Geographic Tongue: What a Dermatologist Should Know

Geographic tongue, also known as benign migratory glossitis, is a benign chronic inflammatory condition of the tongue. It is characterized by erythematous lesions with filiform papillae atrophy, surrounded by white limited areas in the dorsal and lateral aspects of the tongue, producing a map-like aspect. This lesions change in size and shape with time, and are characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission without scaring. The cause is unknown, but multiple associations have been described, which will be discussed below.