Angular Cheilitis - Definition, Causes and Treatment
Angular Cheilitis is also known under the name or cheilosis or angular stomatitis. This condition affects the skin around the lips leading to painful cracks most often in the corners of the mouth. In severe cases, the cracks can become inflamed, can bleed and sometimes infections are developed inside those cracks, which can make normal and banal actions, like talking or eating, a painful nightmare for the sufferer.
In most cases there is a cumulus of factors which lead to this condition. Probably the most important factor is the presence of moisture inside the mouth's folds. This moisture favors the accumulation of bacteria which will eventually lead to irritation and even infection. Shallow ulcerations are also very often in severe case, these forming a crust if they are not wiped out from the surface.
Apart from moisture inside the corners of the mouth and in its folds, the bad nutrition is also a factor which can trigger this condition. The lack of iron, zinc and riboflavin as well as a strong immune system that could effectively fight this type of aggression coming from the external world favor the fast development of Angular Cheilitis.
Chapped lips, which are continuously licked can easily transform into an angular Cheilitis, especially if the environment in which the individual lives is a humid or cold one. This is why, in cold weather people are recommended not to lick their lips as they will not bring any relief to the sensations brought by chapped lips, but rather make the condition worse. The salive does not moisturize the skin, but rather increases the risk of infection, as it contains lots of bacteria which can be quite harmful to the already damaged skin. Children and seniors are more prone to develop this condition as they are more sensitive to extreme temperatures and their immune system is not capable of fully coping with the outside threats.
The infection with Candida Albicans (thrush) can further increase the
patience sufferance and make the condition even more severe.
Usually, Angular Cheilitis is treated by doctors with antibiotics and with an ointment containing 1% hydrocortisone. Yet, the treatment may last for couple of weeks and even months. In some cases the condition keeps reappearing after a period of time, another treatment being necessary.
Avoid Humid and Cold Places when You Suffer from Angular Cheilitis
There are cases in which the patient finds it hard to perform its normal activities like eating or speaking. Because this condition develops quite fast and it can become rather severe in a short period of time it is necessary to start a treatment right from the first signs. Yet, in order for the treatment to be highly effective, you have to stay away from the factors which have caused this condition or from those which may further aggravate it.
Among those factors which can make this condition worse we should name the bad dietary habits which should be replaced with proper nutrition and also some vitamin supplements; the existence of folds around the mouth, which favors the accumulation of moisture (most often are caused by bad dentition or dentures that do not fit well) and an improper oral hygiene.
It is also important to avoid cold places when you suffer from Angular Cheilitis. This is mainly because the cold weather increases the sensation of chapped lips. People's tendency when having chapped lips is to lick them to alleviate the pain and moisturize them. However, this is a false sensation as the more you lick your lips the more damage you cause them. The saliva is not a good moisturizer and when it evaporates it further dries your skin, aggravating your condition. In addition to that the saliva contains bacteria so you grow the number of bacteria from the area affected by Angular Cheilitis each time you lick your lips.
Humid places should also be avoided, as in these places the bacteria develop much faster, thus the risk of infections is even bigger. Instead you should stay in dry places and moisturize the skin using lip balms, ointments and creams which will trap the bacteria in between, thus killing them.
If you want to treat Angular Cheilitis faster, then you should stay away from humid places and cold ones. If this means that you will spend most of your time indoors, then you should do so. Exposing yourself to such harsh environments will only make the condition worse and your nightmare even longer and probably more painful!
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