Summary
Cheilitis is an inflammation of the lips, affecting the vermilion zone or the cutaneous side of the labial mucosa. It is a very common condition, since this fragile area is often touched and exposed to various external chemical or mechanical factors.
The vermilion zone of the lips is a semi-mucous membrane that does not contain adnexal structures or salivary glands. The lamina propria is highly vascularised and topped with an orthokeratotic epithelium.
Cheilitis is secondary to an external or internal cause, which means that cases can be categorised into two distinct sections [1].
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Therapeutics in Dermatology, Fondation René Touraine © 2001-2016