A geographic tongue also known an Atlas tongue looks like smooth, red patches on the top or side of the tongue that resemble and look like smooth, red islands.
Atlas tongue is an inflammatory although also harmless condition that affects the surface of your tongue.
Atlas tongue causes harmless tongue patches that resemble smooth, red islands.
Another name for Atlas tongue is Geographic tongue.
Symptoms of Atlas tongue are smooth, red patches on the top or side of your tongue and the patches may change in location, size and shape.
The patches on the tongue often heal and move elsewhere on your tongue before they clear up on their own.
There's no treatment to eliminate atlas tongue or geographic tongue, but your may recommend medication, including: Mouthwash with an antihistamine (medication to relieve allergic reactions).
While geographic tongue or Atlas tongue sometimes can cause tongue pain, it's a harmless condition.
To manage pain or sensitivity, your doctor may recommend medicines such as Pain relievers available without a prescription.
Specifically, B6, B12, and folate (B9) deficiencies have been associated with geographic tongue.
People who are vitamin B deficient are more likely to have bald areas on the tongue.
These areas are where the papillae have disappeared.
People who do not have enough vitamin B may also develop geographic tongue.
Geographic tongue is an inflammatory disorder of the tongue characterized by asymptomatic erythematous patches with serpiginous borders.
Candidiasis of the tongue may be confused with geographic tongue.