Three cases of plasma cell cheilitis treated by topical tacrolimus

Abstract

Plasma cell cheilitis, an idiopathic benign inflammatory disorder of the lip, is characterized by dense plasma cell infiltration in the upper dermis. It usually presents as circumscribed erosive patches or plaques on the lower lip of an elderly person. The cause of plasma cell cheilitis is unknown, and the treatment is often disappointing. Tacrolimus is one of the newer immunomodulators which inhibit T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine release. It is approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, and several reports have found topical tacrolimus to also be effective and well tolerated in other skin disorders, including other types of eczema, papulosquamous disorders, vesiculobullous diseases, vitiligo and connective tissue diseases. Herein, we report 3 cases of plasma cell cheilitis treated by topical tacrolimus ointment.