Cause 1:
Angular cheilitis is due to Candida infection, which is yeast.

The treatment includes topical anti-fungal gel and steroids such as Mycolog II. A second version of this steroid is Mycostatin®. Both the versions contain antifungal called Nystatin and steroid called triamcinolone acetonide. The anti-fungal destroys the fungus while the steroid eases swelling, redness, itching, and pain. However, you need to watch out for the side effects of the steroid. Besides, the topical cream has to be applied very close to the mouth. So, take care you don’t ingest it.

Cause 2:
Ill-fitting dentures cause angular cheilitis.

The dentures themselves may serve as the breeding ground for bacteria. Ill-fitting dentures should be at once fixed by the dentist. Also, you should soak your dentures overnight in some antiseptic solution to avoid bacterial infection.

Cause 3:
Chapped lips cause angular cheilitis

This usually happens with kids who often have a habit of licking their lips. Sometimes, high fever in children may also trigger this condition. The best way to treat cracked lips is apply lip balm to it. You can also apply Aloe Vera to the affected area. While your lips are chapped, it’d be wise to avoid lipstick or flavored gloss. You can use unflavored gloss though.

Cause 4:
Bacteria staph causes angular cheilitis

The treatment is an antibiotic medication like a topical gel or cream. One example is miconazole gel. It’s also anti-fungal.

Cause 5:
HIV is the cause

If you’re suffering from blisters continuously at the corners of your mouth, there’s a possibility that your immunity has gone down, which might be due to HIV infection. The best thing to do would be to enhance your body’s immunity by taking vitamin supplements, which are good immunity system boosters.

So, now you realize that you should never ignore cracked lips! A small lip problem can turn into an annoying infection. And this is around your mouth meaning you can’t hide it!

It starts from cracked lips and develops into angular cheilitis. Medically speaking, it’s the swelling of labial commissures (relax; they are just the corners of your mouth). Although the condition is not life threatening, it hits hard on your confidence and appearance. Besides, it’s painful. Also, at times, the condition gets too stubborn to go away by itself. There have been cases in which the condition has even lasted for five long years!

Causes

Medical experts have still not been able to dig out the exact cause of this condition. However, they have put forward certain reasons based on their studies. They are candidiasis, iron deficiency, malnutrition, Glucagonoma, and others. Patients of hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus are also more prone to developing this painful condition.

The other causes of angular cheilitis are:

• Constant licking of lips and corners of mouth
• Saliva accumulation around the mouth that creates a favorable environment for yeast and fungus to thrive
• Incorrect fixing of dentures

Symptoms

You can sniff danger lurking around the corners of your mouth if you notice:

• Bumps
• Dry and flaky skin
• Cracks that are painful
• Chapped lips for a long period of time
• Splitting which may lead to bleeding, while opening your mouth wide

Angular cheilitis is neither contagious nor something serious. However, it might lead to embarrassment, as it mars the beauty of your face. You may not want to attend a social event with fissures around your mouth!

The best way is to catch hold of this condition right from the beginning. As soon as you notice dry skin at the corners of your mouth or chapped lips, you should take treatment for it. The initial treatment is simple. Applying lip balm and avoiding licking lips work wonders in thwarting the development of angular cheilitis in its early stages.

In case you find that your home remedies are not working and the cracks are getting painful and persistent, you shouldn’t ignore the situation. Immediately consult your doctor. Your condition might be due to some other cause like vitamin or iron deficiency or even AIDS!

So, the next time you stick out your tongue to lick your lips, hold on! You might be paving the way for angular cheilitis!