Cheilitis
Encyclopedia
Cheilitis is a medical condition involving inflammation
of the lip
.
It is associated with many conditions, including megaloblastic anemia
from vitamin B12 deficiency
, iron deficiency anemia
(which in severe cases can lead to Plummer-Vinson syndrome
) and oral candidiasis
. It can also be a symptom of allergies, such as allergy to Balsam of Peru. Cheilitis can also be caused by taking the (retinoid
) drug Isotretinoin
(brand name Roaccutane) (BNF84).
It may also be a pre-malignant lesion for squamous cell carcinoma
.
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
of the lip
Lip
Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech...
.
It is associated with many conditions, including megaloblastic anemia
Megaloblastic anemia
Megaloblastic anemia is an anemia that results from inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell production. When DNA synthesis is impaired, the cell cycle cannot progress from the G2 growth stage to the mitosis stage...
from vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency or hypocobalaminemia is a low blood level of vitamin B12, it can cause permanent damage to nervous tissue as a long term effect. Vitamin B12 was discovered from its relationship to the disease pernicious anemia, which is an autoimmune disease that destroys parietal cells in...
, iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common anemia that occurs when iron loss occurs, and/or the dietary intake or absorption of iron is insufficient...
(which in severe cases can lead to Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Plummer–Vinson syndrome , also called Paterson–Brown–Kelly syndrome or sideropenic dysphagia presents as a triad of dysphagia , glossitis, and iron deficiency anemia...
) and oral candidiasis
Oral candidiasis
Oral candidiasis is an infection of yeast fungi of the genus Candida on the mucous membranes of the mouth. It is frequently caused by Candida albicans, or less commonly by Candida glabrata or Candida tropicalis...
. It can also be a symptom of allergies, such as allergy to Balsam of Peru. Cheilitis can also be caused by taking the (retinoid
Retinoid
The retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A. Retinoids are used in medicine, primarily due to the way they regulate epithelial cell growth....
) drug Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin, INN, is a medication used mostly for cystic acne. It was first developed for brain, pancreatic and other cancers. It is used to treat harlequin-type ichthyosis, a usually lethal skin disease, and lamellar ichthyosis. Its effects are systemic and nonselective...
(brand name Roaccutane) (BNF84).
It may also be a pre-malignant lesion for squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma , occasionally rendered as "squamous-cell carcinoma", is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells deriving from epithelium, or showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of...
.
Types
Cheilitis may be divided into the following types:- Cheilitis exfoliativaCheilitis exfoliativaCheilitis exfoliativa is an inflammatory condition of the lips, in which they may be covered with crusts....
- Allergic contact cheilitisAllergic contact cheilitisAllergic contact cheilitis is a conditions of the lips characterized by a dryness, fissuring, edema, and crusting....
- Actinic cheilitisActinic cheilitisActinic cheilitis is a form of cheilitis which is the counterpart of actinic keratosis of the skin and can develop into squamous cell carcinoma. In actinic cheilitis, there is thickening whitish discoloration of the lip at the border of the lip and skin...
- Cheilitis glandularisCheilitis glandularisCheilitis glandularis is a conditions characterized by swelling and eversion of the lower lip. Cheilitis glandularis is an acquired disorder, of unknown aetiology, characterized by swelling, ulceration, crusting, mucous gland hyperplasia, abscesses, and sinus tracts....
- Angular cheilitisAngular cheilitisAngular cheilitis is an inflammatory lesion at the labial commissure, or corner of the mouth, and often occurs bilaterally. The condition manifests as deep cracks or splits...
(Perlèche) - Plasma cell cheilitisPlasma cell cheilitisPlasma cell cheilitis is a condition characterized by a sharply outlined, infiltrated, dark red plaque with a lacquer-like glazing of the surface of the involved oral area....
See also
- Cheilitis granulomatosaCheilitis granulomatosaCheilitis granulomatosa is a condition characterized by a sudden onset and progressive course terminating in chronic enlargement of the lips....
- PlasmoacanthomaPlasmoacanthomaPlasmoacanthoma is a condition of the oral mucosa characterized by a verrucous tumor with a plasma cell infiltrate....
- Drug-induced ulcer of the lipDrug-induced ulcer of the lipA drug-induced ulcer of the lip is a condition characterized by painful or tender, well-defined ulcerations of the lip without induration....
- List of cutaneous conditions