Pruritic, Burning Perioral “Lesions”: Your Dx?

Key Takeaways

Angular cheilitis presents as pruritic, red, burning patches at the mouth corners, often linked to nutritional deficiencies or infections.
Diagnosis involves clinical examination and may require lab tests to identify underlying causes.
Treatment depends on etiology, including topical antifungals, antibiotics, or addressing nutritional deficiencies.
Proper management is essential to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence by addressing the root cause.

Do you recognize these symptomatic red patches and plaques? What underlying disorder does the condition imply?

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This woman was concerned about pruritic, red, burning patches at both corners of her mouth.

What are these lesions--and what are the clinical implications of the diagnosis?