Need Help With Angular Cheilitis(Cracks On The Corners Of The Mouth) - Skin Problems Message Board

InDetroit · 10-11-2006, 12:37 AM

Angular cheilitis (also called perlèche, cheilosis or angular stomatitis) is a condition where deep cracks and splits form at the corners of the mouth. In severe cases, the splits can bleed when the mouth is opened and shallow ulcers or a crust may form.

Causes

Angular cheilitis is most often caused by an infection—usually fungal, but it also can be viral or bacterial in origin. Studies have linked the initial onset with nutritional deficiencies, namely vitamin B (Riboflavin B2[1] and Cyanocobalamin B12) and iron deficiency anemia, which in turn may be evidence of poor diets or malnutrition (e.g. celiac disease). Physical causes include the over-closure of the mouth by someone without teeth, thumb-sucking, lip biting, and continual licking of the lips.

Less severe cases occur when it is quite cold (such as in the winter time), and mostly happen to young children/teenagers. The child may lick their lips in an attempt to provide a temporary moment of relief, only serving to worsen the condition.

Treatment

In mild cases in teenagers and young children, encouraging them not to continue lip-licking and applying to the lips protective paraffin-based ointment (such as Vaseline) or lip balms is normally very effective.

Depending on the cause, antifungal and antibiotic medication (e.g. topical miconazole oral gel that has dual activity), vitamins supplements, and dentures for a person without teeth can abate the symptoms."

I develop cracks on either one side of my mouth or the other, nearly every other week. I've tried vitamins..and vasoline doesn't help at all. I was diagnosed with Angular Cheilitis. Anyone know what I should try? I'm really quite tired of this. I've had the problem for years. Thanks for any help!

Mrs.Khan · 10-11-2006, 02:16 AM

Just try changing ur habits .U need to take less stress and eat healthy .I more thing .sometimes allergy or eczema also has similar symptoms . Did u change your soap or facial cream ??or have u started using some medicated ointment or soap ?

summerluvr · 10-12-2006, 07:29 PM

B12 shots help me..

I also get this when i eat food i am allergic too.. or can't tolerate well (i have food allergies) Have you noticed it after eatign certain things? try keeping track of what you were doing/ eating when you get it.

Takecare · 10-30-2006, 05:54 AM

It seems Fungul Infection, Just apply Candid cream for 2 Weeks to get O.K. And do "Takecare"

InDetroit · 03-07-2008, 01:53 PM

I wanted to revisit this, because I've found something that has worked for me. This may be useful to others with this same problem.

About five months ago I was going through the same thing... where one side or the other side of my mouth was cracking every few weeks. Would heal.. Only to crack again a week or so later.

I was able to get Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1%. Didn't know if it would work or not. Thought it was worth trying. I would put a very small amount on the corner of my mouth that was cracked. Would apply it twice daily.. and would only need to do so for a few days. After about a month.. the corners of my mouth stopped cracking completely. I have not had any cracking since then. I'm not sure how this has worked. The only thing I can think.. is that it's somehow strengthened the tissue at the corners of my mouth. But, I don't know. All I know is that after YEARS of having this problem..I no longer do.

It's also important to note that my diet has not changed since I first posted this. My diet is the same now as it was five months ago (No different than it has always been).. When I was dealing with the cracking. There has been no change in my vitamin intake either. Nothing has changed at all that would cause this problem to stop.. Except for using the Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1%..