Factitious Cheilitis: Report of Two Cases.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Psychodermatology

Background:

• Factitious cheilitis (FC) is a rare psychodermatologic condition.
• It is often underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed as infectious or neoplastic lip conditions.
• Self-inflicted trauma to the lips characterizes FC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with Factitious Cheilitis.
• To emphasize the importance of identifying self-inflicted dermatoses in clinical practice.
• To underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach in managing FC.

Main Methods:

• Case report of two young adult females with verrucous lip lesions.
• Initial differential diagnoses included squamous cell carcinoma and pustular cheilitis.
• Diagnosis confirmed by clinical history and behavioral patterns indicating self-inflicted trauma.

Main Results:

• Histopathologic findings were nonspecific.
• Both patients were diagnosed with Factitious Cheilitis.
• Management involved topical treatment and psychological support referral.

Conclusions:

• FC presents diagnostic challenges and can be mistaken for other lip conditions.
• Recognizing self-inflicted dermatoses is vital to prevent unnecessary procedures.
• Consider FC in chronic cheilitis with atypical lesions, especially with psychiatric comorbidities.