Diseases of lips and mouth

Abstract

Numerous dermatoses involve the mucous membrane of the mouth. Inspection of the oral cavity is an integral part of every thorough dermatological examination. In some diseases, such as pemphigus or varicella, these manifestations are pathognomonic. Conversely, there are a number of diseases that occur exclusively or predominantly on the oral mucosa. Owing to the different tissue structure and the constant moistening by saliva, changes of the oral mucosa show a characteristic morphology that deviates from analogous morphology on free skin. The chapter deals with special diseases of the lips, tongue, and other sites in the oral cavity.