Angular cheilitis?

[browzingss]

I have cracks/cuts in the corner of my mouth that won’t go away.

On some mornings it seem like they’re healing, but then randomly whilst I’m eating/talking etc through the day the cracks reopen and the cycle starts all over again!

I have tried loads of products to no avail - any recommendations?

[Slaymill]

Sea buckthorn oil, lysine and lysine balm www.victoriahealth.com/product/Lysine-Lip-Therape-with-Monolaurin/11289

Also B vitamins, Iron and Zinc for healing.

Some people use fungal creams like this www.superdrug.com/Toiletries/Dental/Sore-Mouth-Relief/Daktarin-Sugar-Free-2%25-Oral-Gel---15g/p/600741 Also check your toothpaste for SLS

[Egghead68]

As above. B vitamins usually cure mine.

[browzingss]

Thanks!

That’s interesting- I already take iron and b complex supplements (because I’m vegetarian, I’m not deficient in either). Will visit Superdrug now, thanks!

[Egghead68]

publicdocuments.sth.nhs.uk/pil2642.pdf

[RatherBeRiding]

I use Sudacreme - it used to be that Vit B sorted mine out but they have become persistent. Good old Sudacreme does the trick in a few days!

[Slaymill]

Are you supplements food state as you can excrete cheaper vitamins.

I like Viridian Balanced Iron Complex 90's with Vit C for absorption and the best B vitamins are bit.ly/2KDA5vd Though Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is thought to be the most helpful in any fungal problem.

Good luck

[Missangrypants]

It could be a sign that you are anaemic. So go to the GP and see if they will do blood tests.

[DermatologyDoc]

I am a consultant dermatologist. I have seen several patients with angular cheilitis due to iron or B12 deficiency. I have also seen it as a feature of irritant or contact dermatitis from toothpaste, mouthwash, saliva etc. It can rarely be a feature of inflammatory bowel disease. Timodine cream (on prescription) is often helpful for symptomatic relief.

[browzingss]

Used daktarin frequently yesterday/today - not much difference just yet unfortunately.

I am not deficient in anything, my recent blood tests results are fine. I’m not anemic and my vitamin b/ferritin is quite high. It’s just a one off irritation that I can’t seem to get past! Very irritating problem to have

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I’ve had this due to a couple of different things at different times. Once fungal requiring daktocort and the other bacterial requiring Fucidin. You need to treat with the right thing though as putting anti fungal cream on a bacterial infection won’t fix it.

[browzingss]

Yeah, I tried fusidic acid for about 2 weeks, didn’t really help. Hoping the daktarin will, no change just yet.

Might go back to my GP and try something else. God this is frustrating!

[strongswans]

I have been getting this for years now. It's so painful and bleeds. My go to fixes are canesten 2% thrush cream, and (this one is not for everyone and can't remember where I got the tip from, but it works for me) is dabbing the areas with anbesol. It does sting for a minute but it's worth it for me. Pretty sure the thinking was the alcohol in it dries the skin out, and angular chilitis is often where bacteria is thriving in a damp, dark environment, I.e. corner of the mouth. Obviously this is just what I heard, but it works for me!

[TroysMammy]

I heard of this the other day when a patient requested a prescription for clotrimazole cream, generic name for canestan.

[thatmustbenigelwiththebrie]

I have had flare ups of this my whole life. The only cream that works for me is Blistex (might be called Blisteze now, or vice versa). I have no idea what causes it but it can be very painful.

[browzingss]

Daktarin has somewhat helped - it’s gradually getting better, much slower than I was hoping for though. If it doesn’t fully heal I’ll definitely try clotrimazole next.

Can’t believe I’ve had this for a month; it seemed so minor at first but I’ve actually thrown so much money away on products in an attempt to clear it!

[NameChange92]

Did you get your iron levels (ferritin) checked as well or just your haemoglobin? You can be low in iron without being anaemic, also you want to actually get the numeric value for your ferritin, the ranges some GPs/ labs use are too low.

In the meantime, before I worked out what caused mine I found washing the area, then as soon as you’ve dried it well applying Vaseline lip balm - then reapply throughout the day - kept mine at bay (I used Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 Clay to wash the area but normal face soap may well work too - possibly something quite drying is good as the face wash I used is quite drying).

Good luck, let us know how it goes

[CharDeeMacDennis]

Savlon works for me, slather it on thickly and frequently. Also iron supplements.

[Ash39]

Maybe a steroid cream
Such as Eumovate (clobetisone), alongside hydromil ointment to use as a barrier

[Tolleshunt]

I occasionally get this and a good dollop if the Blistex ointment (comes in a little metal tube with a red cap) left on overnight clears it every time. The ointment is a bit pongy, but it’s well worth putting up with for such rapid and total results.

[Poutintrout]

I get this and it was really bad a few years ago. My GP was useless so in desperation I asked a Boots pharmacist who suggested Blistex Relief Cream in a tube. I inwardly eye rolled but felt obliged to buy it! I am so grateful to that pharmacist. The cream has been brilliant. It cleared my cracks and splits right up and now whenever I feel it starting up I just bung on some and it doesn't progress. I also use the Blistex balm in the blue pot for little niggles and that helps too.

[browzingss]

Yes, my ferritin is around 100 so this isn’t related to a deficiency. To be fair, my angular cheilitis is pretty mild, I just have the cracks but no redness/dry patches etc.

Blistex/blisteze seems very popular!

[EnsignRoLaren]

Good advice above, but I strongly strongly recommend you try cutting out products containing sulphates (especially SLS). It is in toothpaste, but also shampoos. This was a complete and almost overnight fix for me after trying all sorts of creams and supplements.

Now, when I travel, if I forget my toothpaste and have to use one with SLS, I develop the symptoms again within a couple of days. I’m certain it is the cause for me!

There are plenty of toothpastes without SLS, so start there!

[CaptainJaneway62]

I had this when using toothpaste Oral B Expert(it supposed to be for sensitive teeth and gentle whitening....It also sloughed the skin off the inside of my mouth.
I did some research on line and found that it's quite common with toothpaste that has chemicals in for whitening teeth.
Switched back to my normal Colgate toothpaste and the problem disappeared within a couple of days

[browzingss]

You’re both onto something here, the toothpastes that I switch between contain SLS and are whitening (oral b 3D white-sensitive & blanx). I also use whitening mouthwash, unfortunately I can definitely relate to problems with the skin inside as it can be heavy/strong.

Bit silly of me to continue using them - thanks for the tips!

I feel about 99% healed - just don’t have full movement of my mouth as I’m a bit worried that opening my mouth widely will reopen the cracks!

[Egghead68]

Sorry to pick on Oral B Expert, which I expect is great for many, but it caused me problems too, both with angular cheilitis and making my saliva so thick it was almost solid. I had to throw it away.