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Sucking pads in infancy: A physiologic finding - A case report
Emily Pynn1, Camille Hamm2,3, Jennifer Beecker2,3,4
1Faculty of Medicine Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
Insights
Sucking pads, common in infants, can cause lip darkening in babies with darker skin. Recognizing this benign condition ensures accurate diagnosis and avoids unnecessary concern for parents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Infant Skin Health
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Sucking pads are common, benign lip lesions in infants caused by feeding.
- Limited documentation exists for these findings in infants with darker skin tones.
- This lack of representation can lead to diagnostic uncertainty.
Abstract:
Sucking pads are benign, self-limiting skin findings that develop on the red lip in infants as a result of repetitive suction and pressure during feeding. Although well described in pediatric dermatology, documentation of these lesions in infants with skin of color is limited, which may cause diagnostic uncertainty. We present a case of a 41-day-old infant with skin phototype V and a 2-week history of progressive fixed darkening and mild scaling of the lips. The mucosal areas were spared and there was no evidence of central cyanosis, clinically consistent with sucking pads. This case highlights the importance of recognizing sucking pads as a cause of lip dyspigmentation in infants across all skin phototypes and understanding normal physiologic variations among diverse populations. Increased representation of pediatric skin of color in educational resources is critical to ensure equitable and accurate clinical assessment.
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