Angular Cheilitis - Best way to cover it up?

[IggyPopsicle]

I have been suffering from angular cheilitis for about 6 weeks now. I have been using Daktarin and Canestan to treat the infection (as advised by the pharmacist) and luckily the Canestan seems to be helping. At one point I could only drink through a straw and take small pieces of food because of the pain, but it is gradually getting better.

My only problem is, I still have the unsightly red patches at the corners of my mouth and so I put a little bit of concealer on them when I am at work. This is obviously not helping the healing process but I don't know what else I can do.

As soon as I am home for the night, the concealer comes off and the Canestan is whacked straight on again, with little top-ups of Bepanthen to keep it moisturised. I wish I could use the creams during the daytime but I look bad enough as it is without having cream stuck to my face, and I wondered if anyone could suggest a more suitable cover-up? Thankyou

Poor thing I suffer with this on and off. At one point about ten years ago I didn't know what it was or how to treat it and must have had it for at least six months! I feel your pain!

Other than make up and moisturiser (Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream) I don't unfortunately have any suggestions for cover up but make up alone might look a bit crusty? I found I needed some hydration too...

I would put a thin layer of canesten on too if I were you just zap the shit out of it. Make sure you get some daylight and your five a day. Thinking of you

Oh and maybe you can try an antibacterial cream alongside an antifungal cream in case it's bacteria that's agitating it, such as fusidin (fucidic acid sp?) or bactroban?

Definitely barrier cream of some sort to keep moisture away- try the 8 hour cream and make up but don't forget to keep you make up clean/away from cross contamination/recontamination.

Thankyou summerson I am definitely going to try some antibacterial cream now you have mentioned it. I have heard good things about the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream but it's a little too expensive for me...I'll pick up some E45 instead and see how I get on.

Yes, the makeup does start to get a bit crusty after an hour or so sigh

You had it for 6 months? Blimey!

Up your B vitamins - I used to have terrible problems with my lips every winter, but a B vit supplement sorted it all out.

(Nature's Best B-100 Complex is one I've used for other reasons and worked very well.)

I second the B vitamins, as a chelitis is a symptom of deficiency. B100 complex, take 1 every morning (as they can give you energy, if taken at night may interfere with sleep).

I found the bright blue medicated Chapstick helped to keep mine moisturised during the day which made it less noticeable as it wasn't crusty, I just had to put up with it being red though as make up made it look terrible.

I use the blistex relief cream in the tube to aid healing. It was suggested by the pharmacist at Boots when I was desperate that nothing was healing mine. I didn't think it would do anything but bizarrely it did and I haven't had another flare up since. I also use the Blistex MedPlus lip balm in the blue pot for everyday.

I just want to post what helped with my angular cheilitis. In equal parts, I mixed one tsp. of antifungal cream, one teaspoon of zinc oxide (for diaper rash) one teaspoon of hydrocortisone cream and one teaspoon Vaseline. I dabbed a little of the mixture on the corners of my mouth at bedtime. This recommendation was given to me by a dermatologist and it really worked for me.