Geographic Tongue: Understanding How Your Skin Can Affect Your Tongue
As described by Medical News Today, geographic tongue is a condition in which patches of the tongue’s surface are smoother, creating red “islands.” Further, these islands may be separated by lesions that intersect the tongue.
It’s an oral condition affecting only 3% of the general population that can significantly impact daily life. Some folks may have lingering questions about geographic tongue because of how few people receive the diagnosis and little knowledge of its causes. Throughout this guide, you’ll learn about the symptoms to watch for, the diagnosis process, causes of geographic tongue and treatment tips.
Signs and symptoms of geographic tongue
While some folks may be asymptomatic, others see noticeable symptoms if diagnosed with geographic tongue. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms. The severity of each symptom will vary with each diagnosis, as well. Let’s take a look at the most common signs of geographic tongue.
Bald patches
Papillae are little bumps on the tongue’s surface used to grip your food while you eat and are home to thousands of tastebuds. Someone with a geographic tongue may experience loss of papillae in sporadic areas, leaving behind smooth red patches that give off a bald-like appearance.
While bald patches may look severe, they’re a rather harmless symptom resulting in an increased sensitivity to different tastes like sour or spicy flavors. Having multiple bald patches next to one another gives off the appearance of a rough texture, despite the lack of papillae.
Tongue discoloration
A healthy tongue is pink in color, ranging in shades from light to dark. If you notice red patches with a light-colored border, then you may be experiencing symptoms of geographic tongue. Be sure to contact a medical professional with experience in tongue discoloration to determine whether or not this symptom is a sign of concern.
Sudden sensitivity to foods, beverages and oral care products
As mentioned above, papillae are home to your taste buds — without them, you’re bound to encounter some sensitivity to foods, beverages and oral care products. Even those with damaged papillae, like an inflamed tastebud, may experience a sudden onset of sensitivities. It’s difficult to predict the exact sensitivities you’ll personally experience with a geographic tongue.
Be mindful of any sudden sensitivities to sweet, spicy or salty foods — for it could be an indicator of geographic tongue. You may experience increased sensitivities to oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash, as well. Be sure to stop consuming/using anything that’s giving you discomfort and talk to a doctor as soon as possible to figure out what’s causing the sudden oral sensitivities.
Mild discomfort or burning sensations
People with prominent signs of a geographic tongue often experience some discomfort, like mild burning sensations, when consuming certain foods or using oral care products. This is to be expected because of the lack of papillae on your tongue’s surface. Stop eating/using whatever it is immediately and rinse your mouth using a mouthwash with an antihistamine to avoid experiencing any further discomfort.
Oral health concerns that share similar symptoms
It’s important to note that the above symptoms aren’t only signs of geographic tongue. They could be indicators of other oral health concerns, too. Here are a few oral issues that share the symptoms above.
- Contact stomatitis: Contact stomatitis is an allergic reaction that causes inflammation and pain in the mouth. These symptoms stem from allergic reactions caused by ingesting foods, beverages or using oral hygiene products you’re allergic to. Other signs you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to food include itchy throat or tingling in the mouth.
- Candidiasis (oral thrush): Oral candidiasis, commonly known as oral thrush, is a fungal condition that causes an overgrowth of candida in the mouth.
- Lichen planus: Lichen planus is a skin and mucous membrane inflammatory disorder. It mainly affects the wrists, ankles and lower back. However, it can spread to your mouth, as well.
Don’t just assume it’s something minor — contact a primary care doctor or visit the nearest urgent care center if you begin experiencing any of the above symptoms to get an official diagnosis.
What causes geographic tongue?
To this day, no research can conclusively draw a connection between the cause of geographic tongue. Instead, there are a variety of co-occurring factors that may imply a cause. However, since some people never show any symptoms, they may not be able to draw a connection to the true cause of a geographic tongue. While others may experience sudden symptoms due to exposure to the below common causes of geographic tongue.
Food sensitivities/allergies
Not only are food sensitivities a sign of geographic tongue, but they can cause it, too. Because skin inflammation and irritation are often associated with allergic reactions, it could lead to irritation of the mouth, as well. Those with food allergies who eat something they’re allergic to could expect a geographic tongue diagnosis in the near future. Be sure to contact your primary care physician immediately to see what over-the-counter medications/products they recommend to help alleviate the symptoms and prevent the chances of geographic tongue.
Skin disorders
Just as it sounds, a skin disorder is a disease that affects the skin — in some cases, including the tongue’s surface. Some skin disorders that may manifest as geographic tongue may include but are not limited to:
- Eczema: An inflammatory skin condition that can cause dry skin that might appear as scales across the body, including the tongue, which may appear as a geographic tongue.
- Psoriasis: A disease that is characterized by inflamed skin that typically affects the joints. However, 10% of patients with psoriasis have geographic tongue symptoms, leading many experts to believe that geographic tongue is an oral manifestation of psoriasis.
- Atopic dermatitis: As a type of eczema, atopic dermatitis shares many similarities — both are inflammatory skin diseases that can manifest across the body and in the tongue and both can be triggered by external factors. Many experts believe that the connection between atopic dermatitis and geographic tongue is psychosomatic — meaning that both conditions may be exacerbated by psychological conditions.
Of course, not every skin disorder exhibits oral symptoms, but certain studies have found that this may occur when patients have higher levels of immunoglobulin E.
Talk to your dermatologist at your next appointment if you have any of the above skin conditions to see if you’re at risk of a geographic tongue.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies — whether caused by an underlying medical condition or lack of nutritional intake — can lead to several ailments. This includes a geographic tongue. According to the National Library of Medicine, folks who don’t receive enough b vitamins, iron, folic acid or zinc are more susceptible to the geographic tongue. Other signs of vitamin deficiency include fatigue, dizziness and weight loss.
Stress and anxiety
Some industry experts suspect stress and anxiety to be a factor of geographic tongue. At this time, there has been no research to back up this claim of a causational relationship between stress and geographic tongue. However, stress and other psychological symptoms can co-occur with the disease. If you find yourself dealing with stressful life events or a diagnosable anxiety disorder, you may also find yourself dealing with symptoms associated with a geographic tongue.
Diagnosing geographic tongue
There are multiple medical professionals you can visit to diagnose you with geographic tongue. This includes your dentist or dermatologist. While all options are safe for a thorough diagnosis, you may need to see your dentist if it affects more than your tongue for it may require a further analysis. Be sure to research trusted professionals in your area if you don’t already have at least one of those mentioned.
The diagnosing process itself is generally easy and requires little time. Either your doctor, dentist or dermatologist will assess your tongue for the above symptoms during a routine exam. In rare cases, they may send you for a biopsy fur further analysis. This biopsy will typically rule out different disorders such as leukemia which may manifest as oral lesions — similar looking to the geographic tongue.
Treating geographic tongue
Those with geographic tongue may experience symptoms for a few days or weeks. In severe cases, even years. Luckily, there are multiple options for treating geographic tongue. Remember to seek an official diagnosis from a medical professional for guidance on which treatment option is best for you.
Natural treatment options
If you’re wanting to go the more natural route for healing, then it’s important to avoid any foods, beverages or products you’re sensitive to to prevent worsening side effects. Add nutritious foods to your diet rich in the vitamins and minerals above to assist with the recovery process. This may help if you’re deficient in any vitamins and may assist with other co-occurring skin disorders. Additionally, ensure to drink plenty of water to ensure your skin stays hydrated.
Medications
Your doctor may suggest you take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or a mouth rinse with an anesthetic to temporarily relieve pain until the symptoms go away. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, you may receive prescription medication, like methotrexate, acitretin, or cyclosporine to heal your geographic tongue.
- Methotrexate is a medication prescribed to treat psoriasis, for it helps reduce the production rate of skin cells.
- Acitretin is a prescription medication used to treat psoriasis. It is a retinoid that helps stop the abnormal growth of skin cells.
- Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive prescription that effectively treats psoriasis. It could be prescribed to treat organ rejection post-transplant, as well.
You may be given a prescription mouth rinse to use, too. Your doctor will prescribe you the best option to treat your symptoms if a medication is right for you. Be sure to be honest when communicating your symptoms, regardless of what you’re in for, to ensure you receive the best treatment possible.
Supplements
Eating a well-balanced diet isn’t the only way to increase your vitamin and mineral intake. You can take supplements for zinc and the other vitamins mentioned above to replace the lack of nutrients you’re not getting from your diet. There may also be supplements that may help with any co-occurring causes. For example, taking vitamin B12 cream or vitamin D may help relieve symptoms associated with skin disorders like eczema. Likewise, fish oil may be effective for treating symptoms of psoriasis.
No matter what kind or the intention, ask your doctor if taking supplements to treat and prevent geographic tongue is right for you.
Tips for preventing geographic tongue
One of the most effective ways to prevent getting a geographic tongue is to avoid the things you know you’re most sensitive to including the food you ingest and the oral hygiene products you use. Being mindful of your oral care not only prevents geographic tongue, but helps reduce the chance of serious illness, too. Additionally, maintaining your tongue and gum health through healthy habits may improve your overall quality of life. Healthy habits to consider include, but certainly aren’t limited to:
- Avoiding foods and beverages that damage your teeth and gums;
- Brushing your teeth twice a day;
- Creating and maintaining an exercise routine;
- Flossing daily;
- Using the right oral hygiene products;
- Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash.
Those who routinely maintain their oral health couldn’t do so without a trusted dentist in their area. If you haven’t already, take a moment to find one to add to your list of medical professionals to see on a routine basis. Doing so could be the difference between the quality of care you’re given when maintaining your overall health and wellness.