Angular cheilitis (sore corner of mouth) what actually works?

[blueskiesandsun]

I’ve got angular cheilitis according to the pharmacist and I can’t seem to fully shift it. It started when the first cold snap arrived and the pharmacist said it’s pretty common and triggered by the cold dry air.

It’s only on one side of my mouth but it’s red and sore and cracked. Not very noticeable to others but it’s just annoying and unsightly and irritated.

I’m treating it with a thin dab of clotrimazole and Vaseline once or twice a day. It seems to get better then it comes back again. Very frustrating!

Admittedly I’m not very consistent with the lotions, but I’m also not sure if they’re actually the right things… or if there is something I am eating / drinking / applying to my skin that is irritating.

Anyone who has suffered with this and successfully got rid of it please share your wise advice!

Stress caused this for me. I had it for 8 weeks and it was so unsightly and sore. Antibiotics got rid of it in the end. Apparently it’s common if you are low in iron.

Get a good multivitamin and mineral supplement and a full b vitamins supplement.

I googled it today and a B2 deficiency seems to be very rare.

"For B12 I don’t take a separate one but multivitamin says it contains 5ug. I don’t know if that’s enough."

It's B2 rather than B12 apparently, but I doubt this is what causes it in most people. I've got one now and I also get it if I go swimming (wet skin).

I stick hand gel on mine. Tends to go in 2 days. It stings.

Vitamin d pills stopped mine.

For me it's usually a sign of fatigue so plenty of sleep.

If none of the above helps OP, you might need a trip to the GP to swab it for an infection (which was what caused mine)

Hydrocortisone cream 1% will shift this in three days.
Link

Had this recently and the Caudalie lip conditioner cured it (£7 in Boots). Very much recommend it for regular conditioning in the winter in any case. As PPs have mentioned, you may be low on nutrients. An excellent and cheap solution are wheat germs, just sprinkle on yoghurt or salads. They also cure split lips.

This - excellent stuff

I will try this next time! Natural and delicious :)

If I have it I use corsodyl mouth wash, and dab a little in the corners of my mouth. I find that having too much sugar brings it on- which always happens around this time of year.

I would definitely treat for a fungal infection. I had it so bad once and it wouldn't heal, eventually a Dr suggested it could be oral thrush, prescribed miconozole and it was gone in 3 days!

I struggled for ages and like others, the culprit turned out to be toothpaste. Changed to sensodyne and all good now!

Apply a dab of Manuka honey.

Blistex always does the job for me.

It‘s invariably a sign that I‘m running low on ferritin (again). Nothing to do with the weather and nothing that skin balms will cure by themselves.

Corsadyl gel
Vaseline

The only thing that worked for me was weleda calendula cream - it smells amazing too

My mum had this and said eating marmite helped.

Mine comes back every time my thyroid levels are too far out of range. It's my first sign that I need a blood test and a med adjustment.

I struggled with it for two years when it first started and nothing helped clear it up until I had my thyroid tested and started treating that.

I use Daktarin - helps when I get those annoying red corners

Any type of barrier cream, nipple cream or bepanthem (yes nappy cream) are both great. You could also try aproderm ointment or hydromol ointment. They are greasier and thicker than Vaseline and less likely to rub off this moisturising for longer. Continue with the anti fungal cream.

Increased sugar consumption could definitely be a factor for me!