The various inflammatory conditions of the vermilion border of the lips are usually called "cheilitis" with varying qualifying adjectives. Since the vermilion border is embryologically closely related to the skin, it is not unexpected that the majority of cutaneous diseases may affect the transitional membranes of the lips.
The differential diagnosis of inflammatory processes of the vermilion border must include such common cutaneous diseases as lupus erythematosus, erythema multiforme, drug eruptions, pemphigus, lichen planus and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei. While certain cutaneous diseases, such as psoriasis, seborrheic eczema and pityriasis rosea, rarely if ever localize on the lips, other diseases, including herpes simplex, bullous erythema multiforme, certain drug eruptions, angioneurotic edema and syphilitic chancres and papules, show a predilection for this region. In addition, there are certain so-called idiopathic superficial and deep pathologic alterations which usually appear solely on the lips. These include cheilitis exfoliativa and cheilitis glandularis.
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