Angular Cheilosis: What It Is And How Do You Treat It

January 14, 2010 by  
Filed under Skin Care

Millions of people suffer from angular cheilosis each year. This skin condition is also often referred to as angular cheilitis, angular stomatitis or perleche. It is quite easy to identify if you might be suffering from this kind of skin condition because of the uniqueness of its signs of symptoms. It is quite likely that you might be suffering from angular cheilitis if you notice splits or cracks along the corners of your mouth. It is typical for these cracks or splits to be painful and in severe cases, they can even bleed as you open or stretch your mouth.

There can be several causes for angular cheilosis. One of the most common causes of this skin condition is pathogenic infection. The infection can come from bacteria or fungi and it can worsen due to the accumulation of saliva or moisture in the affected area. Another common cause of this skin problem is nutritional deficiency.

The nutritional deficiency is often due to having low levels of vitamins and minerals in the body, like vitamin B1, vitamin B12, and iron. Those who have lost vertical dimension due to loss of teeth are also likely to suffer from angular stomatitis. The over-closure of the mouth due to loss of teeth or poorly fitting dentures causes saliva or moisture to be trapped along the corners of the mouth, making them ideal areas for bacterial and fungal growth.

Effectively treating angular cheilosis means addressing the root cause of the problem. This is why it is important that you see a doctor so you can better determine what might have caused your skin condition. If perleche has been caused by pathogenic infection, it would help to apply a good coat of medicated cream on the affected area. The medicated cream will most likely have 1% hydrocortisone or some other anti bacterial or anti fungal substance.

If the problem is due to a nutritional deficiency, it would help if you take in supplements to boost the amounts of essential vitamins and minerals present in your system, especially iron, vitamin B1, and vitamin B12. It would also help to see your dentist if your mouth accessories, like dentures or braces, fit properly. In this manner, skin folds and over-closure of the mouth can be avoided. In any cases, applying medicated lip balms or petroleum jelly on the affected areas can help much in temporarily relieving the pain you feel.

Want to learn more about Angular Cheilosis? Click here for the cure. This page defines cheilosis and can help you understand more about the disease.

Angular Cheilosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

December 6, 2009 by  
Filed under Skin Care

Each year, thousands of Americans suffer from angular cheilosis. This painful disease is also referred to as angular cheilitis, cheilosis, angular stomatitis or perleche. There have been studies around this disease and research shows that nutritional deficiencies are among its many causes. People who are deficient in vitamin B1, vitamin B12, and iron have been found to be more susceptible to this skin condition. It has also been observed that elderly people are more prone to suffering from this disease because they experience a loss of vertical dimension. This is mainly due to loss of teeth that can result to the over-closure of their mouth.

One form of angular cheilosis occurs primarily when temperatures are at low levels, like during winter. This form angular cheilitis often affects children and teenagers. This form of cheilosis is often characterized by the chapping of the lips, other than the formation of lesions along the corners of the mouth. More common forms of this disease usually have the following indications: sores at the lips and along the corners of the mouth, painful cracks or splits in the skin at corners and inside the mouth, and bleeding that occurs when the mouth is opened or closed.

There appears to be no connection between this disease and herpes or cold sores. Nevertheless, having this kind of disease can still be embarrassing and many people try their best to get rid of it. The lesions can be quite difficult to hide, especially when ulcers have already formed along with the lesions. When left untreated, this disease can give rise to other conditions like oral thrush that can develop inside the mouth of a patient. When not contained, it can also affect the tongue and it can appear to have a whitish coating.

A lot of those who suffer from angular cheilosis can experience attacks a few times each year and attack can last for months. In severe cases, an attack can seem to occur permanently. If you observe cracks developing along the corners of your mouth, it is best to seek medical help right away. Visiting your doctor can help you learn more about the treatment options available that can finally put an end to your suffering. The most common form of treatment recommended by doctors is through the use of an anti-fungal or an anti-bacterial topical cream, usually involving 1% hydrocortisone.

Other forms of angular cheilosis treatment are also available. These alternative remedies involve the use of common household objects and some of them have been found to be effective in curing this humiliating disease.

For more information about chapped lips, visit www.angular-cheilitis-center.com. Click to learn more about cracked lips.