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Allergic contact cheilitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Allergic contact cheilitis is a lip disease, which is formed by direct contact with substances that can cause a delayed-type allergic reaction.
ICD-10 code
- L23 Allergic contact dermatitis.
- L23.2 Allergic contact dermatitis due to cosmetics.
- L23.2X The manifestation in the oral cavity.
The absolute majority of patients with allergic contact cheilitis are women aged 20 to 60 years.
Causes
Allergic contact cheilitis - a response to contact sensitization, which can cause a variety of substances, but most often cosmetics (lipstick, creams).
Cosmetic products are mixtures of many components, but the sensitization is more often caused by preservatives and stabilizers. Contact allergic reaction of the lips can cause plastic dentures. The main source of sensitization in plastic is considered to be incomplete polymerization products.
[Symptoms
Characteristic of congestive hyperemia, small edema, peeling, itching and burning lips. Perhaps acute course of the disease with the appearance of small bubbles, wetness. The process affects the entire red lip rim, but, of course, in some area passes to the surrounding skin, which creates a clinical picture of the blurring of the borders of the red border. The corners of the mouth are not involved in the pathological process. With prolonged chronic course, peeling, lichenization at the border with the skin, the appearance of cracks.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is based on a characteristic clinical picture (the transition of the lesion to the skin) and on the data of anamnesis (the use of new cosmetics, creams a couple of weeks before the appearance of cheilitis).
The final diagnosis can be confirmed by skin testing using the application method with the suspected allergen. However, skin tests do not always give positive results. In clinical practice, the elimination effect plays a role in confirming the diagnosis. Recovery or dramatic improvement after discontinuation of exposure to a suspected substance.
Differential diagnostics
Differential diagnosis is carried out with other, more often dry forms of cheilitis - dry exfoliative cheilitis, dry actinic cheilitis, exfoliative cheilitis (dry form) manifests itself strictly on the red border of the lip, never grabbing the borderline skin.
The dry form of actinic cheilitis has a clear dependence (exacerbation) on the effect of insolation.
Treatment
Treatment includes the appointment of:
- antihistamines (loratadine, desloratadine, cetirazine, etc.);
- preparations of calcium;
- glucocorticoid ointments [flumethasone + salicylic acid (lorindene),
- lokoid, fluocinolone acetoide (flucinar), mometasone, methylprednisolone aceponate (advantan), and others.
What is the prognosis of allergic contact cheilitis?
The forecast is favorable. To prevent the recurrence of the disease, repeated contact with the allergen is unacceptable.