Epidemiology of eczematous cheilitis at a tertiary dermatological referralcentre in Singapore

In a retrospective epidemiologic study of 202 patients with eczematous chei litis attending a patch test clinic, females (182 (90%)) predominated over males (20 (10%)). The mean age of our patients was 30.9 years. There was no significant difference between the mean age of females (31 years) presenti ng with cheilitis compared to males (29 years). Endogenous cheilitis (53%) was the commonest diagnosis, followed by allergic contact dermatitis (34%) and irritant contact dermatitis (5.4%). A personal history of atopy was rec orded in 33%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of atop y between the sexes or among the diagnoses. The mean duration of cheilitis was 16.4 months. The duration was significantly longer in males (29 months) than in females (15 months) (p=0.004). The mean number of positive patch t est reaction in patients with allergic contact cheilitis (2.8) was signific antly higher than in those with irritant contact cheilitis (0.2) (p= 0.012) or endogenous cheilitis (0.5) (p=0.00). The commonest cause of allergic co ntact cheilitis were lip cosmetics, including lipsticks and lipbalms, follo wed by toothpastes. The commonest cause of irritant contact cheilitis was l ip-licking, lipsticks and medication. In 81/202 (40%) patients, 1 or more c auses of contact cheilitis could be ascertained. In females, lip cosmetics were the commonest cause, accounting for 54% (44/81) of cases. Toothpastes accounted for 21% (17/81), followed by topical medication 7% (6/81). For ma les, toothpastes were the commonest cause of allergic contact cheilitis. Ri cinoleic acid and the patient's own lip preparations were the commonest rel evant contact allergens.