Cracks in the corners of the mouth are the main symptom of angulitis. This is a disease of the mucous membrane and skin that develops under the influence of streptococci or yeast-like fungi. Diabetes mellitus, problems with bite, lack of vitamin B2 and even long-term antibiotic therapy also contribute to the occurrence of cracks. Why is the skin in the corners of the mouth prone to cracking, how to neutralize and prevent the development of the process in the future?
Symptoms and treatment of lip jams in adults and children
The popular name for angulite is zaeda.
The disease is characterized by the presence of cracks in the corners of the mouth, erosion and irritation. In some cases, slight bleeding may occur. Common causes of sticking at the corners of the mouth include infection, irritation, and damage to the skin at the corners of the lips. Angulitis is rare in children. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in adults. Predisposing factors:
- decreased general immunity;
- deficiency of B vitamins;
- the presence of a bacterial infection;
- habit of licking lips, malocclusion;
- hypothermia;
- long-term use of corticosteroid drugs;
- eating unwashed vegetables and fruits;
- presence of caries;
- chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, anemia, HIV, liver disease).
Your pediatrician will tell you at your appointment what causes seizures in babies.
Allergic cheilitis
A disease that develops in allergy sufferers upon contact with an allergen and affects the surface of the lips. Typical manifestations of this type of cheilitis are a feeling of itching and burning on the lips, dryness and significant discomfort. The lips begin to dry and peel, and the scales of dead epithelium begin to flake off.
The main cause of this disease is the patient’s increased sensitivity to external irritants, in particular to allergens. Allergic, or, as it is also called, contact cheilitis can develop gradually.
It all depends on the patient’s personal sensitivity to allergens, and it can develop over several weeks, months and even years. The duration of this process is determined by the peculiarities of the endocrine system, as well as the degree of manifestation of allergic reactions.
This disease practically does not appear in children. According to statistics, most patients with allergic cheilitis are women over twenty years of age.
Causes of the disease
In most cases, allergic cheilitis is caused by contact allergic irritants. Among the most common allergens that cause cheilitis is lipstick. It is not the lipstick itself that is dangerous, but the substances it contains - rhodamine, eosin and others. Provoking factors also include low-quality dental implants and plastic dentures.
Allergic manifestations may appear after contact with citrus fruits, as well as in patients who have the habit of chewing pencils or pens. The disease is also common for those whose work involves playing wind instruments or hazardous chemical production.
Symptoms of the disease
The disease manifests itself as hyperemia and swelling of the lips, as well as a sensation of itching and burning, accompanied by the formation of erythema. Small painful blisters appear and burst on the affected areas of the lips. If the pathogenic process is prolonged, over time, small scars and scars will form in their place on the lips. Dry lips only increase over time.
Inflammation almost never extends beyond the red border around the lips. In rare cases, it may spread to adjacent skin. Sometimes the inflammatory process moves to the oral mucosa. This form of allergic cheilitis is characterized by hyperemia (significant redness of the tissues), the appearance of noticeable swelling of the tissues, and when trying to palpate, pain occurs.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a dentist together with an allergist. To determine the allergen, it is necessary to conduct allergy tests.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to distinguish allergic and atopic cheilitis, as well as exclude exfoliative and actinic cheilitis. Treatment of this disease includes the mandatory elimination of the irritant or allergen that caused it.
Systemic (general) and topical (local) drug therapy is used. General therapy refers to the use of medications taken orally. To relieve allergy symptoms, a course of antihistamines is used. If the case is sufficiently complex, the use of corticosteroids may be indicated. In addition, calcium supplements may be prescribed.
Local treatment of allergic cheilitis includes the use of a variety of emollient oils, ointments and balms based on sea buckthorn, vitamin E and others. To avoid the recurrence of the pathology, it is necessary to take an allergy test in order to eliminate any contact with the allergen in the future. It is also advisable to reconsider your diet and carefully consider the choice of cosmetics.
Types of angulite
Considering the etiology, seizures can be primary and secondary. In turn, the primary ones are divided into: streptococcal, viral and candidiasis.
Viral seizures. They are caused by a viral infection (herpes virus). In this case, a doctor will help you choose an ointment for sticking in the corners of an adult’s lips.
Streptococcal seizures are caused by streptococcal infection. A characteristic manifestation is the formation of a yellowish-red crust.
Candidiasis angulitis. The cause is a fungal infection. This type is characterized by a chronic course and the absence of a crust.
General principles of use
The ointment should be applied to the spots several times a day, on average 2-3 times. Before applying the drug, it is necessary to clean the wound surface from contamination and treat it with an antiseptic solution. The ointment is applied in a thin layer, covering the entire wound and a small amount of skin around it. To enhance the effect, you should refrain from drinking and eating for half an hour after application.
In case of deep skin damage, it is recommended to make compresses - squeeze out a large amount of ointment onto a sterile gauze napkin and apply it to the wound. In this way, the napkin is kept for half an hour, after which it is removed. There is no need to rinse off any remaining ointment.
It is recommended to begin treatment of angulitis from the first symptoms of its appearance. A long course can contribute to the transition of the disease to a chronic form, which is quite difficult to get rid of. If there are frequent relapses, you should reconsider your diet and pay attention to oral hygiene.
Author: Yulia Khaimanova, dentist, especially for Karies.pro
Angulitis during pregnancy: how to get rid of it
Pregnant women are very vulnerable to various infections. Risk factors in this case are vitamin deficiency and increased stress on the body.
Causes of angulitis during pregnancy:
- licking lips in the cold;
- allergic reactions;
- caries;
- dry lips;
- general decrease in immunity.
On our website Dobrobut.com you will find more information on this issue. Here you can make an appointment with a doctor, who will tell you how to get rid of the jam and which ointment is best to use in your case.
Causes of cheilitis
Cheilitis can be an independent disease and a manifestation of other pathologies of the mucous membranes and internal organs. The most common causes of the disease include:
- Dermatoses. The mucous membranes and skin of the lips can be involved in the pathological process in lichen planus, psoriasis, erythematoses and other skin diseases.
- Unfavorable factors. Exposure to hot and cold air, wind, and excessive exposure to UV rays are especially common causes of cheilitis in people who work outdoors and under special weather conditions.
- Allergic reactions. Allergies can be triggered by chemical factors, ultraviolet rays, cosmetics, etc.;
- Other diseases. Secondary cheilitis often develops against the background of atopic dermatitis, eczema, neuritis of the facial nerve, etc.
Natural protective mechanisms are weakened by such factors as hypothermia, previous surgical interventions, long-term antibacterial therapy, hypovitaminosis, etc.
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Angulitis: clinical manifestations
The symptoms of angulitis are very similar to the manifestations of herpes, so it is extremely important to promptly contact a specialist who will make the correct diagnosis and tell you how to quickly cure angulitis.
Symptoms of seizure:
- redness in the corners of the mouth;
- cracks;
- multiple blisters with purulent contents;
- slight bleeding (not always);
- purulent crusts.
Treatment of lip jams in adults depends on the etiology and form (acute or chronic). It is very important to start treatment on time, because without it, the affected area can increase, causing significant discomfort to the patient.
Vitamins
The appearance of a jam indicates not only the presence of some pathogen, but also the weakness of the skin, since any infection manifests itself in the weakest places.
This means there are problems with the skin and vitamins that are responsible for its condition help solve them. Namely: A, B2 and E. It is the presence of these vitamins that needs to be replenished in order to get rid of unpleasant and painful wounds. This can be done quickly with complex pharmaceutical preparations containing these vitamins.
Also, vitamin deficiency can be replenished from food, but this will last longer than with the use of the drug.
Diagnosis of the disease
Unfortunately, patients with angulitis very rarely turn to a specialist for help, but in vain. After all, the acute form of the disease is easier to cure, thereby preventing the disease from becoming chronic.
Required research:
- general blood and urine tests;
- blood sugar test;
- biochemical analysis and liver tests;
- ELISA blood test for herpes viruses;
- blood test for syphilis;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
Consultation with highly specialized specialists may also be required.
Prognosis and prevention
With timely treatment and the absence of malignancy processes, the prognosis is almost always favorable. If the therapy has caused noticeable cosmetic defects, you can resort to methods for correcting the appearance of the lips.
To prevent complications, it is important to understand whether you are at risk. The presence of allergic diseases and dermatoses, chronic endocrine diseases, and wearing dentures increase the risk of developing pathology. To prevent the appearance of cheilitis, it is important to adhere to several rules:
- regularly visit the dentist, sanitize the oral cavity, remove tartar;
- promptly replace outdated fillings and orthopedic structures, contact after chipped teeth and injuries to prevent lip injury from the sharp edges of fillings and enamel;
- For the manufacture of prostheses, contact only professionals;
- eat properly and nutritiously to prevent hypovitaminosis;
- try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and use products with SPF, including for lips;
- be attentive to your health and promptly treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, nervous system, and internal organs.
Treatment of lip jams in adults
After examining the patient and studying the test results, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment, usually consisting of medications (local or general action) and vitamin-mineral complexes. It is extremely important to give up bad habits and avoid irritating factors during treatment.
If there is an infection, the patient will be prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy (taking into account the type of pathogen). For a viral infection, antiviral drugs are recommended, and for candidiasis angulitis, antimycotic drugs, such as nystatin and lamicon. Trimistin and tetracycline are prescribed for mixed forms of the disease. All this applies to the treatment of the disease in adults. Your pediatrician will tell you how to treat jams in the corners of the mouth in children. After examining the baby, the pediatrician will prescribe drug therapy and suggest the most effective traditional medicine.
Possible complications
Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner often causes serious complications. The disease itself often does not pose a serious health risk. But only an experienced specialist can tell you how to treat cheilitis. Self-medication can lead to unpleasant consequences and provoke the occurrence of a chronic form of the disease. In addition, cheilitis is dangerous because its symptoms can mask malignant tumor processes. It is important to remember that some forms are prone to malignancy - cheilitis may be followed by precancerous conditions.
When should parents take their child to the doctor for seizures?
There are clear criteria by which atopic dermatitis can be suspected. First of all, the child should be bothered by itching and flaking of the skin over the past 12 months, plus at least 3 signs from the list below:
- age - signs of atopy usually appear before the age of 2 years, a little less often - up to 4 years and in adolescence;
- noticeable redness of the skin in its folds - for example, on the inside of the elbows, outside of the knees, on the cheeks or the front of the legs;
- constant irritation - itching, peeling - in the areas indicated above;
- constant dry skin;
- the child has close relatives with asthma - these could be parents, brothers or sisters.
If you have counted all the signs in your child, then he probably has atopic dermatitis. To confirm the diagnosis, you need to contact your local pediatrician. Usually, examination of the child’s skin is sufficient, but the doctor may also prescribe additional examinations.
These are usually allergy tests to check if there is something triggering the flare-up. To do this, they perform a prick test - in which a tiny amount of allergen is applied pointwise to the skin and the reaction is monitored. The appearance of redness and irritation is a signal that there is an allergy to the substance.
