Geographic Tongue
It is a benign inflammatory condition of the tongue characterized by red, map-like, atrophic patches on the tongue's surface. The reason behind these patches is basically the loss of filliform papillae in these regions. Its cause is unknown but it is usually seen in psoriatic patients especially those who have pustular psoriasis. Some of the other conditions in which a geographic tongue develops include food allergy, allergic contact dermatitis, asthma and reactive arthritis. Although developing a geographic tongue is usually harmless, some patients have reported to have a burning sensation of the tongue which is exacerbated by spicy foods. There is no cure for a geographic tongue. Mostly, it resolves on its own and the patient only requires symptomatic treatment for the burning sensation.
