Cheilitis: A Diagnostic Algorithm and Review of Underlying Etiologies

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oral Medicine

Background:

• Cheilitis, lip inflammation, is a frequent dermatologic consultation reason.
• It affects the vermillion lip, border, and surrounding skin, with acute or chronic courses.
• Diverse etiologies include contact dermatitis, atopic, actinic, infectious, nutritional, drug-induced, and rare forms like granulomatous cheilitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review various cheilitis types, synthesizing novel cases, clinical presentations, histopathology, epidemiology, and diagnostic/therapeutic advancements.
• To provide a diagnostic algorithm for clinical management of cheilitis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing data on cheilitis.
• Compilation of clinical presentations, histopathology, and epidemiological findings.
• Development of a diagnostic algorithm for cheilitis management.

Main Results:

• Cheilitis presents with diverse etiologies, often leading to similar clinical signs like erythema and desquamation.
• Symptoms include dryness, redness, burning, fissuring, and itching, complicating diagnosis.
• A comprehensive review of diagnostic methods and therapeutics is presented.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of cheilitis etiology is clinically challenging due to overlapping presentations.
• Effective management requires distinguishing among numerous potential causes.
• The proposed diagnostic algorithm aims to streamline the clinical approach to lip inflammation.