Exfoliative Cheilitis- From Challenges to Cure: A Case Report

Cheilitis refers to the inflammation of the vermilion border of the lips. Exfoliative cheilitis manifests on both upper and lower lips characterized by shedding of keratinized surface layers, leading to excessive peeling of thickened scales, redness and swelling. It is commonly associated with nutritional deficiencies, psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, self-injurious behaviour and is often exacerbated by habits such as lip licking and biting. We report a case of a twenty one years old female patient with the chief complaint of dry, itchy and cracked lower and upper lips. She was treated previously by a dermatologist for her lips without any signs of improvement. Intralesional corticosteroid injections of triamcinolone acetonide 40mg/ml were given once a week for a month with effective psychological counselling. Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment with oral multivitamins and iron supplements was prescribed. The absence of specific treatment renders exfoliative cheilitis a chronic condition significantly impacting an individual's quality of life. This paper aims to present a case where exfoliative cheilitis was effectively managed using topical tacrolimus and intralesional corticosteroids, resulting in alleviated symptoms without encountering adverse effects.