{"id":6164,"date":"2019-04-30T04:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T04:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6164"},"modified":"2021-04-01T17:16:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T17:16:42","slug":"14-signs-the-cracks-around-your-mouth-are-angular-cheilitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-signs-the-cracks-around-your-mouth-are-angular-cheilitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs the Cracks Around Your Mouth Are Angular Cheilitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Also known as \u201cperl\u00e8che,\u201d and \u201cangular stomatitis,\u201d describes a condition that affects the corners of the mouth. People who are dealing with angular cheilitis, experience symptoms of swollen, red cracks and patches on the outside and edges of the lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angular cheilitis symptoms tend to last a few days in most people, and the use of lip balm can help your lips recover from the effects of inflammation, irritation, and pain. This skin disorder occurs on one or both sides of the mouth and affects both adults and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition has many causes, with yeast infections of the saliva causing the most prominent symptoms. Saliva builds up in the corners of the mouth, causing the lips to crack and the edges of the mouth to become inflamed around the lip line and the folds in the corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected individuals may try to lick their lips to moisturize the inflammation, but this adds more yeast to the problem, intensifying symptoms. Here are eight signs that the cracks on your mouth could be angular cheilitis.
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1.    Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a set of risk factors making some people more prone to developing angular cheilitis than others. Angular cheilitis<\/a> can affect anyone at any age, but if you find yourself in the risk categories listed below, then you have a higher chance of developing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with excessive saliva production that allow it to congregate in the corners of their mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Bacterial and viral exposure may also cause angular cheilitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People who experience regular cases of oral thrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Patients that use antibiotics or corticosteroids frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Those individuals with sensitive skin and disorders like eczema and psoriasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Patients with Crohn\u2019s disease or other inflammatory conditions of the digestive system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Teenagers and adults wear braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People who smoke tobacco products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Patients who are suffering from cancer, diabetes, or anemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saliva drying in the corners of the mouth is the most significant cause of angular cheilitis, and those athletes that experience exposure to the sun consistently may be at higher risk of infection.
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2.    Moisture Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients suffering from the effects of angular cheilitis experience a dry sensation on their lips, that spreads to the edge and the corners of the mouth, drying out the tissues<\/a>. As a result, symptoms of inflammation occurs in the lining of the lip, producing signs of mild pain and irritation that forces the affected individual to lick their lips frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, Candida fungus is often the cause of the infection, and licking the lips adds more fungi to the existing area, intensifying symptoms. Patients may find that their lips start to swell, and cracks start to form in the corners of their mouths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Licking the lips provides little relief from the pain symptoms and irritation, and the affected individual may gain some relief from using a medicated lip balm to moisturize the lips. Angular cheilitis typically goes away on its own after a few days as the bacteria or fungus causing the condition to start to subside.
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3.    Inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inflammation <\/a>of the lips is a hallmark symptom of angular cheilitis, and responsible for the swelling and cracking of the lips. When Candida bacteria or fungus infects the mouth, due to an oral thrush infection \u2013 it can spread to the lips as well, causing angular cheilitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inflammation from angular cheilitis starts slowly, presenting a rough, painful feeling on the edge of the lips that causes the affected person to lick their lips more often. As a result, they spread the bacteria or fungi onto the lips, where it begins to multiply in the corners of the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, the patient may start to develop symptoms of severe skin inflammation around the lips, causing the lips to swell well past their usual size. The inflamed tissues are more sensitive to light and heat in this start, and walking in the intense midday sun may significantly exacerbate symptoms due to overexposure.
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4.    Blisters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When angular cheilitis bacteria or fungi start to colonize in the mouth, it\u2019s only a matter of time before the patient begins to experience symptoms of swelling, inflammation, and tightness in the lips. As the condition progresses, the corners of the mouth start to crack, increasing pain symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the infection intensifies, the patient may find that they start to develop blisters <\/a>in the corner of their mouth due to the cracked skin and presence of bacteria or fungi. These blisters are about the size of a cold sore and present similar symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s important to note that these are not cold sores. Fever blisters occur due to infection with the herpes simplex virus \u2013 not angular cheilitis and are far more challenging to get rid of, and that stick around for far longer than blisters caused by angular cheilitis. Most blisters caused by angular cheilitis, heal in a few days after the infection subsides.
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5.    Bleeding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angular cheilitis occurs due to bacterial or fungal exposure, and symptoms may intensify to the point where the corners of the mouth begin to crack. Should the patient fail to receive treatment for the condition, then they may start to experience bleeding <\/a>from the cracks in the corners of the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may not notice this bleeding at first, but they may start to feel a stinging sensation as the cracks penetrate the final layers of the skin, leading to bleeding symptoms. A medicated lip balm is the best remedy for this situation. The balm fills in the cracks, and stops the bleeding, helping the lips recover from the effects of inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bleeding occurs in the severe stages of the condition, and most people will recover from angular cheilitis before these symptoms occur. However, those that do experience cracking and bleeding may do so because they expose their lips to the harmful rays of the sun, increasing signs of inflammation associated with the cracking of the lips.
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6.    Crust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria and fungi <\/a>that cause angular cheilitis are most active at night when the patient is not consciously aware of the infection in their mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that sleep on their side or their stomach may notice that they wake up in the morning with crust formation around the corners of their mouth and in the cracks in their lips. This situation occurs because the patient does not lick their lips while sleeping, giving the bacteria a chance to solidify and form the crust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom takes on the appearance of white or yellowish crust in the corners of the mouth, and on rare occasions, it may form a dribble pattern down the sides of the mouth if the patient sleeps on their side with their mouth open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When waking in the morning, don\u2019t try to pull the crust off straight away, as you may induce bleeding. Soak your lips using warm water and gently rub it off.
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7.    Pain and Irritation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angular cheilitis is an uncomfortable and frustrating condition to handle. The infection causes a burning sensation of the edges of the lips that causes the patient to unconsciously lick their lips during the day to keep them hydrated<\/a>. Unfortunately, this licking spreads the bacteria from the mouth to the lips, exacerbating the symptoms of burning, pain, and inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain symptoms can become challenging as the infection reaches its peak, and dealing with the cracking and bleeding symptoms is a very frustrating experience for any patient to handle. The bacteria and fungi that cause angular cheilitis may also leave a bad taste in your mouth, that\u2019s similar to the sensation of having metal in your mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapped lips usually are not a severe situation worth worrying about, but the chapping and cracking of the lips associated with angular cheilitis is far more severe and induces pain symptoms that may make it too sore for the affected person to open their mouth.
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8.    Difficulty Eating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the initial stage of angular cheilitis infection, the affected individual notices mild sensitivity in their lips. This increase in sensitivity generally not a cause for concern and the person may not give it a second thought until the condition progresses to the advanced stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the advanced stages of angular cheilitis, the patient starts to experience cracking and sometimes bleeding, of the lips and corners of the mouth. Licking the lips provides little relief, and serves to spread the bacteria or fungi <\/a>further causing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the cracking occurs, patients may notice it’s painful to open their mouths, as the cracking may start to induce bleeding symptoms. As a result, the affected individual may find it challenging to eat when the symptoms reach their peak. Opening your mouth to eat causes symptoms of pain as the cracks split open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using Vaseline or medicated lip balm can help provide temporary relief and allow the patient to open their mouth wide enough to eat, without pain symptoms occurring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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