At times, the corners of our mouths become excessively dry and start cracking. Have you wondered what we call this condition? Well, it is a harrowing and uncomfortable oral disease known as cheilitis or angular cheilitis. Also known as perleche, this problem manifests in dry and inflamed mouth corners, lesions or fissures on the corners, and excruciating pain. Angular cheilitis may either be viral or bacterial, and the causative factors may be numerous. So first, let us find out the root causes of angular cheilitis and how to prevent them. Show Causes of angular cheilitis The two main causative factors of cheilitis are – external and internal factors. The condition’s external causes include allergic reactions to cosmetics or drugs and exposure to extreme heat or cold or the sun. This type of cheilitis can be termed contact cheilitis. The internal causes of cheilitis include oral infection, autoimmune disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and age-related factors. We must be mindful of the ingredients we put on our lips and inside our mouths. Therefore, patch testing lipsticks and other makeup products become crucial.
Ways to prevent cheilitis Precaution is better than cure, and this statement has unrivaled affirmation in the area of dental health. So, it is better to be aware and follow the necessary steps to avoid the occurrence of cheilitis in the first place. If you bite or lick your lips often, you must get rid of that habit. You should avoid the prolonged use of lipsticks and lip liners. Eating vegetables and fruits abundant in vitamin A, vitamin B12, and zinc is necessary. Being particular of the products you use on your mouth and the foods you eat will go a long way. Skip to content[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] So, you have really painful cracks on the corner of your mouth. The corners of your mouth are red, swollen and cracked. And they hurt – like really hurt. It hurts to talk, smile, eat and oh, jeez, you’ll do anything to keep from yawning! Is it from the cold? Is it from chapped lips? And why doesn’t lip balm help? You, my friend, most likely have what’s called Angular Cheilitis (key-light-us). Unlike chapped lips, which are caused by dryness, Angular Cheilitis is a fungal infection which is why your lip balm isn’t doing a whole lot. WHAT CAUSES ANGULAR CHEILITIS?There are several causes or health issues that might make you more likely to get ANGULAR CHEILITIS –
HOW DO I TREAT ANGULAR CHEILITIS?Having said all of that, you may not have any of these issues and still get cracked lips. So what can you do to treat it? If you think you have it, doctors recommend a 1-percent hydro cortisone cream along with an antifungal, you know, the over-the-counter stuff they use to treat athlete’s foot. You should definitely use them together since using just the hydro cortisone can decrease your immune system where it’s applied and make the infection even worse. If after a few weeks you’re still suffering from Angular Cheilitis, make an appointment with a dermatologist. You may need a stronger cortosteroid than you can get over the counter.CAN I AVOID GETTING CRACKED CORNERS ON MY MOUTH?Once you’ve had it even for a short time, you’ll want to avoid getting it again at all costs. Here are some tips for keeping it at bay:
Why does the corner of my mouth split?Saliva gets trapped and builds up in the corners of your mouth. When it dries, the skin in the area can crack. You may lick your lips often to soothe your cracked skin. The warmth and moisture in the corners of your mouth create the perfect conditions for fungus to grow and multiply -- and cause infection.
What heals cracks in corners of mouth?You may want to consider applying petroleum jelly or coconut oil to the corners of your mouth, which can form a barrier from saliva. Also, using lip balm regularly can help prevent chapped, dry lips.
What vitamin deficiency causes corners of the mouth to crack?B Vitamins Deficiency: specifically vitamin B-12 (Riboflavin) can cause cracked lips that have difficulty healing. Angular cheilitis is a severe and very uncomfortable lip condition in which cracks and sores are present in the skin at the corners of the mouth when there is a B vitamin deficiency.
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