Cracked Corners of Mouth

Also referred as angular cheilitis, cracked corners of mouth is the result of a fungal infection. Angular cheilitis can be quite painful, especially when opening the mouth to have food. In this condition, the cracked corners of the mouth appear swollen and red. Lips may also turn dry and chapped. In case the infection is severe, the person may find it extremely difficult to even move the mouth.

Causes

It is observed that people who consume less water and follow a diet, devoid of essential vitamins and minerals, suffer from angular cheilitis. When the body gets dehydrated due to insufficient water consumption, the person is likely to develop cracked corners on the mouth. Cold weather and even hot climatic conditions can bring these unwanted changes at the corners of the mouth.

Treatment

Creams
Topical antifungal ointments or creams are commonly prescribed by dermatologists to soothe the pain of chapped mouth corners.

Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking sufficient amount of water prevents dehydration, which is the main culprit behind occurrence of deep cracks in the corners of the mouth. Consuming plenty of water is one of the best ways to take care of this mouth problem.

Nutritious Diet
As, nutritional deficiency can also make the corners of the mouth dry and cracked, having a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, can play a significant role to heal this condition. Eating sources high in vitamin A, zinc and vitamin B2 (riboflavin), can help to cure cracked mouth. Milk, eggs, energy drinks and breakfast cereals are some of the foodstuffs that contain a high amount of vitamins and zinc.

Skin Care Products
Cracked mouth corners can also be treated with lip balms. Application of lip balms on a regular basis, can speed up healing. Lip balms containing zinc, olive oil and rich cocoa butter are often recommended to ease the discomfort. These products protect the lips from harsh sun and cold weather conditions.

Aloe Vera
In order to reduce the pain associated with cracked dry lips, use of aloe vera is a good option. One can apply aloe vera gel or fresh pulp of aloe vera regularly to eliminate cracked corners of mouth.

Margosa Leaves Powder
Another effective way to treat angular cheilitis is by using margosa leaves powder. Just apply this powder on the affected area and you will notice amazing results within a few days. Application of margosa leaf extracts is well-known remedy for chapped lips and mouth corners.

Vitamin E Oil
Use of pure vitamin E oil is highly beneficial to get rid of this annoying condition. Vitamin E oil acts as a great moisturizer and applying it several times a day can help eliminate dryness associated with lips. People suffering from this mouth problem should be very careful in buying cosmetic products such as lipsticks. Dermatologists often advice to apply unflavored lipsticks to be on the safer side. However, avoiding usage of lipsticks, until angular cheilitis heals completely, would be a better option.