Clofazimine as elective treatment for granulomatous cheilitis

Cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) is a rare, idiopathic inflammatory disorder that usually affects young adults and clinically is characterized by diffuse, non-tender, soft to firm swelling of one or both lips. A variant of granulomatous cheilitis is Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome when associated with facial paralysis and furrowed tongue. Several treatments have been used with variable success. We report 3 cases of GC treated with oral clofazimine 100 to 200 mg daily for 3 to 6 months obtaining regression of lesions in all treated cases. Hyperpigmentation and elevation of liver enzymes were observed as side effects.