Acute or chronic inflammatory states of the lips (labial submucosa) or labial commissures are called cheilitis.
It can be caused by a multiplicity of endogenous or exogenous factors, the most common being atopic dermatitis, contact irritants or allergens, chronic sun exposure and infection. Secondary involvement of the lips can occur in many skin and systemic disorders, such as lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, autoimmune blistering diseases, Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis and nutritional deficiencies. There are several types of cheilitis: angular, eczematous, actinic, glandular, granulomatous and plasma cell cheilitis.
The most common symptoms include erythema, dryness, desquamation, presence of fissures, inflammation, itching and burning.
Diagnosis is made through clinical history and physical examination.
Treatment will vary according to the type of cheilitis. It will be based on general measures such as maintaining optimal oral hygiene, use of barrier cream or petroleum jelly and medical treatment with topical corticosteroids (cream), intralesional or systemic (oral), antibiotics (in case of infection) and, depending on the evolution, surgery.
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