10 Causes of Geographic Tongue
Geographic tongue, also known as erythema migrans, is an inflammatory condition that affects the tongue. It is mostly seen on the dorsal surface of the tongue. It is quite common, affecting 2 to 3 percent of the population.
The lesions often appear to be well demarcated and concentrated on the lateral or tip of the tongue. The erythema (redness) is thought to be due to the atrophy of the papilla. The atrophic areas are then surrounded by elevated, serpentine, or scalloped whitish borders. These depapillated and smooth areas migrate with time. The name of the condition thus originates from the map-like appearance on the tongue where patches resemble islands of an archipelago. The lesions are generally asymptomatic, although some patients experience a burning sensation when eating spicy foods.
Although geographic tongue has been around for many years, the exact etiopathogenesis of the condition is still unknown. However, it has been associated with the following factors.
