A review of common mucocutaneous disorders affecting the mouth and lips

Most oral involvement in the mucocutaneous diseases is related mainly to disorders with a prominent immunological component, especially lichen planus and pemphigoid. However, less common conditions such as pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA disease, erythema multiforme, chronic ulcerative stomatitis and other conditions may need to be excluded. Diagnosis is initially clinical, based on a full history, general, and oral examination but precise diagnosis can be difficult without further data and therefore biopsy and immunological studies are invariably required to confirm the specific diagnosis. Apart from improving oral hygiene, immunosuppressive therapy is typically required to control many of these conditions.