A case of plasma cell cheilitis treated with topical pimecrolimus

Abstract

Plasma cell cheilitis is a rare, idiopathic, benign inflammatory disease of lips, characterized by dense plasma cell infiltrates in the upper dermis. It presents as erythematous patches with erosion usually on the lower lip of elderly people. Although, various therapeutic options, including topical steroids, intralesional injection of glucocorticoids, oral nystatin and topical antibiotics have been tried, none of them is promising. A 68-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of erosive patches with crusts on her lower lip, which was resistant to topical corticosteroids. A histopathologic examination revealed dense inflammatory cell infiltration mainly consisting of plasma cells in the dennis, consistent with plasma cell cheilitis. She was treated with topical pimecmlimus and after 2 weeks of application, the lesion started to get better. After 7 weeks it had almost disappeared. Herein, we present a case of plasma cell cheilitis treated with topical application of pimecrolimus.