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Actinic cheilitis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Actinic cheilitis is a disease caused by increased sensitivity of the red border to ultraviolet radiation (delayed-type allergic reaction), one of the symptoms of photodermatoses.
ICD-10 code
L56.SX Actinic cheilitis.
Men aged 20 to 60 years are more likely to get sick.
What causes actinic cheilitis?
Under the influence of prolonged and intense solar radiation, persistent inflammatory processes occur on the red border of the lips (usually 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 (solar prurigo, persistent solar erythema),
The main symptom of actinic cheilitis is an exacerbation in spring and summer under the influence of sunlight and the disappearance or sharp decrease in the intensity of inflammation in the autumn-winter period.
During actinic cheilitis, exudative and dry forms are distinguished.
Symptoms
In the exudative form of actinic cheilitis, acute inflammatory phenomena prevail - hyperemia, edema, against the background of which bubbles, erosions, crusts appear, and painful cracks may form.
In the dry form, the red border of the lips is bright red, covered with dry grayish-white scales. When the scales are removed, they grow again. Later, the red border becomes dry, rough, and easily injured. The process is accompanied by burning and pain. With a long course of the disease, chronic cracks, erosions, and foci of leukoplakia may develop. 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 from the dry form of exfoliative cheilitis, allergic contact and atonic cheilitis.
The dry form of exfoliative cheilitis has a long, monotonous course, the nature of which is not associated with insolation.
Allergic contact cheilitis is confirmed by anamnesis data and skin allergy tests.
Atonic cheilitis is characterized by a combined lesion of the red border of the lips and the skin around the mouth, especially in the area of the commissures, with pronounced lichenification.
[ Treatment
It is recommended to avoid sun exposure and treat lips with sunscreens (for example, Antihelios XL, SPF 60).
To prevent and reduce photosensitivity phenomena in early spring, photodesensitizing agents are prescribed orally, for example, chloroquine (250 mg daily for 7 days, then 500-750 mg/week).
A complex of B vitamins is recommended (especially B2, B6, PP).
To relieve acute inflammatory symptoms, ointments with glucocorticoids are used locally (only in severe cases of the disease).
What is the prognosis for actinic cheilitis?
The prognosis is favorable. However, actinic cheilitis is considered a background disease that predisposes to the development of malignant neoplasms, so its active treatment and dispensary observation of this group of patients are necessary.