Angular Cheilitis Treatment

Clinically, angular cheilitis refers to a chronic condition wherein, the corners of the mouth get severely inflamed. The infection which is held responsible for this condition is considered to be of a fungal or bacterial type. The affected areas are usually painful and the time period of the recuperation depends upon the treatment. All ages of people may be affected by this disease. Those who are more prone to developing the condition are the ones with a compromised immune system, suffering from diabetes mellitus and those who suffer from constant pooling of saliva at the corners of their mouth. Patients who have undergone head and neck radiation, are also open to the risk of developing angular cheilitis. Other people who might also be affected, are those who have iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency.

Angular Cheilitis Symptoms

Cuts or sores in the corners or sides of the lips, are the major symptoms of the infection. These sores can also take the form of red rashes or swelling which may spread around the mouth. The tissue of the mouth will get soft and tender and when the mouth is opened, bleeding may occur. In some cases, symptoms of ulceration (a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue) and drainage of pus may also take place.

Treatment Options for Angular Cheilitis

For treating angular cheilitis, vitamin E oil works wonders. It helps in keeping the affected dry. Other topical antifungals such as nystatin, clotrimazole or econazole can also be used. However, before going for any such medications, it is wise to consult a chemist first, about your condition. Apart from over-the-counter medications, you can also make use of the following home remedies.

Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking eight glasses of water daily. To ensure that the affected area is kept dry, you can drink water using a straw.

Cut some fresh slices of cucumber and rub them on the lips and on the affected area. The coolness of the vegetable will help reduce the irritation and pain. You can also apply aloe vera to the area or can make use of honey.

Keep a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, carrot, spinach, tomatoes, legumes and all other nutritional ingredients. Cover the deficiency of vitamin and iron in your body and see the infection healing faster.

Licking the lips will further aggravate the infection. So, keep an unflavored lip balm or lip gloss handy, so that, whenever you feel that your lips are getting chapped, you can keep them moisturized.

Refrain from using cosmetics, lipstick and even flavored toothpaste, at least till the condition heals.

Apply olive oil to the lips. It helps in keeping them moisturized for a long time. Rubbing unsalted butter is also an effective method. Even rubbing cocoa butter helps.

Treating angular cheilitis, as we can see, is easy and not a daunting task. Proper instructions and remedies if followed, resolves the infection quickly. Over-the-counter medicines, as I said, are best, when they have been taken after having consulted a pharmacist. Apart from these, the above described home remedies are safe and effective as well.