Anti Fungal Treatment for Angular Cheilitis

Angular cheilitis can be caused by several factors. One that always makes the list is fungal infection. Some cases are in fact 100 percent fungal infections while others are caused by a combination of fungal and bacterial infections. Since this is the case, it’s safe to assume that anti-fungal treatment can work very well for this problem. But before we get to that, let’s first find out what angular cheilitis is.

What is angular cheilitis?

before you know Angular Cheilitis Treatment  cheilitis is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs at the labial commissures, more commonly known as the corners of the mouth. This disorder is called several names like perleche, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, mouth corner cracks, and so on. It can occur on one side or both sides. The typical manifestation of the problem are deep splits and cracks, and sometimes, bleeding when ulcers or crusts have formed.

Why does angular cheilitis occur?

For most people, it starts with tiny cracks on the corners of the mouth. This happens when there’s an excess accumulation of saliva on those areas that leave the skin dry and prone to chapping. When more saliva gets into the area, bacteria and fungi can get inside. If the person’s immune resistance is not that strong, this can set off fungal or bacterial infection, which makes the cracks develop into open painful lesions.

How can anti-fungal treatment help?

Since fungi can be the root cause, it can help to combat these microorganisms with the use of anti-fungal creams. The use of anti-fungal creams with 1 percent hydrocortisone is usually advised by doctors. These creams are usually available over the counter.

before you know Angular Cheilitis Treatment may apply the cream on the affected area two to three times per day until the symptoms of pain, redness, and itchiness subside. It’s also an option to buy a cream that contains not only the anti-fungal hydrocortisone but also an anti-infective agent like iodoquinol to speed up the healing process.

Other anti-fungal treatments that are typically prescribed for the treatment of angular cheilitisinclude Mycolog-ll or Mycostatin, Nystatin, and steroids such as Triamcinolone acetonide. What these anti-fungal treatments do is that they kill the microorganisms that cause the problem. In the process, they help alleviate the symptoms of this condition.

Just be careful when using anti-fungal treatments. Since the ointment is applied near the mouth, it’s possible that it will get into your food or mouth. It’s also a must to avoid licking your lips so that you won’t get too much moisture on the corners of your mouth. Instead of licking your lips, try using a protective hypoallergenic lip balm.

A Quick but Definitive Guide to Angular Cheilitis or Perleche

Every important thing you need to know about angular cheilitis is included in this quick but definitive guide. If you or anyone you know is suffering from this frustrating skin condition, the first step in getting rid of the problem permanently is learning more about it.

Definition

Angular cheilitis refers to a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin that affects the labial commissures or the mouth corners. Apart from the French term “perleche,” it is also called by several other names such as cheilosis, angular stomatitis, and mouth corner cracks.

Causes

Any (or a combination) of the following can trigger the onset of this skin problem:

• Accumulation of saliva in the corners of the mouth
• Dry chapped lips
• Bacteria, yeasts, fungi or virus
• Skin conditions like contact dermatitis
• Habits that cause saliva accumulation or spread of bacteria or fungi (thumb-sucking, fingernail biting, use of pacifier and so on)
• Medical conditions that weaken the immune system
• Poor-fitting dentures
• Cold weather that causes skin dryness and chapping

Risk factors

before you know Angular Cheilitis Treatment  a brief look at the top predisposing factors that put people at risk of angular cheilitis:

• Oral thrush in babies, elderly, diabetics, or people who use antibiotics
• Dentures
• Malnutrition (iron or riboflavin deficiency)
• Systemic ailments like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Sensitive skin
• Genetic predisposition

Signs and symptoms

Angular cheilitis’ manifestations include the following:

• Cracks, splits and fissures on the corners of the mouth
• Pain, swelling, itchiness and bleeding in the affected areas
• Blisters, erosions and crusting

Investigation

To diagnose angular cheilitis, a doctor will perform a culture test by taking a swab from the mouth corners. This will reveal the existence of microorganisms like Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.

Treatment

The good news is, angular cheilitis can possibly go away on its own without treatment. But of course, since the symptoms are often painful and bothersome, you’d want to do something about it instead of just wait. These treatment methods have been proven effective in curbing this skin problem:

• Moisturizing lip balm
• Antibacterial medications
• Anti-fungal topical ointments
• Nutritional supplements

It’s also a must to get to the bottom of the problem and eliminate it. For example, if your angular cheilitis is caused by poor-fitting dentures, then you need to have that fixed. Even if you use anti-fungal or antibacterial medications over and over, the problem will recur if you don’t do something about the root cause of your mouth cracks.