Chapped Lips Corner? Understand Causes and Treatments

Chapped Lips Corner? Understand Causes and Treatments

Explore the causes, symptoms, and treatments for angular cheilitis, the chapped or cracked corners of your lips; understand how moisture, infections, or nutritional deficiencies can play a role in this condition.


Okay, so you’ve noticed those pesky little cracks at the corners of your lips, right? They can be super annoying and, well, kinda painful. What’s up with that?

We’re gonna take a closer look at angular cheilitis, you know, that condition that causes chapped, cracked, or inflamed corners of your mouth, where your upper and lower lips meet. It can be caused by everything from a vitamin deficiency to a yeast infection – who knew?!

What Is Angular Cheilitis?

Angular cheilitis usually shows up as pain at the corners of your lips. The pain can be pretty intense right there, but if you don’t treat it properly, it can spread to the rest of your lips. So, it’s important to see a doctor quickly to figure out what’s causing it and get the right treatment. We’ve seen it drag on for weeks if folks don’t get it checked out, it can make eating uncomfortable and who wants that, right?

Symptoms of Angular Cheilitis

Angular cheilitis symptoms can include:

  • Redness or swelling around the corners of your lips.
  • Cracks, blisters, or crusting at the corners of your mouth.
  • Pain in one or both corners of your mouth.
  • Splitting of the skin, especially at the lip corners.

Causes of Angular Cheilitis

What causes angular cheilitis? Well, a few things can be behind it:

  • Exposure to constant moisture. That’s right, licking your lips too much, especially in cold weather, can lead to cracking and then infection. Think about it; when your lips are wet from saliva and then exposed to the cold wind, they dry out super fast!
  • Exposure to infections. Usually, these are due to:
    • A type of fungus or yeast, which can make the area itchy, red, and sometimes even cause little bumps.
    • A bacterial infection.
    • Or, a combo of both – fungal and bacterial.
  • Drooling, like while you sleep.
  • The natural structure of your mouth. Some folks are just more prone to it because of how their upper lip kinda hangs over the lower one, creating a deeper groove at the corners.

Risk Factors for Developing Angular Cheilitis

People with angular cheilitis often have diabetes, because diabetes weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and fungal issues.

Also, diabetes can lead to several skin problems and can cause frequent thirst and dry mouth, which leads to frequent lip licking, and, well you know the rest. This can lead to cracks and fissures, where yeast and bacteria love to thrive. It’s like the perfect storm for angular cheilitis!

Other risk factors other than diabetes include:

  • Weak Immune System

Angular cheilitis can be triggered by a weakened immune system, which can result from:

  1. Illnesses, such as AIDS.
  2. Treatments that weaken the immune system.
  • Genetics and Heredity

Heredity often plays a role in many medical conditions, including angular cheilitis. For example, kids with Down syndrome have a higher risk of this condition.

  • Other Risk Factors

Other possible factors behind severe or frequent angular cheilitis cases are:

  1. Nutritional deficiencies, like anemia.
  2. Oral thrush.
  3. Problems with diet and nutrition.
  4. Viral or bacterial infections near the mouth, like cold sores.

You know what *else* can cause these pesky lip corner cracks? Poor oral hygiene. Neglecting to brush and floss can lead to a buildup of bacteria and plaque, creating an environment where infections thrive and cause, well, you guessed it, angular cheilitis. It’s something we don’t often think about, and I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of skipping a floss or two on a busy night, but it’s a small change that can make a big difference!

Treatment of Angular Cheilitis

There are a bunch of ways to treat angular cheilitis. We’re going to list some here:

  • Fix Nutritional Deficiencies and Improve Lifestyle

If the angular cheilitis is because of diabetes, you’ll need to get your blood sugar under control. You might need medication and lifestyle changes.

Also, taking vitamin supplements can really help; many of us who get angular cheilitis have bad nutrition.

  • Use Medicated Creams

Even though they might not always work, sometimes doctors recommend medicated creams. If the infection is the main cause, you might need an antifungal or antibiotic cream.

  • Keep Lips Moisturized

Keeping the area clean and moisturized can really help prevent cracking. To do this:

  1. Use a plain, unflavored lip balm often to protect your lips from the wind and cold.
  2. Avoid lip products that contain steroids; they can actually dry out the area and cause more redness, pain, and cracking!

Complications of Angular Cheilitis

Sometimes, angular cheilitis can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections that spread to other parts of your body if left untreated.

Usually, angular cheilitis isn’t dangerous and goes away within a few days if you treat it properly.

Prevention of Angular Cheilitis

Angular cheilitis can be prevented by keeping the area clean and moisturized. Here’s how:

  1. Use a simple lip balm regularly to protect your lips from the wind.
  2. Avoid steroid-based lip products; they often dry out the area, causing redness, pain, and further cracking.

Key takeaways

  • Angular cheilitis often appears as pain at the corners of the lips
  • Exposure to constant moisture is a common cause of angular cheilitis
  • Treatments include antifungal creams, antibiotic creams, and lip balms

FAQ, Myth & Facts

Is angular cheilitis contagious?

Yes, in some cases. If it’s caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, it can be spread through close contact.

Can stress cause angular cheilitis?

Stress itself doesn’t directly cause it, but it can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections that lead to angular cheilitis.

Is angular cheilitis a sign of an STD?

No, it’s not. It’s usually due to infections, nutritional deficiencies, or other local factors.

Does vitamin deficiency cause angular cheilitis?

Deficiencies in vitamins like B2, B3, B6, and B12, as well as iron, can contribute to its development.

Dealing with angular cheilitis was so frustrating. I tried so many different lip balms, and nothing seemed to work. Eventually, I saw a dermatologist who prescribed an antifungal cream, and it cleared up in a week. It was a relief because it was so uncomfortable to eat and talk!

I had those cracks at the corner of my lips for ages. I thought it was just dry skin, so I kept using lip balm. It wasn’t until my dentist pointed out that it might be a fungal infection that I got the right treatment. Now I know better!

My little one kept getting these sores at the corners of their mouth, and we couldn’t figure out what was causing them. After a trip to the pediatrician, we learned it was angular cheilitis, likely from constantly licking their lips. A little antifungal cream, and they were back to smiling in no time!

So, back to where we started – those little cracks at the corners of your lips can be a real pain, literally! But knowing what causes them and how to treat them can make all the difference. Turns out, it’s often more than just dry lips, and getting the right diagnosis and treatment is key to getting rid of it fast!

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