Cheilitis, other causes – 16 cases

This quiz tests your ability to identify some other causes of cheilitis in 16 patients.

Sore lips are surprisingly common. Cheilitis (inflamed lips) may be acute, relapsing or chronic. The cause may be environmental, infection, or an inflammatory dermatosis.

Intermittent and irregular itching, soreness, swelling and blistering may be due to contact allergy; this tends to affect adjacent skin. A thorough history is required prior to patch testing to identify potential allergens. These include metals, fragrances and preservatives and may be found in lipstick, other cosmetics, musical instruments, toothpaste and mouthwashes, rubber balloons and food.

Chronic inflammatory skin diseases that affect both mucosa and cutaneous surfaces include discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planus; these may first affect the lips.

For each of the sixteen cases, study the image(s) and then answer the questions. You can click on the image to view a larger version if required.

Each case should take approximately 2 minutes to complete. There is a list of suggested further reading material at the end of the quiz.

When you finish the quiz, you can download a certificate.