Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is angular cheilitis?

A: This is an inflammatory lesion occurring at the corners or sides of mouth. It is marked with red, crusty rashes around your mouth corners. At times, there may be bleeding from these cracks when you open your mouth. In severe cases, pus may form in these cracks. The condition is painful and causes a lot of discomfort.

Q: What are the causes of angular cheilitis?

A: Doctors have not been able to find the exact cause for this condition. However, some sources believe that vitamin and iron deficiency is the cause. This, again, is denied by certain other sources. Ill-fitting dentures are also believed to be the cause. They lead to the collapse of face or mouth. Some sources even put forward the possibility of serious causes like sexually transmitted disease including AIDS.

One thing is certain – this condition is caused by bacteria or fungus. However, research is still on to ascertain whether the cracks occur first and then are inflicted by bacteria or fungi, or whether the cracks itself are caused by fungi or bacteria.

Q: Who are prone to angular cheilitis?

A: First of all, those who lick their chapped lips are certainly paving the way for this condition, if they don’t stop their habit now! Secondly, those who eat unhealthy diet expose themselves to vitamin and iron deficiencies, which are known to cause this condition. People suffering from diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism also fall “prey” to fungus or bacteria attacks. Those with incorrectly fixed dentures must get them fixed properly. They are heavily prone to develop this condition!

Q: How do you come to know its angular cheilitis?

A: When you notice cracks around your mouth, you better pay attention to them. If they hurt, you are on your way to develop this condition. Also, when you open your mouth wide and there is splitting accompanied by bleeding, that’s a sign of cheilosis. Sometimes, you also get bumps.

In a nutshell, dryness or cracking of lips, or anything wrong at the corners of your mouth should be given immediate attention. In the initial stages, the treatment is as simple as applying lip balm on your lips and taking a balanced diet to check deficiencies. You should not let your chapped lips turn into a harboring ground for bacteria and fungus. Ignore these signs and you’ll develop angular cheilitis!

Cheilosis can make it difficult to open your mouth. Opening even a small amount can cause pain or bleeding. This makes it difficult to talk and eat. Acidic foods can be especially irritating to the area. If it is difficult to speak then a person tends to isolate themselves from others. It is a condition difficult to hide because the mouth is such a prominent feature in our communication with others.

Those suffering with symptoms know the embarrassment of someone commenting that they have some food or something else on the corners of their mouth. Young children with cheilitis tend to pick at the area or constantly lick it which only aggravates the condition. Finding the right treatment depends on finding the root cause.

Angular Cheilitis can occur in older people with improper fitting dentures which allow saliva to leak from the corners of the mouth. Those who lick their lips frequently will allow saliva to gather at the corners of the mouth making a perfect environment for a yeast infection to develop. Very young children who use a pacifier may develop Cheilosis because of the constant presence of saliva around the mouth. It can also develop because of deficiencies in the B vitamins or iron deficiency. Obtaining a proper diagnosis is important to curing the problem.

Those who suffer with the symptoms of Angular Cheilitis may feel self conscious if people stare at them. Those with jobs that require them to talk to other people face-to-face, may find it difficult to not feel self conscious about the problem. Teenagers may deal with cruel remarks and comments from their peers.

It is not a serious or life threatening disease, but it does impact the social well being of a person. It often is mistaken for cold sores and others think it might be contagious but it is not.

Understanding the condition and finding the underlying cause in order to obtain proper treatment will help those affected by Angular Cheilitis to remove the negative impacts of this condition from their lives. They will return to feeling less self-conscious about their appearance and speaking and eating will not be so difficult.

Angular Cheilitis can actually come about in several different ways. Two primary ways that this condition is caused is through either a fungal or bacterial infection. The bacterial infection is caused by the same bacterium that causes Staph infections. The fungal infection is caused by the same fungus that causes yeast infections. Viral infections can also cause this disease. Antibiotics, anti-fungal treatments and other ointments can help treat these infections.

Certain bad habits like chewing on or frequently licking your lips will cause irritation which can eventually lead to the disease. The frequent licking makes the skin raw when exposed to cold, dry or windy weather. People who wipe or play with the corners of their mouth frequently also can develop the disease. The constant wiping puts them at risk for developing the sores.

The condition can also be caused by a lack of certain nutrients. Those with an iron deficiency known as anemia are more likely to develop the disease. Deficiencies of vitamin B-2, B-3, B-6 and B12 can also cause the disorder. Allergic reactions to tooth pastes and certain cosmetics can also cause the disorder. Certain drinks like orange juice can make it worse.

Immune system deficiencies like those that occur from being infected with HIV can also cause the disease. The inability to fight infection properly makes it much easier to develop the condition. Frequent sun exposure also puts you at risk for this condition. Losing your teeth or ill fitting dentures can cause the disease as well. If the facial muscles are not supported then the lips sag and allow moisture and food to get caught in the corners of the mouth. Increased moisture in the corners of the mouth makes for the perfect environment for the growth of fungus.

In infants and young children the condition can be developed in several ways. Thumb sucking and sucking on pacifiers can cause the disease through frequent rubbing in the area and increased moisture. Bottle feeding can also cause the disease. If you have infants or young children be sure to check the corners of their mouth for the development of the condition.