Inflammatory signals do not shut off properly
  • The immune system becomes more likely to attack the body itself

This is how long-term inflammation can contribute to high ANA levels, even though ANA itself is not an inflammation marker (3, 7).

Why Knowing Your Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio Early Matters

Many people wait until symptoms become severe before testing anything.

That is like waiting for smoke to fill the house before checking the fire alarm.

By the time ANA levels are high, inflammation and immune stress have often been present for years.

Maintaining an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio closer to 3:1 or lower:

• • Reduces inflammatory signaling
  • Supports proper immune resolution
  • Lowers the biological stress that contributes to immune dysregulation (5, 6)

This does not guarantee that autoimmune conditions will never occur, but it reduces risk and improves the immune environment.

If Lori and others had known their ratio earlier and corrected it, they may have lowered the inflammatory burden that contributes to immune imbalance.

Why Steroids Are Not a Long-Term Solution

Steroid creams or medications can reduce redness and itching, but they do not address the underlying cause of the inflammation (2, 4).

When treatment stops, symptoms often return because the underlying problem was never addressed.

The Big Picture

Lichen planus is not just a skin condition. Thinning hair is not just a cosmetic issue.

They are signs that chronic inflammation and immune imbalance have been present for an extended period.

The real value is not waiting for a diagnosis.
It is learning your risk markers early and correcting them before inflammation turns into disease.

What to Do Next

You do not have to wait until symptoms appear or worsen to learn what is happening inside your body.

If you would like to get an at-home test to learn your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, you have a few simple options:

• • Contact the person who shared this article with you
  • Email me directly at robert@dietfreelife.com
  • Schedule a free consultation to talk through your results and next steps

Be sure to ask about our special offer, where you can earn a free test after purchasing your first test at a discounted price.

Small steps taken sooner can make a big difference later.

References

1. 1. Gorouhi, F., Davari, P., & Fazel, N. (2014). Cutaneous and mucosal lichen planus: A comprehensive review. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 742826.
   2. Katsarou, A., Patsatsi, A., & Kyriakou, A. (2020). Lichen planus: Pathogenesis and management. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 13, 769–780.
   3. Zhou, Y., Chen, Y., & Wang, Y. (2018). Oxidative stress and immune dysregulation in autoimmune skin diseases. Journal of Dermatological Science, 91(1), 1–8.
   4. Ismail, S. B., Kumar, S. K., & Zain, R. B. (2007). Oral lichen planus and risk of malignant transformation. Journal of Oral Science, 49(2), 89–106.
   5. Simopoulos, A. P. (2016). The importance of the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in chronic disease. Nutrients, 8(3), 128.
   6. Stark, K. D., Van Elswyk, M. E., Higgins, M. R., Weatherford, C. A., & Salem, N. (2016). Global survey of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood of healthy adults. Progress in Lipid Research, 63, 132–152.
   7. Tan, E. M., et al. (1997). Range of antinuclear antibodies in healthy individuals. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 40(9), 1601–1611.
   8. Burr, G. O., & Burr, M. M. (1929). A new deficiency disease produced by the exclusion of fat from the diet. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 82, 345–367.

________

Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coach™, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.

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