Freckles and irregularly shaped brownish areas (melanotic macules) are common around the lips and may last for many years. These marks are not cause for concern.

Cheilitis is defined as a superficial inflammatory condition affecting the lip (vermillion border), and can present as erythema, scaling, fissuring, or crusting. It may be generalized, or localized to one or more lesions. Although some edema may be present, the main manifestation is discomfort.

Erythema Multiforme (EM) is an acute, immune-mediated condition, induced by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection or by the use of certain medications and presents with cutaneous or mucosal lesions or both.

Erythema multiforme has a variety of appearances and often causes painful oral mucositis. Lip ulcerations are managed with topical corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids.

A patient presents with grouped vesicles on an erythematous base, affecting the lips and perioral region. The patient reports a history of similar episodes triggered by sunlight exposure and stress.

Angular cheilitis (angular cheilosis, angular stomatitis, perlèche [derived from the French lécher, meaning to lick]) is characterized by painful fissures of the oral commissures that extend from the mucosal surface to the cutaneous skin; maceration, erythema, crust, and scale are often present.

Grouped vesicular lesions, pustules, and erythematous ulcers tend to cover a larger area of the skin and mucous membranes in women than in men. In men, the ulcers are more frequent on the glans, prepuce, and penile shaft, where they may be very painful.

A lip rash can be an uncomfortable condition associated with redness around the mouth or small blisters on the lip. Common causes for rash around the mouth include irritation like constantly licking your lips, an allergic reaction, and side effect of medication, or an infection or STD. Read below for more related symptoms and treatment options.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (E) is a hypersensitivity reaction to medications that usually begins with a red morbilliform maculopapular rash involving the face, trunk, and extremities as well as the palms and soles. The rash then progresses to painful epidermal detachment in 1–3 days.

Perioral dermatitis is a red, bumpy rash that appears around the mouth caused by long-term use of topical steroids, asthma inhalers or thick moisturizers.