AbstractObjectiveTo examine the comparative efficacy and safety of topical administration for oral lichen planus.Materials and MethodsAn electronic database search (1st January 1946 to 1st May 2020) for randomised controlled trials identified 34 studies involving eight interventions (clobetasol, betamethasone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, fluocinolone, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and cyclosporine); these studies were subjected to network meta‐analysis using direct and indirect comparisons [efficacy indicators: clinical response rate, symptom‐reducing effect (visual analogue scale score), sign‐reducing effect (Thongprasom‐scale score) and relapse; safety indicator: adverse event occurrence].ResultsCompared with placebo, tacrolimus had the best clinical response rate (odds ratio (OR), 57.78 [95% CI 3.15–1060.52]; P–score, 0.8654) and cyclosporine had the worst (OR, 3.61[95% CI 0.20–66.62]; P–score, 0.2236); tacrolimus had the best symptom‐reducing effect (standardised mean difference (SMD), 1.06 [95% CI 0.41–1.71]; P–score, 0.9323) and fluocinolone had the worst (SMD, −0.54 [95% CI −1.44–0.36]; P–score, 0.0157); dexamethasone had the best sign‐reducing effect (SMD, 3.60 [95% CI 1.74–5.45]; P–score, 0.8306) and clobetasol had the worst (SMD, 2.63 [95% CI 1.66–3.61]; P–score, 0.2581); and pimecrolimus performed best (OR, 0.04 [95% CI 0.00–0.64]; P–score, 0.9227) and clobetasol performed the worst [OR, 0.60; 95% CI 0.15–2.45; P–score, 0.2545] in reducing relapse. Regarding safety, dexamethasone was the safest compared with placebo [OR, 0.37; 95% CI 0.05–2.57; P–score, 0.9337), whereas fluocinolone ranked low for safety [OR, 9.48; 95% CI 1.50– 60.03; P–score, 0.1189].ConclusionsThe relative ranking of topical administration varies according to the different indicators. Based on the joint consideration of clinical response rate and adverse event occurrence, dexamethasone, triamcinolone and betamethasone are recommended for better efficacy and safety. The optimal treatment for oral lichen patients varies under different conditions.