Medical expert of the article
New publications
Actinic cheilitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Actinic cheilitis is a disease caused by the increased sensitivity of the red border to ultraviolet radiation (allergic reaction of delayed type), one of the symptoms of photodermatosis.
ICD-10 code
L56.SX Actinic cheilitis.
Men are more often sick in the age of from 20 till 60 years.
What causes actinic cheilitis?
Under the influence of prolonged and intensive sun exposure, persistent inflammatory processes occur on the red border of the lips (often the lower one). Often changes on the red border are combined with other manifestations of sensitivity to UV rays on the skin of the face (sun prurigo, persistent solar erythema),
The main feature of actinic cheilitis is exacerbation in the spring and summer under the influence of sun rays and the disappearance or sharp decrease in the intensity of inflammation in the autumn-winter period.
During actinic cheilitis distinguish exudative and dry forms.
Symptoms
In the form of actinic cheilitis, acute inflammatory phenomena prevail - hyperemia, edema, against which background bubbles, erosions, crusts, can form painful cracks.
When dry, the red border of the lips is bright red, covered with dry, grayish-white scales. When removing scales, they build up again. Later, the red border becomes dry, rough, easily vulnerable. The process is accompanied by burning, pain. With prolonged course of the disease, it is possible to develop chronic cracks, erosions, foci of leukoplakia. With actinic cheilitis, the corners of the mouth are not involved in the pathological process.
How to recognize actinic cheilitis?
Diagnosis is based on clinical and anamnestic data.
Differential diagnostics
Actinic cheilitis is differentiated with a dry form of exfoliative cheilitis, with allergic contact and atonic cheilitis.
Dry form of exfoliative cheilitis has a long, monotonous flow, the character of which is not associated with insolation.
Allergic contact cheilitis is confirmed by anamnesis and by the setting of skin-allergic tests.
Atonic cheilitis is characterized by a combined defeat of the red border of the lips and skin around the mouth, especially in the commissure, with pronounced phenomena of lichenization.
[Treatment
It is recommended to avoid insolation, to work the lips with sunscreen (for example, antihelionios XL, SPF 60).
To prevent and reduce the phenomenon of photosensitivity early in the spring, photosessensitizing agents, for example chloroquine (250 mg daily for 7 days, then 500-750 mg / week) are prescribed.
Recommend a complex of vitamins of group B (especially В2, В6, РР).
To remove acute inflammatory phenomena, ointments with glucocorticoids (only in case of severe disease) are used topically.
What is the prognosis of actinic cheilitis?
The forecast is favorable. However, actinic cheilitis is classified as background disease predisposing to the development of malignant neoplasms, so its active treatment and dispensary observation of this group of patients is necessary.