Angular cheilitis, also known as perlechia, cheilosis, or angular stomatitis, is an inflammatory lesion at the corners of the mouth and often presents bilaterally. The condition manifests as deep cracks or indentations, which can bleed in severe cases when the mouth is opened. This can often cause superficial ulcers or scabs to form. Anyone can be prone to the condition, but people with poorly fitted dentures; people suffering from diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism; and people who eat unhealthily and do not have enough vitamins and iron in their diets are more prone to this condition. There are numerous symptoms that can help you identify this condition, including softness and tenderness in the tissues around the corners of the mouth, ulceration, cracking and fissuring of the corners of the mouth, redness, and drainage of pus.
Cheilosis can be caused by a number of different things, and before a doctor can treat angular cheilitis, they must find out what the cause is. When it is caused by fungi, treatment usually consists of applying an antifungal cream or solution. The creams contain an antifungal that kills the fungus and steroids that heal swelling and redness. For perlechia caused by bacteria, the doctor usually prescribes an antibiotic, but vitamins may also be prescribed to help boost the immune system and speed healing.
In some cases, especially those involving elderly patients, this condition is often diagnosed as the result of a deficiency of vitamins, particularly vitamin B1, B12, or iron. Doctors will treat angular cheilitis caused by vitamin deficiency by prescribing vitamin supplements, which will need to be taken regularly to heal the lesions.
Chapped lips can also be a cause of cheilitis. This usually happens during winter or in extremely cold conditions. Cheilitis caused by chapped lips can get worse over time due to constant licking of the lips. The patient’s saliva can accelerate the spread of bacteria in the affected area. This can also be very common among children with this condition. Treat angular cheilitis caused by constant lip licking by applying lip balm or petroleum jelly; This will prevent further division of the corners of the mouth.
If you have dentures, it is recommended to place or soak them in an antibacterial solution overnight to prevent bacteria from spreading to the dentures and eventually infecting your mouth. Ill-fitting dentures can also be a cause of angular cheilitis and should be rectified as soon as possible.
If you have angular cheilitis and would like a more natural approach to treating it, the following can also be used: allicin, created by crushing garlic; tea tree oil; Citronella oil, obtained from lemongrass leaves; Iodine; olive leaves Orange oil; Palmarosa oil; Patchouli; Lemon myrtle; Neem seed oil; Coconut oil; Zinc, obtained from dietary supplements or natural foods such as pumpkin seeds or chickpeas; and selenium, which is found in Brazil nuts.
Angular cheilitis is not an infection of the mother’s mouth; It can develop into a condition that, when left on for a long time, cannot be treated as easily. So keep an eye out for symptoms, and if you suspect angular cheilitis, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible.