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INTRODUCTION

The oral mucosa may be involved in any of a variety of conditions that also affect the skin. For this reason, the dermatologist must be comfortable examining the mouth, be capable of recognizing oral pathology, and occasionally must treat conditions within the mouth. For example, finding reticulate, white lesions on the buccal mucosa helps confirm the diagnosis of lichen planus. A draining sinus on the skin of the jaw probably tunnels directly from a periapical dental abscess. Many blistering diseases affect both the skin and the oral mucosa.

    The lower lip receives a great deal of sun, which puts it at risk for the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These tumors have a much higher proclivity to metastasize than their non-labial counterparts. While one searches the sun-damaged skin of an adult for lesions, the lip deserves examination as well.

    Like the oral mucosa, involvement of the genital skin occurs in several dermatoses. In addition, a variety of skin conditions are unique to the genitalia.

White/Cox: Diseases of the Skin, 2ed.(c) 2006, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.