Background: Our objective was to carry out a systematic review of available data regarding pigmented contact cheilitis (PCC).
Material and methods: Electronic searches were performed using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and LILACS electronic databases. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool.
Results: A total of 2070 articles were retrieved, with 7 of them reporting PCC cases. Female individuals (n=6/85.7%) were more affected, with a mean age of 32±15.4 years (range: 22-47 years). Ricinoleic acid and gum ester were the most frequently observed allergic compounds, each present in two cases. Three patients had lesions in both lips (42.8%), while three other patients (42.8%) had lesions only in the lower lip. All reported cases presented with multiple pigmented lesions (n=7/100.0%). Associated symptoms involved itching, scaling, swelling, erythema, vesicles and papules. The mean evolution time was 13.5±15.6 months (range: 2-36 months), and the average follow-up time was 12±0 months.
Conclusions: This is a condition that often scares the patient due to the unexpected appearance of hyperpigmentation. For this reason, the information transmitted in this review is expected to be relevant so that the health professional can include PCC in their list of differential diagnoses.