Angular cheilitis – Why it occurs and how to cure it

Angular cheilitis or angular stomatitis is a fissure-shaped lesion that appears at the corner of the mouth, it is pretty annoying and painful.

Fortunately, cracked lip corners are not a severe problem and can be solved in a few days with the appropriate treatment.

Below we will explain why angular cheilitis appears, its symptoms, and the best treatments available.

Causes of angular cheilitis

angular cheilitis

The corner of the mouth is a reasonably delicate area that can be easily injured. In most cases, the fissure appears after suffering an injury to the site, even if minimal.

These lesions can occur when eating or performing gestures that can cause small cuts on the skin.

You are especially prone to these situations in very low temperatures since the cold causes dry lips and skin and makes them more prone to cracking.

In addition to physical injuries, there are other reasons why angular cheilitis can appear:

  • Deficiencies of vitamins A, B, and C.
  • Iron or zinc deficiencies.
  • Anemia.
  • Bad nutrition.
  • Candida infections (candidiasis).
  • Emotional causes such as stress or anxiety.
  • Abrupt temperature changes.
  • Allergic reactions to cosmetic products such as makeup and facial ointments.
  • Consumption of citrus or spicy foods.
  • Excessive exposure to the sun (solar cheilitis).
  • Ill-fitting dentures.
  • Weak immune system.
  • Although it is rare, it can also occur as a consequence of systemic diseases such as diabetes, cirrhosis, or HIV/AIDS.

Foods that cause cracked corners of the mouth

Cracked corners of the mouth can occur due to excessive and constant consumption of certain foods such as citrus fruits and excessively spicy foods.

This does not mean that a fissure will appear every time you eat these foods, it simply means that excessive consumption can make you more prone to developing cheilitis.

Symptoms of Angular cheilitis

wounds in the corner of the mouth

Among the characteristic symptoms of angular cheilitis, we have:

  • Redness of the corner of the mouth.
  • Dry skin and feeling of tightness when opening the mouth.
  • Small cracks at the corner of the mouth, may appear on one side or both (bilateral cheilitis).
  • Pain and burning when opening the mouth.
  • Peeling of the skin.
  • Sometimes bleeding can occur at the corner of the mouth.

Angular cheilitis treatments

In general, the treatment for angular cheilitis consists of applying creams or gels that contain steroids, antibiotics, or antifungals depending on the cause of the fissure.

For this reason, a health professional must be the one prescribing the cream with the correct medication for your particular case.

The best creams for cracked lip corners contain Clotrimazol, Nystatin, or even Dexamethasone if excessive redness and swelling are present.

When the fissures appear as the consequence of nutritional deficiencies or general health conditions, the treatment should focus on treating these conditions. This will indirectly make the cracked lip corners heal.

Acyclovir for angular cheilitis

Acyclovir is an antiviral medication, which means that it works by suppressing the symptoms caused by viruses, therefore, it is not genuinely efficient to treat cheilitis caused by fungi or bacteria.

Acyclovir can be helpful when injuries occur as a result of diseases such as HIV/AIDS or oral lesions caused by the herpes virus (cold sores), however, this is a rare cause, so in most cases, it is recommended to use antibacterial (fight bacteria) or antifungal (fight fungus) medications.

Angular cheilitis treatment at home

  • Aloe Vera: Applying aloe vera to the corner of the mouth can speed up the healing process as this plant has wound-healing properties.
  • Sage: Sage (salvia) is a plant that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Applying it to the injured area can reduce pain and discomfort caused by inflammation.
  • Chamomile: Applying cotton pieces soaked in a chamomile infusion can provide remarkable relief as it has anti-inflammatory properties, but it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that will help keep the wound free of fungi and bacteria.

Cracked Lips Corner Due To Accutane

Accutane is a widely used medication against acne, and it is highly effective, unfortunately, one of the adverse effects is irritation and dry skin, so it is pretty usual for patients to develop angular cheilitis after starting a treatment with accutane or any other isotretinoin.

You should never stop an Accutane treatment without medical supervision since it could worsen your acne. Your dermatologist must prescribe a hydrating cream and a medicated lip balm for cracked corners of the mouth to reduce the impact of isotretinoin while you are under treatment.

How long does angular cheilitis last?

Usually, an angular cheilitis fissure lasts between 10 and 15 days to heal, if after two weeks the injury has not disappeared it is recommended that you visit a doctor or dentist to determine the appropriate treatment.

Are Cracked Mouth Corners Contagious?

This depends on the cause of angular cheilitis, If these are caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, then it is possible to infect other people either by direct contact or by sharing personal items such as cutlery, makeup, drinking from the same glass, etc.

Angular cheilitis caused by nutritional deficiencies, anemia, or physical injuries are not contagious, let’s remember that physical injuries are the main cause of cracked lip corners.

Angular cheilitis vs. cold sores

Although these terms are commonly used as synonyms, cold sores are skin lesions caused by the herpes virus that can appear in different areas and cause other symptoms like itching and even pain, Angular cheilitis appears exclusively on the corners of the mouth and its most common symptom is the sensation of tightness when opening the mouth.

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