Have you ever heard of a disease called angular cheilitis? Actually, angular cheilitis is a medical problem that makes the area at the corner of the lips or the corner of the mouth red, inflamed, and sometimes peeling. This condition can actually be caused by many things, including fungal infections, various types of autoimmune diseases, dehydration, and excess moisture in the corners of the mouth. Although the sensation is very itchy and uncomfortable, fortunately angular cheilitis can be treated easily, although the method of treatment used is very dependent on the underlying cause of your angular cheilitis.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Keeping Lips Clean and Dry
Step 1. Maintain oral hygiene so that the condition of your lips and mouth is always healthy
To maintain oral health, make sure you brush your teeth at least 2 times a day, once after breakfast and once before going to bed at night. Also, clean the area between your teeth with special floss, and avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol after you brush your teeth. Although some people claim that alcoholic mouthwash can make their mouth cleaner, actually using it will only make your mouth and lips dry. As a result, the severity of angular cheilitis can increase afterwards.
Although angular cheilitis can be caused by a variety of factors, keeping your lips and mouth clean is the perfect way to reduce the risk factors
Step 2. Avoid using lip balms that contain flavoring, lanolin, or preservatives
All of them risk irritating the lips and making the condition worse. Therefore, instead of using lip balm with unnecessary ingredients, try asking your doctor for the right moisturizer.
If irritation occurs, your lips will likely become inflamed
Step 3. Apply petroleum gel to the corners of your lips to keep them moist
Twice a day, apply a generous amount of petroleum gel all over your lips and both corners of your mouth. The natural moisturizing content in petroleum gel is able to trap moisture on the lips and prevent it from evaporating, as well as speed up the healing process of cracked or peeled skin areas.
Petroleum gel can be purchased at most supermarkets or major pharmacies
Step 4. Use a zinc oxide paste to speed up the healing process of the lips
Zinc oxide is a topical cream that protects the skin and treats cracked or peeling skin. To use it, you just need to apply a thin layer of zinc oxide paste to the lip area with your fingertips, and make sure you don't swallow the cream while applying it!
Zinc oxide paste can be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies or large supermarkets. One of the trademarks of zinc oxide paste that you may come across in the market is Desitin
Step 5. Stop licking the corners of your lips, if you've been doing this for a long time
Some people are used to licking the corners of their lips several times an hour. So do you? Although it feels comfortable, actually this behavior will not help restore the condition of your lips! In fact, wetting your lips too often will actually make them dry, especially because when the saliva evaporates, the extra moisture on the lips will evaporate too. That's why, you need to break the habit of licking your lips to restore your lips and treat the problem of angular cheilitis.
If your child is used to sucking his thumb and has problems with angular cheilitis, ask him to stop the habit
Method 2 of 3: See a Doctor
Step 1. Consult a doctor if angular cheilitis does not heal after 1 month
If the petroleum gel has been used regularly for 1 month but the problem you are experiencing does not improve, immediately consult a doctor. Explain the symptoms you are experiencing to the doctor, and let the doctor examine the condition of the corners of your lips. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist, especially since angular cheilitis is generally a medical condition of the skin.
- Some of the common symptoms of angular cheilitis are the appearance of a red, dry, flaky rash on the corners of the lips (usually accompanied by swelling and cracks in the skin) that are painful.
- In some relatively common situations, angular cheilitis can be caused by dermatitis, a medical disorder that causes an itchy, red rash on the skin (usually on the scalp).
Step 2. Ask your dentist for help to correct the shape of your dentures, if you are currently wearing them
In the case of angular cheilitis that affects the elderly, the cause is often a problem with their dentures. Therefore, if you also wear dentures and notice swelling or discomfort at the corners of your lips, you should immediately see a dentist or denture specialist. They can make the necessary changes to make the shape and size of the dentures better fit your mouth. After that, your angular cheilitis should be resolved.
Your doctor may suspect that your angular cheilitis is caused by an infection in your dentures. In this situation, the doctor will usually wipe the dentures and test the sample in the laboratory to identify the presence or absence of bacteria there
Step 3. Apply an antibacterial cream if the angular cheilitis is caused by a bacterial infection
In fact, quite a lot of angular cheilitis problems are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that commonly causes skin problems. If your doctor gives this diagnosis, you will most likely be asked to apply an antibacterial cream containing an active ingredient such as mupirocin or fusidic acid once a day to the corners of your lips.
If over-the-counter antibacterial creams don't treat your angular cheilitis problem, ask your doctor to prescribe a higher-dose cream
Step 4. Apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream if the angular cheilitis is caused by a yeast infection
If your doctor states that the underlying cause of your angular cheilitis is a yeast infection, you will most likely be asked to apply an antifungal cream until the infection is completely cured. If this is the case, please buy an over-the-counter antifungal cream at various large pharmacies, then apply it to the corners of your lips once a day, or as recommended on the medicine package.
- One type of antifungal cream that is commonly used is ketoconazole. Continue to apply the antifungal cream until the condition of the mouth is completely healed.
- In most cases, angular cheilitis is an infection caused by a fungus called “Candida albicans”.
- The doctor may take a sample of the lesion or wipe the mucus in the mouth to identify the presence or absence of a Candida yeast infection.
Step 5. Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation
If there is swelling and inflammation at the corners of your lips due to angular cheilitis, try applying 1% hydrocortisone cream on the inflamed area daily. In addition, hydrocortisone cream is also able to relieve itching that appears so it is worth applying if you constantly want to scratch or lick the corners of the lips that feel itchy.
Hydrocortisone cream can be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies and supermarkets
Method 3 of 3: Changing Your Diet
Step 1. Increase iron intake to prevent anemia and angular cheilitis
In fact, recent studies have shown an association between low blood cell counts (anemia) and the risk of angular cheilitis. To prevent anemia, as well as to strengthen the immune system, make sure you receive the recommended amount of iron each day. Before taking iron in supplement form, don't forget to consult your doctor for safety. If permitted by the doctor, please buy iron supplements at the nearest pharmacy and take them once a day, or as recommended on the vitamin packaging.
- Some examples of foods rich in iron are red meat, green leafy vegetables, spinach, oysters, quinoa, dark chocolate, and lentils.
- Adult men should consume 8-11 mg of iron per day. Generally, adult women need more iron intake so ideally should consume 15-18 mg of iron per day.
- If the body receives too much iron intake, it is likely that there will be negative side effects, such as nausea and constipation.
Step 2. Increase your intake of zinc and B vitamins to strengthen your immune system
If angular cheilitis is caused by a fungal or bacterial infection, strengthening your immune system is a very important factor in restoring your health, and one easy way is to increase your intake of zinc and B vitamins. forget to consult a doctor, yes! If permitted by a doctor, daily supplements can be purchased at major pharmacies and consumed as directed on the supplement packaging. If you prefer to get nutrition naturally, please eat foods that are rich in zinc and B vitamins.
- Adults should consume about 8-11 mg of zinc daily, and natural zinc can be found in foods such as whole grains, red meat, eggs, dairy products, and whole grains.
- If you are over 18, take at least 2.4 micrograms of B vitamins per day. Natural B vitamins can also be obtained from foods rich in zinc, as well as other foods such as lentils and beans, poultry, fish, and brown rice.
Step 3. Make sure your body stays hydrated so that the moisture in your skin doesn't get lost
If the body is dehydrated, surely the skin texture will start to dry out. As a result, the chances of the skin to develop severe angular cheilitis will increase. Therefore, keep the body hydrated by consuming water or other fluids with high levels of hydration such as tea and fruit juices. For the same reason, reduce your intake of fluids that can dehydrate you, such as coffee and alcohol.
In general, adult men should consume about 4 liters of water per day, while adult women should consume about 3 liters of water per day
Step 4. Reduce your intake of sweet foods and snacks, such as candy
If you like to eat sugary foods such as candy and/or a variety of desserts every day, this is the best time to break the habit, especially if your case of angular cheilitis is caused by the yeast fungus Candida. Basically, this type of fungus makes sugar as its food. Therefore, if your mouth is constantly covered with sugar, surely the infection you are experiencing will get worse quickly.
If you're craving something sweet, try snacking on an apple or a handful of berries instead of candy
Tips
- Some populations have a higher risk of developing angular cheilitis. For example, people with Down syndrome are more prone to angular cheilitis because their muscle mass tends to be below average. In addition, people who have chronic dryness of the mouth, known medically as xerostomia, are also at a higher risk of developing angular cheilitis.
- Although the symptoms of angular cheilitis are similar to those of herpes labialis (herpes virus infection around the lips), they are actually two completely different medical disorders.
