White marks on the tongue

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out today because I have a language problem that has been going on for 2 and a half years now and unfortunately I haven't been able to find a solution despite having visited several specialists.

Description

It is not necessarily very obvious on the picture, but the problem is the following one:

• Zone 1: I have lost all of my taste buds

• Zone 2: A small white circle appears at regular frequency and gradually extends over all of zone 1

• Zone 3: Other white traces which are in fact the remains of zone 2 which had previously extended

The pattern is always the same. Approximately every 10 days, a small white circle appears (zone 2) at the tip of the tongue. During the following days, it grows until it has expanded all of zone 1, with some traces remaining on the edges of the tongue (zone 3) and resulting in the loss of my taste buds.

When this happens, zone 1 is raw. The area is painful and the sensation is the same as that of raw flesh.

I didn't notice any particular trigger. The frequency seems quite regular, it takes about 10 days for the previous circle to have spread well and for a new one to appear. I sometimes have the impression that the circles can appear faster or the raw flesh feeling be stronger when my gastric state is a little sensitive (reflux) or when I am tired / catch a cold but without much certainty.

Other information

Another element to keep in mind, for almost 2 years, I suffered from quite pronounced gastric problems which created reflux and a very strong white coated tongue. It was at this same time that the problem described above appeared. The gastric problems have been resolved for about 6 months now.

Assumptions of the origin of the problem

Note that I have consulted dentist, ENT, dermatologist and gastroenterologist

• Candida Albican / Thrush (fungal infection of the tongue): I tried antifungal treatments (Fungizone and Triflucan) without any visible effect

• STD: Tests carried out, nothing to report

• Bacterial infection: Biopsy performed, nothing to report

• Geographic tongue: Hypothesis raised at the beginning but since considered improbable because 1) It is strange that it appeared spontaneously at 30 years old 2) There was no improvement / deterioration of the state whereas a geographic tongue usually has peaks and lows 3) A geographic tongue does not follow a specific pattern like the one described

• General assessment ok, no deficiency, infection or other (overall in good health, good nutrition, doing sports, etc.)

At this stage I don't know what to do anymore and I am therefore open to any outside opinion that could give me a new lead.

Thank you in advance for your help.

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