Hairy Tongue

Hairy Tongue (lingua nigra, melanotrichia lingualis and others), a very rare condition first described by Rayet (1835), characterized by discoloration of the dorsum of the tongue in various shades from gray-yellow to black and varying degrees of hypertrophy of the filiform papillae. In the pronounced form, the dorsum of the tongue resembles a field of rye, flattened by the wind. The process is either diffuse or patchy. In the latter case, the location, shape, and color of the foci change arbitrarily. The disease lasts from several weeks to several years and spontaneously disappears. There are no subjective sensations with Hairy Tongue. Histologically, hypertrophy and hyperkeratosis of the filiform papillae are noted. The discoloration apparently depends on chromogenic bacteria. The etiology is unclear. Hairy Tongue is observed with dyspeptic disorders, functional nervous disorders, local irritations (smoking, antiseptics) and others. Treatment is poorly developed. The most reliable remedy is carbonic snow.