Cracks at the corner of the mouth

[BornToFolk]

I occasionally get cracks at the corner of my mouth. It's been going on for years, on and off, but recently it's been quite bad. Always the same side too. I've found that if I put Blisteze on it constantly, it'll eventually go away but will flare up again.

It's not a cold sore, it's just a small crack, like a paper cut. It gets sore though and can look red.

I've had a Google and found nothing conclusive. Some people suggest that it's a vitamin deficiency but I take a multi-vitamin (with iron) and I've been eating well recently so I can't think it would be that.

Has anyone had similar? Any good remedie? I've not gone to the GP yet as it's just been a minor annoyance but if it carries on, I will.

I have been taking b12 for months and eat fruit and veg every day and vit c too

I realise this is an old thread, but I have these sores/cracks at the corners of my mouth, I've had them for the last 2 weeks, but they have got more sore in the last few days, I can hardly yawn without pain!

Anyway, I tried cold sore cream which hasn't helped, I've got some Vaseline, which I'm hoping will provide some relief, however, from reading the previous posts it looks like i could need some canesten or hydrocortisone? I have both in the cupboard somewhere.

I have been quite tired lately & run down, it's been a stressful time as DD has been through a tough time medically.

A trip to the GP is needed to get a prescription medication prescribed. Clears up pretty quickly then.

Have you changed toothpastes? I tried a new whitening one which was too strong and I got this

I get this quite badly, and have always got by with constant application of vaseline/Liz Earle superbalm.

Just a word of caution, using hydrocortisone cream on your face isn't recommended and should only be done if a doctor has given you the go ahead. Steroid creams thin the skin, and given how delicate the skin on your face is, this is a particular problem. Around the mouth area, using steroid creams can also cause other skin problems.

It's one of the symptoms of anaemia. See the GP about a course of iron tablets, and the cracks will soon disappear.

Re. SLS in toothpaste - Sensodyne does a good range of this kind of toothpaste. However, I've been using an electric toothbrush for about 20 years and this toothpaste for over a year, but have had red sore patches at the corners of my mouth for about 3 months now so I don't think it is the toothbrush or toothpaste. Used Sudocream on the sore bits and it cleared up but became cracked instead, so stopped using the Sudocream and its back - now have soreness on both corners of my mouth!

It's Iron Deficiency.