Why cracked corners of mouth

But there is one thing even the most beloved of lip balms can't do: heal cracked, dry mouth corners. Also known as angular cheilitis, the dry, red, painful cracks on the side of the mouth make eating and talking unbearable, but unlike chapped lips, dutifully reapplying Vaseline or Chapstick isn't going to provide much relief — or ultimately heal the cracks. With the help of Dr. Tracy Evans, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology in San Francisco , we break down the difference between dry skin and angular cheilitis, how to treat the condition, and most importantly, how to prevent it.

While the cracks on the sides of your mouth might look like the dry, flaky patches you get on your lips during the winter, angular cheilitis is actually inflammation caused by the collection of saliva around the mouth, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast.

That's why lip balms won't completely make it go away more on that later. What is it and what should I do? Dear Joan, Cracking of the corners of the mouth is a common condition that is frequently seen in both the offices of dermatologists and dentists. This condition is further characterized by redness and cracking of the skin at the corners of the lips. Although uncommon, systemic bodily diseases may predispose to perleche as well. Once the corners of the mouth are fissured or cracked, saliva accumulation and contamination can lead to infection.

Perleche may be more evident in the winter with colder weather and drier air. Cracking of the corners of the mouth, and subsequent licking to keep them moist, sets the stage for infection. Conditions inside the mouth leading to perleche include anything that affects normal and healthy saliva flow or causes mouth dryness that in turn leads to infection. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

Angular cheilitis can occur on one or both sides of your mouth. It can affect people of all ages, including infants. Symptoms of angular cheilitis will almost exclusively appear at the corners of the mouth.

The symptoms can be painful. These can vary from mild redness to open, bleeding blisters. There are several different causes of angular cheilitis. The most common is yeast infection as a result of saliva.

Saliva can build up and get trapped in the corners of the lips, which causes lips to crack. A person may lick their lips more in an attempt to soothe the pain or dryness of their lips. This excess saliva will sit in the corners, which is the perfect warm environment for fungus like yeast to grow. Inflammation of the corners of the mouth angular cheilitis begins with an itching and burning sensation in the corners of the mouth.

The area also looks red erythematous and is moist and crusted. Painful cracks tend to develop in the area. Angular cheilitis is more frequent in orthodontic patients. Obesity, diabetes and dry mouth makes people more prone to inflammation. This is not caused by vitamin B deficiency, as is commonly believed. Wash the corners of the mouth with soap and water 2 to 4 times daily.

The scabs are easier to remove if you apply a wet dressing to the inflamed area for 10 to 20 minutes before washing. For this you can use paper towels, pieces of old towels or sheets, or gauze. After washing the area, dry the corners of the mouth and apply hydrocortisone cream containing an agent to stop the growth of bacteria and yeasts.