Tongue, Traumatic Injury - DermAtlas - Dermatology Image Atlas

Age

26 years

Pigmentation

medium

Organization

linear confluent

Color

pink

Morphology

depressed (atrophy, loss of soft tissue,scar)

Pattern

asymmetric

Comments

It is a regional custom among the Keralites to clean their tongue after brushing their teeth. In olden days the ribs from coconut leaves were split into 2 longitudinal pieces and used as a tongue cleaning tool. Eventually plastic strips became popular, but the present practice is to use a 'U' shaped stirp of stainless steel. This effectively scrapes off the papillae and with regular use the subject develops bizarre areas of denuation of the dorsal surface of the tongue. (Int.J.Dermatol 30:68,1991)

Description

atrophic pink patches

Image Added

9/2/2004 8:40:17

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PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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