Recurrent Angular and Exfoliative Cheilitis with Mixed Anxiety and Depression Disorder: A Case Report of Psychodermatology

Introduction: Cheilitis is defined as inflammation of the lip area. The factors that affect cheilitis include infection, mechanical factors, poor oral hygiene, factitious activity like lip licking or picking, psychological stress, nutritional deficiencies, and others. Cheilitis is also related to psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorder. Case: This case report is about a 20-year-old female with recurrent angular and exfoliative cheilitis and a history of mixed anxiety and depression disorders. Psychological stress fluctuation influenced the symptoms. The patient got hydrocortisone topical, urea topical, escitalopram, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and showed clinical improvement. Discussion: Cheilitis could be related to or triggered by psychiatric diseases, psychological conditions, patients’ habits, or self-injurious behavior. Other risk factors such as immune defects and B vitamin deficiencies are also considered to affect that psychodermatological condition. Conclusion: Cheilitis is one of the common cases in clinical practice. It’s important to explore psycho-dermatologic interactions. Physicians must consider patients’ psychological condition in recurrent cheilitis cases and provide proper treatment.