Differential Diagnosis for Purple Spots on Lips
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Angiokeratoma: A benign vascular lesion that can appear as small, purple spots on the lips, often due to increased blood vessel visibility.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Petechiae: Small, pinpoint spots that can appear purple due to minor bleeding under the skin, often caused by trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or certain medications.
- Eczema or contact dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin can lead to purple discoloration, especially if the lips are involved.
- Oral melanotic macule: A harmless, flat spot that can appear purple or brown due to an increase in melanin.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Kaposi's sarcoma: A type of cancer that can cause purple lesions on the lips, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
- Thrombocytopenia: A low platelet count can lead to easy bruising and petechiae, which may appear as purple spots on the lips.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels can cause a range of symptoms, including purple spots on the lips.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Fabry disease: A genetic disorder that can cause angiokeratomas, including on the lips.
- Scurvy: A vitamin C deficiency that can lead to poor collagen production, causing blood vessels to become fragile and visible as purple spots.
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the buildup of abnormal proteins, which can cause purple spots or patches on the skin, including the lips.