Oral manifestations of skin diseases

Introduction:

Dermatological diseases, besides involving the skin and

its appendages may also involve the oral cavity. The lesions of oral
cavity in dermatological disorders deserve special attention,
considering that they may be the presenting clinical feature or the
only sign of these disorders. Moreover, oral mucosal lesions in skin
diseases can be life-threatning and also affect the quality of life in
terms of pain, discomfort, social and functional limitations1.
Currently, dermatoses constitute an area of great scientific and
odontological interest, considering that oral lesions can precede
cutaneous marks for long periods of time, being, sometimes, the only
signs of the disease.
In this context, the most expressive pathologies are lichen
planus,lupus erythematous,erythema multiforme, phemphigus
vulgaris and the group of the pemphigoid lesions. The most common
clinical presentation found was reticular lichen planus located most
predominantly in the buccal mucosa2. Accordingly the autoimmune
disorders include PV and bullous and cicatricial pemphigoid, and the
connective tissue disorders include LE. Many of these lesions are
caused due to drugs, most common being EM. Few are classified as
infections, and the most common viral infection presenting as
vesiculobullous lesion is herpes virus infection.4 Many of these
manifest themselves in the oral cavity during their chronic course,
either initially or later or simultaneously. According to the literature,
LP and herpes infection are the most common mucocutaneous lesions
affecting the oral mucosa, followed by EM and PV. The least number
was recorded in psoriasis and epidermolysis bullosa. 3. The
immunopathologic mucosal diseases as a group present as somewhat
commonly occurring inflammatory mucocutaneous lesions. These
lesions can appear as erythematous mucosal changes with associated
keratoses, ulcerations (erosive areas), desquamation, and
occasionally, bullae in the oral cavity2.

The intraoral exam shoud be incorporated to the

routine of dermatologic assistance as the oral manifestations can
represent preliminary signs or can coexist with the diseases. The
knowledge of these pathologies by the dental surgeon is of
fundamental importance as he/she is responsible for an early
diagnosis and for providing adequate treatment.3Oral mucosal
lesions may present to a dermatologist as well as a dental surgeon,
thus improving the knowledge about them in both the settings will
strengthen and enhance interdisciplinary and multisectoral approach
and lead to better management of such patients1 .