Cheilitis Associated With Sensitization to Penicillium notatum in a Clarinetist

Cheilitis is an inflammatory process affecting the lips. It could be due to various causes, such as extreme temperatures, malignant conditions (actinic cheilitis), nutritional deficiencies, infections, atopic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis. Isolated cases of cheilitis due to contact dermatitis caused by sensitization to wood have been reported in wind instrument players. Allergic contact dermatitis is the most frequently reported allergic condition affecting violinists and violists. Here, the authors present a case of a 15-year-old boy consulted in 2017 for recurrent episodes of cheilitis. He had been treated with repeated cycles of a potent topical corticosteroid (clobetasol), and his clinical condition improved. He also reported a personal history of allergic hinoconjunctivitis due to sensitization to the fungus Penicillium and had rhinoconjunctivitis that was related to exposure to a fish tank in his bedroom. His symptoms resolved when the fish tank was removed and had also been diagnosed with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to grass pollen allergy that had improved notably after 4 years of sublingual immunotherapy. The physical examination was unremarkable, except for upper and lower lip cheilitis.