HPI: This 37 yo woman has had recurrent cheilitis for 18 – 20 years. She works as a medical assistant. At one time, she was thought to be latex sensitive because blowing up balloons makes her feel sick, but a RAST test was negative. The episodes last five to six days. The day before the present episode she had eaten a “Mediterranean Dip” which included cucumber, garlic, feta, tomato, and horseradish. She noted nothing till the next morning when there was mild erythema of upper lip. She may have a history of mild atopic dermatitis. She can recall no meds she took before this or other episodes.
O/E: Erythema and mild crusting of lips and adjacent glabrous skin. Remainder of exam normal. Occasionally she’ll have mild erythema around outer canthi.
Photos:
Lab/Path: N/A
Diagnosis: ? Allergic Cheilitis. Role of Foods? Doubt Fixed Drug Eruption. To me this looks like an allergic contact cheilitis.
Questions: What would be the best way to work this up? This woman has 3 - 4 episodes per year, so it is unlikely that her cheilitis is related to something whe uses daily, and she does not recall anything she applies only intermittently.
Reference:
Allergic contact cheilitis in the United Kingdom: a retrospective study.
Strauss RM, Orton DI.
Am J Contact Dermat. 2003 Jun;14(2):75-7.
Abstract: Environmental and Contact Dermatitis Unit, Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street,
Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0JD, United Kingdom. strauss@strauss.karoo.co.uk
BACKGROUND: To date, only a few cohorts of patients with allergic cheilitis have
been described, most of them from Australia and Asia. OBJECTIVE: To establish the
prevalence of cheilitis in a UK specialist contact dermatitis clinic and to
identify the most common allergens. METHOD: We analyzed our patch-test database
in a tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom, retrospectively. All
patients presenting with cheilitis over a 19-year period (1982 to 2001) were
included. RESULTS: Data were available from a total of 146 patients. A positive
allergic patch-test reaction was thought to be relevant in 15% of the patients (n
= 22) and to be of possible relevance in 6.8% (n = 10). Of the 22 patients with
relevant allergic results, 95% (n = 21) were women. The most common allergens
included fragrance mix (mainly cinnamaldehyde, oak moss, and isoeugenol) in 41%
of patients, shellac in 18%, colophony in 18%, and Myroxylon pereirae in 14%. For
half of the patients, the allergen was believed to stem from lipsticks or lip
products. Eighteen percent of patients with allergic cheilitis reacted to only
their own products. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be tested to extended
lipstick/cosmetic vehicle series in addition to standard series. As a significant
percentage of patients react to their own products only, a thorough clinical
history and testing to patients' own products are important.
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