Definition

Noun: * A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the lips. This often presents as redness, swelling, dryness, and cracking of the skin on the lips.

Usage

"Cheilitis" is a medical term used primarily in healthcare, dermatology, and clinical contexts. It refers to the symptom or diagnosis of lip inflammation, which can have various causes.

Examples

• The patient presented with painful cheilitis, likely due to an allergic reaction to a new lip balm.
• Angular cheilitis is a specific type that affects the corners of the mouth.
• Chronic sun exposure can lead to actinic cheilitis.

Advanced Usage

• Diagnostic Specification: The term is often modified by an adjective to specify the cause or type, e.g., , , .
• Clinical Description: It is used to describe an objective finding during a physical examination.

Variants and Related Words

• Cheilosis (noun): A term sometimes used interchangeably with cheilitis, though it may specifically imply nutritional deficiencies (like vitamin B) as a cause.

Synonyms

• Lip inflammation (a descriptive, non-technical synonym)
• Chapped lips (a common, non-medical term for a mild form; not a direct synonym for all types)

Different Meanings

"Cheilitis" has a single, specific meaning in medical terminology related to inflammation of the lips. It does not have common non-medical meanings.

Idioms

There are no common idioms using the word "cheilitis."

Phrasal Verbs

There are no phrasal verbs using the word "cheilitis."

Noun

1. inflammation and cracking of the skin of the lips