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Have you ever suffered with painful cracks at the corners of the mouth that just wouldn’t go away? Some people also complain of redness, wrinkling, crusting or fissuring. Cold weather can make cracks worse. This condition has a lot of different names, which can be confusing. Some call it angular cheilitis. It is also called perlèche. Others use the term cheilosis or angular stomatitis.
The degree of discomfort people experience is highly variable. Symptoms can range from mild pain to severe burning or itching. The scaly fissures can look pretty ugly.
What Causes Cracks at the Corners of the Mouth?
The causes of this problem can be just as numerous as the names, though of course there is no one-to-one link between name and cause. (That would be too easy.) It is not entirely clear what causes these fissures to form, though nutritional deficiencies are sometimes blamed. Health professionals are not in agreement about nutrients and cheilitis. Some say there is no relationship between vitamins and minerals and this skin condition while others are convinced there is.
B Vitamins & Minerals:
Sometimes this lip irritation appears to be a consequence of a vitamin B deficiency (Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, Sep. 2009). Low levels of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) or vitamin B12 (cobalamin) can be particularly problematic. Ditto for zinc and iron.
Q. I suffered from chronic angular cheilitis for years, along with digestive problems. Many physicians dismissed any relationship between the two. I finally saw a nutritionist who identified the problem as B vitamin malabsorption.
I started taking B vitamins under the tongue, so they would be absorbed without relying on the digestive tract. I have not had any cheilitis for more than a year and a half. I was also advised to follow a gluten-free diet. That has stopped my digestive tract symptoms. After twenty years of bloating, gas and abdominal pain and consultations with countless physicians, one nutritionist came up with the answer to my misery.
A. It rather sounds as though your nutritionist diagnosed you with celiac disease. In this autoimmune condition, the body reacts to gluten from wheat, barley or rye and attacks the small intestine. The resulting problems with absorption of nutrients can cause a wide range of problems, including those painful cracks at the corners of the mouth.
What About Vitamin D and Cheilitis?
Q. I struggled with a condition called angular cheilitis for 60 years. From the time I was five years old until two years ago I had redness, irritation and cracks at the corners of my mouth.
When my family doctor tested my vitamin D level the result came back showing that I was highly deficient. My score was 12. I believe 20 is considered barely normal and 30 to 50 is optimal.
My doctor had me start taking 2,000 IU of the vitamin D3 and the first thing I noticed was that the corners of my mouth were no longer cracking and sore or bleeding. Since then I have continued to take 2,000 IUs and have had a flare-up only once, when I was traveling and neglected to take my pills.
I mentioned the connection between vitamin D and angular cheilitis on a recent visit to a dermatologist, and he dismissed what I told him, saying it was rare for vitamin D to help something like this. Perhaps I am a rare bird, but I swear that taking vitamin D has healed what was a lifelong problem for me.
A. Cracks in the corner of the mouth can be incredibly uncomfortable. These splits can crust over or bleed if they go deep enough.
We have not heard of a link between low levels of vitamin D and angular cheilitis. We did find one fascinating study, however, demonstrating that a vitamin D ointment called calcipotriol (Dovonex) that is used to treat psoriasis worked extremely well to treat a somewhat similar condition called leukoplakia (white patches on gums or tongue) (International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oct. 2001).
Bacteria & Yeast:
Angular cheilitis may sometimes be caused by a yeast overgrowth with candida (Dermatologic Therapy, May-June 2010) or bacteria such as Staph aureus (Journal of Oral Pathology, April, 1986). Doctors also believe that a fungal infection (Candida albicans) may contribute to both angular cheilitis and leukoplakia. Perhaps that is why Listerine with its high alcohol content and anti-fungal essential oils may help some people.
Listerine Cleared Up Angular Cheilitis:
Q. I had angular cheilitis off and on for five months. The dermatologist scraped it and said it was just due to saliva. The steroid cream he prescribed only cleared it up for a few days before it repeatedly returned.
My dental hygienist thought it might be fungal, and she suggested an athlete’s foot cream. Given the proximity of the problem to my mouth, I opted for Listerine. It has worked well on my athlete’s foot and seems more appropriate for the face.
After four days of applying amber Listerine regularly, the condition was healed. I continued the treatment for another few days and also used Listerine as my bedtime mouthwash. Four weeks out, no new outbreaks.
A. Thanks for letting us know that Listerine cleared up angular cheilitis. These cracks at the corners of the mouth are also known as perlèche or angular stomatitis. This irritation can be stubborn and slow to heal. It troubles many people who will be glad to know about your treatment.
We suspect that the antifungal activity of the herbal oils in Listerine (eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol) is responsible for your success. Listerine has also been used by many readers to discourage the Malasezzia yeast that can cause dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, or the Trichophyton fungus at the root of athlete’s foot.
C.P.M.T. shared this similar story:
“Suggestion: put on Listerine mouthwash several time a day on the cracks (or Vicks VapoRub – outside/external area). It is both antifungal and antibacterial. After a week or so the problem should be gone.”
And this came from J.S.:
“I don’t have any immune problems and am a 31-yr-old healthy individual. I however occasionally suffer from angular cheilitis (I’ve had 3 episodes in the last 3 or 4 years). I think I am just prone to this type of fungal infection.
“By sheer luck and experimentation I learned that applying old-fashioned amber Listerine to the affected area helps clear up the problem within a few days. I once got a prescription for anti-fungal cream from a doctor and Listerine even outperformed that!”
Obviously, if the underlying cause of the yeast overgrowth is a vitamin deficiency or an underactive immune system, it will make sense to address those problems once the sores have disappeared.
Some Additional Causes of Angular Cheilitis:
People with diabetes may find that improving blood sugar control and lowering HbA1c helps clear up the corners of the mouth (StatPearls, Sep. 29, 2020). Badly fitting dentures allow saliva to collect there and cause problems, so addressing that can make a difference. Sometimes angular cheilitis occurs in people whose HIV infection is incompletely controlled. In addition, immunosuppression, for example from steroids, can lead to thrush and cause cheilitis. Surprisingly, chewing gum sweetened with xylitol can decrease angular cheilitis among older adults (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Aug. 2002).
Avoiding SLS In Toothpaste:
There may be another cause of angular cheilitis. Many readers report that an ingredient in a lot of toothpastes could be a culprit:
Q. I have had trouble over the years with cracks at the corners of my mouth. To treat them, I tried everything from antifungals to antibiotics to vitamins B and D.
Nothing worked for me until I came across an article about a sensitivity to SLS, sodium lauryl sulfate. I discovered that my toothpaste contains SLS. Once I changed to non-SLS toothpaste, I’ve had no more splits at the corners of my mouth!
A. There are many possible causes of angular cheilitis (red cracks at the corners of the mouth). Some readers report benefit with vitamin supplements, while others find topical cortisone plus antifungal cream helpful. You are not the first to discover that SLS, the foaming agent in many toothpastes, can trigger irritation.
Other Remedies from Readers:
Here are some additional stories from visitors to this site:
Anti-Fungal Creams:
Phyllis shared this affordable remedy:
“I used to suffer from these painful, raw cracks in corners of my mouth. My dentist suggested I use an inexpensive over-the-counter anti-fungus cream (such as athlete’s foot cream). Within a week the cracks healed, and I haven’t been bothered since.”
Laura offered this combination approach from her dentist:
“I have had angular cheilitis for about a year and a half. I went to my doctor after 3 months of trying numerous things to heal my mouth. I told her that I thought it was angular cheilitis after researching it. She laughed at me and said that the last time she saw something like that, it was an allergy to some food. She gave me an antibiotic which did nothing and then another prescription (I don’t even remember what it was) that also did nothing. I was miserable.
“I went for my regular dental check up and told my dentist. She told me that it was angular cheilitis and gave me a prescription for nystatin [a prescription antifungal] and triamcinolone acetonide. It cleared it up right away. She also told me that many people that get this seem to be low in iron. I had already started taking a multivitamin with iron. The medication cleared it up but it continually comes back. I would really like to get rid of it for good. I take Vitamin B Complex every morning and a multivitamin with iron at night.
“I have tried all kinds of ‘remedies’ including: apple cider vinegar on the corners of my mouth, Mentholatum on them, changing my toothbrush and my toothpaste, using moisturizer on my lips, cold sore medication, and anything else I’ve read. This condition is miserable and I would love to get rid of it permanently.”
L.H. discovered alcohol:
“I had the same problem & found that each morning I could put rubbing alcohol on a tissue and blot each mouth corner and I still do this 1 or 2 times a week & have had no re-occurrence in the last 4-5 years.”
B Vitamins:
Linda offered this short story:
“Several decades ago, my grandmother suffered from cracked skin at the corners of her mouth. She was found to be deficient in riboflavin, as I recall.”
MAM also found B vitamins to be helpful:
“I used to have this all the time until I started using the cracks as an indicator that I needed more Vitamin B – now if cracks start to develop I take one “balanced B” vitamin and by the next day the cracks are either gone or on their way out.”
A vegetarian reported this complication from her diet:
“In a stressful period of life as a young mother of two and finishing chiropractic school, I pushed further into a vegetarian diet. During exams (more stress), I developed angular cheilitis. I immediately realized it was the vitamin B deficiency! It cleared up amazingly quickly on resuming moderate meat consumption.”
Lip Balms: Boon or Bane?
M.V. tried lots of things:
“I tried many lip soothers, sticks, and balms for months to heal chapped, cracked lips. I even got a prescription for Duke’s ‘Magic Mouthwash.’
“Nothing completely healed my lips. I read your newspaper article about Mentholatum ointment and I tried it on my cracked, chapped, sore lower lip for about a week. It healed it and the lip looks and feels normal.”
Sometimes the culprit in angular cheilitis is a product used to moisturize dry lips. A person who is allergic to lanolin, peppermint or sunscreens found in many lip balms may react to them with cracks in the corner of the mouth. Finding a lip product that does not contain any of these sensitizers can be helpful in that case.
Mark put in a plug for The People’s Pharmacy Pomegranate Natural Lip balm:
“Wonderful product that cleared up my angular cheilitis in one week after months of trying a variety of home remedies.”
Learn More:
If you would like to learn more about vitamin D and the way to test for deficiency of this nutrient and optimal levels to take, we offer our eGuide to Vitamin D Deficiency. You may also find our Guide to Unique Uses of Vicks of value.
We would love to hear your story about tips for healing dry lips and angular cheilitis. You can comment below so others can benefit from your experience.
Jan
Update: I had previously reported a problem with stannous fluoride causing my angular cheilitis, but I now learned that rather than stannous fluoride or sodium fluoride, some toothpastes use sodium fluorophosphates. I had seen the “sodium” on the box and bought it without noticing the rest. Like stannous fluoride, if I use this product, I end up with angular cheilitis. From now on, I will be extra careful to be sure that the toothpastes I buy have sodium fluoride and not either of the other two.
Bob G
Interesting article (as usual) – I second the self-diagnosed toothpaste ingredient allergy (SLS, sodium lauryl sulfate). I could NOT account for my sore mouth problem until my wife told me that, at her dentist’s recommendation, she had tried a new toothpaste brand. On experiement, when we changed back to our former product my problem disappeared.
Jackie
My first experience with this was after taking Bactrim Double Strength antibiotic for 10 days. Tried Neosporin and various lip balms but nothing seemed to work. It took forever for the chelitis to finally go away. After this initial episode, it would return periodically but I couldn’t understand why it was happening. It was like I had become susceptible to it after having the first episode.
For some reason, I started to think my toothpaste was causing it to occur again. I used various types of Colgate and Crest. I decided to change to Pepsodent, which is a white paste toothpaste, and don’t think it has occurred since. I believe there was something in the non-Pepsodent toothpastes that was causing the repeat episodes for me.
Jeanni
After going to a dentist I developed these cracks that were painful at the corners of my mouth. Never had them before. I was prescribed Nystatin and that helped but off and on these cracks would return. I began taking vitamin C, D3, B complex, vitamin A, Zinc, flaxseed, and a multi vitamin daily and since then I have no flareups. My reason for taking these is because I am seventy eight and I know I don’t eat as much as I used to so I am not getting the vitamins and minerals that I need. If taking these is what helped then that is a bonus.
Jan
I found that anytime I used toothpastes with stannous fluoride (all of which seem to promise to reduce the risk of gum disease), I suffered angular cheilitis, and it seemed to respond to no treatment. As long as I use only toothpastes with sodium fluoride, and not stannous fluoride, I have no problem. I mentioned it to a dental hygienist who was working on me because they always gave me a small tube of toothpaste in a “gift bag”, and it always had stannous fluoride. She said other people had had the same experience. I now give the “gift” to my daughter who does not react to it, buy only toothpastes with sodium fluoride, and I never suffer from angular cheilitis ever. Huge relief!
Deb
I tried everything from antifungals to antibiotics to vitamins B and D. Nothing worked for me until I came across an article about a sensitivity to SLS, sodium lauryl sulfate, found in many personal care products. I discovered that SLS was in my over-the-counter toothpaste and prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste. Once I changed to non-SLS toothpaste no more split corners of my mouth!
Dave
Adelle Davis in one of her 1950s books writes about this in relation to B2 and B6 supplementation. I had this in the 1970s and found it to be a balancing of B1 with the other two vitamins. I didn’t seem to need extra B1 in my diet.
Phil
My dad called it ‘trenchmouth’. (Scare tactic referencing WW1 lack of oral care!) However, a bacterial infection, nonetheless. Neosporin can give overnight relief.
Susan
Dry corners of the mouth can be one of many possible symptoms of low thyroid.
Kim
You mentioned using hydrocortisone and mycolog in a previous article. Cleared it right up.
MarieS
I had this for many years. I used to use Anbesol. The last couple of years I started dabbing decolorized iodine into the corners. Clears it up very quickly and recurrence down to almost zero.
Amy
I developed AC when I got my braces as a teenager. I had it the entire time I had my braces. Once the braces were taken off (after 4 years) it cleared up. I always felt like I had extra saliva due to the braces, especially in the corners of my mouth. Fast forward 30 years, and the AC came back a bit when I got a mouth guard for TMJ. By this point I’d begun using Tea Tree Mouthwash fairly regular and would dab a bit on the corners, and it seemed to help.
Grace
MN
I have the first case of AC that I remember ever having in my life. I am trying to remember if I had ever had it as a young person. I have come to the conclusion that what is causing it is the fact that I had been taking an extra strength “Fungus Clean” probiotic nail formula for toenail fungus, and was slacking off by taking it every day for a while. Now I am back to taking it 2 times a day, and even upped it to 3 times a day to see faster results.
I also use the same essential oil that comes with the fungus cleaning capsules. I am hoping that this is what helps to control this issue, and will get back with a follow up report. I am going to try the Listerine and Vicks along with what I have been using. Thanks to those who shared those tips.
Ashley
Sylva,Nc
I have had very persistent dry cracked lips (the corners). It was so bad that my mouth hurt when I yawned, and the corners would bleed.
I recently purchased Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil body butter to try as a facial mosisture. I never heard of it until I stumbled across a QVC informerrical.
I smeared this stuff all over my face & lips one night and when I awoke the next morning, the corners of my lips looked to be healed over… I tried stretching my mouth wide and felt no pain! I could see a little bit of white stuff over the area where the skin was typically split, but it had completely sealed over.
So every night thereafter, I continued smearing this body butter on my lips and the lip splitting is now nonexistent. Btw, I am a denture wearer and lick my lips alot.
Levon
Kentucky
My when I eat fresh tomatoes the corners of my mouth start cracking. I can’t resist a home-grown tomato and charcoaled hamburger. I thought I was over the mouth deal so I started putting them in my salad. Here I sit with a cracked mouth. L-lysine 500 knocks fever blisters on me or if I catch them before they get too much of a hold on me they don’t develop any further. I am going to try that on my cracked mouth.
val
florida
Tea tree oil plus vaseline (or if I had known about the virgin coconut oil, I would have mixed it with that) at least 3x a day x 3 days has given me much relief!
Lori
So.Cal, USA
About four to six weeks ago I developed it for the first time. It was painful, oozing, and one side bled after eating. I tried hydrogen peroxide, Vick’s, presc. dental paste, mouthwash, different lip balms. I was miserable. It took close to three weeks to finally heal completely.
Then I woke up with it again four days ago. I researched it on your page. So today I got a B-12, injection. 20,000 D3, calcium, 2 airborne, I put muprocin ointment and Watkins menthol and camphor ointment.
I suffer with several autoimmune diseases, tend to have yeast overgrowth issues, and take meds to suppress my immune system. I’ve been flaring a lot recently and am also getting steroid injections and daily steroid pills. I’m going to try the Amber Listerine and d2.
Currently, my eyes are red and severely dry, my tongue and mouth has ulcers, my skin is dry, itchy and has rashes and bruising, swollen lymph nodes, exhausted, migraines… I’m feeling miserable.
Jeni
Herefordshire
I take vitamin D and B and have done for years. I am gluten intolerant so don’t eat wheat, etc. All the information above only seems to work for a while, and then it returns. There doesn’t seem to me to be a permanent cure. I could possibly be deficient in iron so may try that. ut probably will have to put up with the return of this problem now and again for the rest of my life.
Jo
Maidenhead
Try Bepanthen nappy rash cream. It’s a bit of a magic cream and after 3 weeks of trying lip balm, Vicks, 8 hour cream etc it’s worked!
Betsy
Seattle
I had red and cracked corners of my mouth from earlier childhood until a friend of the family suggested that I stop brushing my teeth with fluoride toothpaste. It seems that my brushing habits were not that good and I was doing a poor job of rinsing off excess toothpaste from my mouth – instead, simply swishing around water from a dixie cup. After changing to Pepsodent in the 1970’s (one of the few toothpastes as the time that didn’t have fluoride), my condition went AWAY! It was a simple as that.
Oldmate
Australia
I suffered from AC for years, saw 3 different doctors, and an expensive skin specialist, did blood tests, allergy tests, swabs, and no one could help me.
My mouth was bleeding every time I tried to eat for over a year. I was slowly going insane, whilst trying every remedy under the sun.
The last thing I tried was to stop using Colgate toothpaste and changed it to a herbal one from Woolworths, my dentist also suggested vitamin C, so I take that twice a day as well…And finally it is gone, and I think for good.
I have also cut right back on processed meats like ham and bacon as that has almost as many toxic chemicals as Colgate.
Julia
USA
I’ve been getting these cracks for about 2-3 years now on and off that developed while I was in high school about once or twice a month. I take a vitamin D 5,000 IU daily, and I’m still getting the cracks. If I get them once a month, they tend to last up to 2-3 weeks sometimes!! However I do not take a vitamin B and am going to start and see if it will change the problem. I’ve noticed when my lips are more chapped, and I have the cracks, they are more painful and can do more damage. So I have to constantly be using chapstick with them for sure.
Kathryn
CT
I used to suffer from angular cheilitis from time to time, but for the past 3 months, I seem to be getting outbreaks every week. I am take my multivitamin, extra supplements of D3 and B12, probiotics, eat reasonably well, use the People’s Pharmacy chapstick, but I can still find no relief.
J
GA
I found recently (after quite a few years of dealing with this) that unrefined virgin coconut oil works really well to soothe. Mine is severe, to the point when I open my mouth to yawn or eat someonthing I bleed from the corners of my mouth.
Diane
MN
I do yogurt all the time and take about B complex listerine and neosporin helped some.
Laura
Il
Has anyone used hydrogin peroxide, and if so did it work! I hate these splits at the corner of my mouth!
Jeff
DC
I had this for about a year and only on one side of my mouth. Seemed like nothing I did cleared it up. I read the online comments here and decided to try the following: I stopped using Crest fluoride toothpaste (3D white), started using a baking soda toothpaste, started using Listerine each day/night, started taking multivitamins, put 70% rubbing alcohol on it several times a day, and at night used Equate anti fungal liquid. * also cut back on my wine and beer drinking.
Now after two and 1/2 weeks, AC is almost all gone! In another week, I will stop the Equate treatment, rubbing alcohol and multivitamins to see if there re-occurrences.
Gail
MI - All Cities
I found when I wore lipstick it would break out, especially the long lasting kind, when I stopped wearing lipstick it would get better.
Liz S
I have dealt with AC for about two years. I have tried many remedies and have finally found what works for me. I have tried everything from honey on my lips to probiotics to b supplements to d supplementing to dawn soap on my lips…Everything helped a little for a little bit of time but it never failed that it came back.
The raw local honey worked at first, then we went out of the country and I had like a 14 hour (dry air) flight which left my lips in the worst condition ever and I didn’t have access to local honey, so I thought what is honey high in. I purchased a b vitamin complex which did help, but it made me not be able to sleep (I later found out some of my b levels were too high on it).
My doctor tested me for a D deficiency. I was extremely low with a level of 19. I started supplementing with d3 with some improvement but my lips would still get bad sometimes. I started to mess around with different b vitamins that I didn’t have a high level while supplementing. It ended up that b2 (riboflavin) helped a lot. I ran out and had to wait while some was being ordered, so I researched what foods are high in b2. Raw almonds, yogurt, and milk were all high. I’m not much of a milk drinker, so I started eating a lot of almonds and yogurt.
I pretty much now eat a handful of almonds (10-12) every day and about a cup of stonyfield farms organic vanilla yogurt. NO MORE LIP PROBLEMS!!! It was awful when I had it. No chapstick would work!!It actually made it worse. I felt like I looked diseased. I hope this helps someone else. I stress, if you do opt to supplement, have your dr. watch your levels. Too much of any vitamin can be a bad thing!!! Foods are the best source of vitamins!!
Ingrid W.
Illinois
Do you suffer from Crohn’s Disease, Stomatitis (stomach problems), Intracranial Hypertension, Dandruff (Seborrheic Dermatitis),Orbital Disease, or any other conditions known to be related to Angular Cheilitis? An important gene identified that is associated with Angular Cheilitis is TMEM79 (Transmembrane Protein 79). Affiliated tissues include skin (spontaneous dermatitis) and breast, and related mouse phenotypes are hematopoietic system and homeostasis/metabolism.
Using an antibacterial mouthwash etc to treat Angular Cheilitis will not fix the cause of the problem , but will cause your body to create other symptoms to reveal its deficiency /need. Garlic not only contains the Antibacterial components is is packed with b vitamins like Riboflavin and sulfur which is a commonly deficient nutrient. http://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000163472-TMEM79/tissue
Parker
NC
I have many problems related to yeast allergy. My cheilitis has recurred occasionally over the years. I have always used an anti-fungal cream to treat it. This has worked, but having it so near (on) my mouth made me uncomfortable. I have Listerine (purple, with the same ingredients as the original amber) and VapoRub in my medicine cabinet. I am going to try a more natural approach this time. Having Listerine near my mouth certainly relieves my discomfort!
Rod M
Kentucky
Okay, this condition just started for me. I take most of the supplements mentioned. I have a few heart problems so I increased my intake of Magnesium from 235mg to 400mg. Two days later I wakeup to the corners of my mouth being cracked and sore. This is the only change in meds or supplements. After reading these problems I am no further educated!
Marlene
London N4 1JD
I use to get this when I was younger I would use Vaseline or chap lip stick and it would go away in days but now it has come back I have tried a lot of things and I still have it. I am going to try the vapor rub and Listerine.
Fran
Montreal
Years ago in my twenties (I am now 78) a dentist told a friend of mine that dentures were the cause. He told her to soak her dentures in one part of bleach to 3 parts of water, let the denture soak while showering or better yet a half hour.
I never had trouble with the corner of my lips which was very painful when I tried to open my mouth to eat, and yawning. The bonus is that my dentures are really white. I do this twice a week and that took care of the problem. Even if you don’t have perleche soaking your dentures in the bleach solution is better than any denture soak.
John
St. Louis
My dentist told me that this is a fungal infection. He gave me a prescription for a tube of cheap nystatin cream. Healed it up in just a few days.
Ruth
Elkins, West Virginia
My dad had these and his physician said it was vitamin related. Mine were frequent with cracked lips and corners split. Every winter this would happen. I discovered a lip balm from The Body Shop that had hemp. It would bring my lips back quickly and easily. I can’t get it anymore, but the problem seems to do all right on naturopathic balms
Pamela
B.C.
I used to get this every time I ate beefsteak tomatoes. I was taking a low dose Vit B complex at the time. Someone suggested that I switch to Roma or plum tomatoes as they are less acidic. I rarely experience the cracks anymore and if I do, just a dab of polysporin usually clears it up by the next day. I also increased my dosage of B vitamins as I love tomatoes and didn’t want to give them up.
Marlys
SD
Plain old corn starch healed my cracked lips. It is also good for diaper rash, as it dries the area rather than leaving it moist…as creams or lotions do.
Al
nc
I occasionally had cracks in the corner of my mouth and realized it came from potato chips. Perhaps others may find this correlation. I avoid chips and have had NO problem.
Pam
Winnipeg, MB Canada
I believe that Crohn’s Disease can cause these painful mouth sores. I have lymphocytic colitis, and when I get them, I always blame it on the colitis. I take vitamins B12 and D daily.
Wanda
Shallotte, NC
I’ve had this problem occasionally over the years, but in this last year it has been more frequent. I was reading this article to get some ideas of what it is & how to treat it. It was suggesting Listerine, etc. So, with that in mind the bottle of Germ-x hand sanitizer was glaring me in the face (I keep it on my desk, year round!). I put a little on a tissue & dabbed the corners & thought my hair was going to come off my head BUT it immediately stopped hurting, even looked better when I went to the restroom to cry (!).
It is almost completely clear today! I put more on this morning & I will do another ‘dab’ this evening before I go home. Germ-x is 63% alcohol so maybe that is the common ingredient in all of these remedies. Whatever works, right? —Wanda, North Carolina
R.J.
CALIFORNIA
Thanks to L.H.! I tried rubbing alcohol on an annoying sore that I’d had on the corner of my mouth for about six weeks and it was gone within a week. I did apply the rubbing alcohol a few times a day using either a q-tip or a cotton ball.
Rosie
USA
I started having this problem a few years ago. For me, the cause is just a bit of normal skin aging and a slight angle down rather than up at the corners of my mouth. Drool then sits in the corners, probably mostly at night. That causes an infection due to the constant moisture.
My Dermatologist knew what it was and gave me a bag of samples. One of the creams is a barrier cream. I dry the area and put this on at night and it gets a bit better. I also tried a little amount of dermal filler in the corners of my mouth. That did solve the moisture from pooling. Unfortunately, they aremexpensivemand considered cosmetic so you pay for it.
I have put medicated powder on and that seems to help. I like,the drying-out ideas but…… OUCH! Doesn’t rubbing alcohol and Listering sting like heck??? (Vinegar dressing on a salad can send me through the roof.
I have lapsed on my vitamin taking including a multi (for the B) and D so I’ll add them back in. Since I take GERD medication, it lessens absorption of some Vitamins and minerals so I have to take higher amounts.
It could be a saliva pH thing too. (That would explain stomach problems and too much sugar making things worse.
Good luck to all!
Stephanie
PA
I’ve gotten this a few times and this last time was the worst! Kept bleeding and I could barely eat or even open my mouth for a month. I tried everything from that silver cream to yeast/anti fungal creams.
On a whim, I bought “Smile’s PRID drawing salve” yesterday and it’s finally healing! It’s homeopathic and I finally have relief! Was $8 at CVS and can be used on other things like acne for “drawing out” infections of the skin.
Harriet
Nj
Had this condition for 4 yrs it started after dentist visit has been on going sinceDr said it was fungal. And I’ve been using nystain went to Dr today started allergy test as soon as I stop using cream it comes. back had gastric by pass 12 yrs ago forgot to tell him that have to go back in 3 was for results of test it is Grey annoying. And painful I think I’ll try the listerine andwet one wipes
bette
missouri
. thank all of you. I have the corner cracks. I went and got iron and B complect pills. I ate chicken livers. I got claritin, but have not taken it yet. The things that are working best are listerine
and vix vapor rub. They both have anti- bacteria and anti fungal agents in them. You can feel them working right off. I have used the vix to get rid of toenail fungus.
Girasole
California
It seems there are as many reasons for angular cheilitis as there are blog posts.
I began suffering with angular cheilitis after experiencing severe intestinal issues. I was originally diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis but that turned out to be an inaccurate diagnosis. I have a medicine cabinet filled with creams and oinments. The only product that would heal it was Terrasil. It would be gone for a while, but would return – always after an intestinal upset. I up’d my vitamin D and B-complex and started taking a prenatal multi to make sure that I was not deficient. Nothing seemed get rid of it until I started treating myself for leaky gut. Once I started taking L-Glutamine and eating a modified gluten free diet it went away – along with my intestinal issues.
Of course, ALWAYS check with a doctor or nutritionalist before doing or taking anything. Perhaps there is some truth to the belief that everything begins in the gut.
Clark
Texas
I see a lot of you are saying you’re taking multi-vitamins or specific vitamins. The problem is, most of the over the counter brands of vitamins are made up of mostly “filler”. Your body doesn’t absorb the nutritional value that’s on the label because of the way the vitamins/minerals were processed.
I have used a certain brand for years and since starting I never get sick. Not even a cold. I changed my eating habits and now I don’t have seasonal allergies anymore as well. I would suggest looking for higher quality nutritional supplements. :)
Jen
Aus
I have suffered from dry, redness, cracked lips for 7 or so years now. It will go away and then come back again, this year it was gone, I was feeling so much better. But it came back, again. I don’t feel the same, it’s hard for me to talk, smile and eat. I have tried medication in the past, nothing has worked, such as antibiotics…fungi cream, Vaseline…ect..I would like the best advice on how to treat this…
Georgie
England
I have suffered with angular cheilitus for some time. My doctor tested my blood back in March and noted I had a severe vit d deficiency. I was prescribed a supplement and I have not suffered with it since!
Eric
Vancouver
Vitamin d and its gone. Within 48 hours.
Julie
I have had this unsightly problem for YEARS and have tried every remedy under the SUN in an attempt to CURE it! Most remedies worked for a spell until this pesky affliction would stubbornly return!
The condition started on the LEFT corner of my mouth and remained there for many YEARS! However, to add insult to injury, the affliction decided to “jump” to the RIGHT corner of my mouth at the exact same time that the left corner of my mouth FINALLY cleared up! (so my relief was extremely short-lived.)
My best advice is to NOT touch or pick at the lesions because I believe that’s how my affliction became a chronic condition.
Barbara Kallas
MN
I used to get cracks in the corners of my mouth. Very painful. I was told it was a vitamin b deficiency. Since I started taking vitamin b supplements I haven’t had even ONE crack.
Beth
United States
It may be nutritional… I did as grandma said, 1T peanut butter (just ground nuts, NO additives) as long as I have my T of Peanut Butter per day, the problem stays away.
Cathy
Toronto
My seven year old has had this condition for well over a year. Sometimes it seemed to get better, but would always return. A doctor told her to put Vaseline on it, but it just made it worse. Her dentist thought it was a vitamin or iron deficiency causing it, and this makes since since her diet is poor due to being a picky eater. On a whim, we decided to try putting coconut oil on it twice a day, after brushing. Read up on the many benefits of coconut oil being anti-viral, anti bacterial, ect… The lesions started healing right away. If she doesn’t apply it, however, it seems to return, so we make sure to reapply twice a day. It has now been perhaps 3 months doing this, and the lesions are 95% healed. Until she starts eating better, we’ll continue applying the oil. Please comment if this works for others, too.
Girasole
My prob was directly related to intestinal issues. I started eating gluten free (mostly) and made sure to eat coconut and non-fat greek yogurt (easily sweetened with organic jams). My angular cheilitis and intestinal issues went away. Terrasil was the only ointment that I found to completly hear the lesions. I sure hope your daughter is doing better.
Carol
Birmingham uk
Got cracks each side of mouth since an operation 12monthes ago on my colon I have been putting on cold sore cream with a cotton bud and the cracks have closed up but still red have not used lipstick for months ,but reading the comments about it iam going to try vodka on a cotton bud in the morning
Alan
Wisconsin
Having the cracked lips at the corner of your mouth is a bacterial or yeast infection and has nothing to do with a vitamin deficiency. Wet Ones antibacterial wipes will clear up the issue.
Terry Graedon
There are many possible causes for the cracked sores at the corners of the mouth. Infections are often implicated, but vitamin deficiencies can also be involved.
BD
I had these cracks and dabbing on the left side of my mouth and read a few people’s comments on here and it sounded just like what I had. I dabbed my mouth in the AM and right before bed with listerine and then I put neosporin on the area and within three days it is significantly better almost gone. Make sure to put neosporin on a couple times a day. This helped keep it lubricated so it doesn’t crack open again. Make sure not to pick at it either. I wanted to share this because I didnt know exactly how to treat it and started with lots of Chapstick and that wasn’t working. I hope this helps someone! :)
marco
Rome
Angular chelitis could be a joke, but it could also be a very serious affair.
It could be linked to Candida, which in turn could be the result of a leaky gut. This condition, if not immediately diagnosed and treated, could in time degenerate, affecting many other organs such as the liver for example. Basically the gut’s main job is to seal toxins, bacteria, and food residues away from the blood stream. If it leaks, these will enter the blood stream and will trigger the immune defense system. With time, they will degenerate, handing some of the work to the liver!
Frita
Florida
I have gotten Angular Cheilitis after taking anti-biotics. They are known to damage or reduce the flora in the mouth, causing the bacteria to run rampant or a virus to set in. Your dentist can give you a prescription for Nystatin liquid, which you swish in your mouth 3 times a day, along with Nystatin ointment $4, to apply on your effected lip area. Takes about 4 days to heal, but this really works.
chris
Hong Kong
I had this for about 20 years. About 5 years ago for unrelated reasons I decided to give up all added sugar & white flour. Bingo it has not returned since. As an aside giving up sugar & white flour also cleared up a myriad of other health issues, the big one being frequent migraines but also minor annoyances you may associate with growing older like toe nail fungus, a big belly, blocked sinuses, lots of gunk in the corners of my eyes, wheezing when exercising, nighttime leg cramps, dandruff. Totally eliminating these two items means no packaged food items so I’ve also removed almost all food additives which no doubt has much to with it. Hard to do yes (at least initially), I need to spend more time on food preparation but boy I am fitter, slimmer and have more energy than when I was in my mid twenties (now 50).
Melodie
California
I have had severe angular cheilitis for about a week now. It has flared up over the past few years, but nothing alarming for me to do anything about – just thought I had dry skin. This week it has been painful for me to open my mouth, cracks, bleeding, and some white inflammation. So I started researching and discovered it is most likely angular cheilitis.
I also recently had my annual physical exam about 2 weeks ago. The bloodwork came back normal except a deficiency in Vitamin D (18) about 1 week ago. My PCP recommended taking Vitamin D supplements 4,000 IU daily. After reading this post and comments, I’m going out to pick some up today.
– M.N.
CrackingUp
I have tried the antifungal thing and it caused far more irritation than ever before. I have tried coconut oil, Blistex and Chap Stick (different varieties), extra vitamin D and B’s. Nothing is clearing this up. It has been two months. Just when it appears to be getting better, I have to open my mouth to brush my teeth or eat and then BAM! Splits again. Right now I have 3 splits on the left side and one on the right and a lot of scarring.I had it as a child from licking my lips all of the time. Not it is just the corners and I have all of my teeth and do not wear dentures. I don’t have deep frown lines (yet).
Helped out
I used Nystatin on mine for 1.5 months. Nothing. Kept opening up. Read a home remedy that said use alcohol and monistat. I used alcohol wipes 3 times a day, then put monistat on it. In 4 days it was completely gone. I’m still doing the alcohol wipes until I know for sure it’s gone, but man is this a relief.
lola
st petersburg
I’ve had chelitis for 5 years now and I’ve been trying to shorten the time it takes to heal whenever it flares up and I wanted to share the methods I took to get it down to 5-6 days.
-day 1-lips peeling and swollen but no pain (I only used Vaseline this day)
-day 2- little bumps all over the outer parts of my lips, my chin and under my nose and burning sensation. It was also giving off yellowish fluid.
I used natural honey to soothe them, I used cold cucumber slices to bring down swelling, but this only gave temporary relief. I bought aloe Vera gel, and anti-itch cream (1% hydrocortisone), Neosporin and antiseptic spray. I cleaned all over the area with the antiseptic spray with q-tips (I never touched it with my hands), I applied Neosporin and anti-itch (light layer) and added the aloe vera gel. 3-4 times a day
day 3- repeat the wash with antiseptic spray, applied Neosporin and anti-itch cream and aloe vera get, it was already getting better less yellow grossness, less pain when kept moist.
day-4- a light scab had formed under my chin, under my nose and upper lip (my lower lip was stubborn and still excrete yellow fluid although not as much) I repeated the steps for my lower lip. but I wanted the scab to work faster, to dry it out I added calamine lotion after a good cleansing overnight (I did not put this on my lower lip, which still had yellow fluid)
-day 5- I rinsed out calamine lotion and the scab was definitely hard, I repeated my cleansing steps for my lower lip which has a yellow scab over it by now. so now that I’m sure the bacteria is dead I bought hydrocolloid bandaid and placed it under my chin and under my nose and left them on for 36 hours. did not put them on my lips- for my lips I would do my cleansing methods 2-3 times a day-
-day6- removed hydrocolloid bandaid (which heals wounds faster then just letting air dry) under my nose and chin had healed! the scab fell off (eww, it was messy, I used Epsom salt soak to help get all the dead skin and remaining bit off) the skin was tender and slightly pink but it was healed- so now my sin is smooth pink and healthy. because it’s new healed skin it still needs some help so I rinsed off Epsom soak and applied antiseptic spray applied Neosporin and before sleep placed hydrocolloid band-aid again and woke up looking great the skin felt less tight and tender.
I’m going to keep cleaning the area and keeping it moisturized with vaseline-I would keep using bandaids till I’m 100% but they are not cheap:/ anyway sorry for the long response but I hope this helps someone, because when I started having them I just used chapstick and waited to get better (took forever and made me so depressed) but after some research this method really helped me get through it much faster.
-one thing I think whoever wants to try this should do different from me is to never let the scab form and use the hydrocolloid bandage as soon as you feel the infection or bacteria and virus is cleared out that will make for faster healing and may be able to shorten the time.
Em
USA
I started getting angular cheilitis because of a long-wear lipstick that dried out the side of my lip.
I read online that coconut oil can help so I applied it religiously for 3 days and saw MAJOR improvement. I 100% recommend coconut oil!
Meridith
Brooklyn
VODKA !!!!! Put vodka on it. Put any kind on a q tip let it sit for a few. Do this about a dozen times a day it will be gone. Not over night but with a weeks time … I’m allergic to Valtrex and they said to bad to me so I tried this … It’s natural alcohol don’t use nail polish remover you will burn your skin….. Also honey and Greek yogurt help too it’s add natural healing properties trust me !!!!!
Melinda
Monee, IL
Always had cracks on the corners of my lips. Dealing with for it 25++years. At the moment I have a good size one an starting to get that gross look from people. Yes, it hurts. Thank you for staring.
Reading the studies I am very confused. Two years ago I was diagnosed with celiac disease by blood test but by scope it was negative. Dr said because I have been on a celiac diet for the last year that’s why it didn’t show up, but while all that testing was going he also diagnosed me with Hemochromatosis http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/basics/definition/con-20023606.
So, now I have too much iron.
So that’s my story. I have tried it all on the list and I still have cracks. Help!!
Dennis
Houston
I was afraid I had contracted an STI (or STD). Very embarrassing. Before going to the doctor I decided to go on line and typed in sore in corner of the mouth and this site came up. I was relieved to find out what the problem really was and what caused it. I read about using nystatin and triamcinolone acetonide ointment to clear up the problem and happened to have some of that left over for something else (I think maybe poison ivy?). I tried it and within two days time the problem was solved. I’ve also started taking more Vit. B and being more religious about taking my multiple vitamins. Once Blue Bell comes back on the market I’ll be getting more Vit. D as well. Thanks for having this post up! Oh – I had also tried campho phenique but it didn’t help at all.
Ali
Arizona
I have found that if I take L-lysine every day I do not get cracks in the corners of my mouth. It works for cankers also. The relief comes almost always overnight.
Liz
midwest usa
Get California Baby Calendula cream from the baby section at Target and a few other retailers. As long as I keep this stuff on I am fine. It cures the cracks and helps with the itching better then nystatin and curad silver. It’s a lot safer to use and I smear it on my lips without worry. The root of this is a Candida overgrowth in your whole body. One day maybe this will be recognized by the medical community.
Andy
Wales
I get mine mainly in the winter months, I am sure I am not alone in not wanting to go out of the house when I get this, sometimes mine has lasted for months, very frustrating.
I had a flare up a few days ago, and thought “great the world has stopped again!”
Here is what I did and within 3 days it has nearly cleared using this simple method:
In the morning, after you have had breakfast & a wash-
Get a sheet of toilet roll paper or tissue and wet it, dab a little bit on the lip that is causing you problems, brush your teeth, tongue (which I do anyway) & roof of mouth (I thought what? it does help though) also under your tongue.
Then, get a different sheet of tissue and some anti bacterial soap, wet the tissue and put a bit of the soap on the tissue and clean the cut & where it is red around the lip, then dry the affected area.
Get a teaspoon of salt and put this into a standard sized cup, stir so the salt dissolves then take a swig as though it is mouthwash and rinse for 30 seconds, then get an ear bud and soak it in the salt water and apply around the effected areas for about 30 seconds, the lip dries pretty much straight away, then do this once maybe twice more.
Last step is to put vaseline around the affected areas, obviously not inside your mouth though.
Repeat these step again around dinner time if you can, then an hour or so before bed.
Honestly this process has been the best one I have followed, and I have tried allsorts, for it to have nearly healed in 4 days is pretty amazing by my standards.
Good luck if you follow this
pat
usa
What was written helped a lot. I shall try some of those methods. Thank you
Bll
England
I’m not going to add anything necessarily new to the discussion, but this has been my experience of Angular Cheilitis.
The first time I developed Angular Cheilitis was about 5 years ago and stupidly by not going to the doctor, or not knowing what it was, for three/four months I tried everything – tea tree oil, vitamin e oil, moisturiser, aloe vera gel… Eventually it went, but it took months of misery and embarrassment, I could feel it the whole time, the fissures ripping etc. During that period, I have no idea if what I was doing helped, or if it cured itself, but it went and I forgot about it. My own fault in many ways, because I didn’t seek medical advice, or do much research into what it was.
Then, about 3 weeks ago I had another outbreak of Angular Cheilitis. For the first couple of weeks I was just using aloe vera gel, which seemed to calm the inflammation and the condition didn’t seem to get too bad, but the aloe vera was not getting rid of it. I still had the cracks in the corner of my mouth.
So I decided to do a bit of research and started using Canesten cream (An antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts), which I applied liberally about 5 times a day. Yes I did look a bit stupid with white cream in the corner of my mouth, but three days later, the cracks healed, the redness was going, the skin was recovering very well. After four days, I reduced the amount of cream to about 3 applications a day and that is where I currently am. I think I will stop in a day, or so because the improvement has been amazing.
I also bought some vitamin B2, which I am taking daily, so hopefully this will help in the longer term.
Joy
Georgia
I was told by a dermatologist that I have perleche a nd a second opinion by another, cause it wasn’t healing, said yeast was trapping overnight in the corner of my mouth. I never got to the cracking stage. I was given pills, yeast cream and anti fungal cream, and the listerene. It didn’t help fast enough( lingering after 7 weeks) I remembered my moms old time remedy of lathering up a bar of Ivory soap and patting on the place. She did for poison oak. It worked on the place and dried up in a couple of days. It’s worth a try.
Jean
California
I had this years ago when there were a lot of stressors in my life. The doctor prescribed vitamin b complex. It cleared up and now about 20 years later with no stressors it is back. One article suggested not to use expired sunscreen lip balm which I have been doing lately. I am throwing it out today. I saw on amazon curad silver cream and many reviews saying it cured it for them. I am going to try it. Neosporin helped a little and some Vicks. I will wait for my Curad silver cream to come soon.
vt
Bangalore
I used clotrimazole cream. It is instant relief. And only for external use at the corner of the lips.
zahra
United Kingdom
I have had this condition for about a month. At first, I thought if I leave it alone it will go away on its own but it didn’t. Was really painful and the dry skin was really embarrassing for me. Anyway, I decided to ask the pharmacist. She asked if I was taking multi-vitamins and said I may have it because I’m lacking something. She gave me Blistex. It was only £2/£3 and It has really worked. I’ve only used it twice for 2 days (it recommends applying every hour) and the cuts have healed and the area around my mouth is improving. My lips are also softer. DO TRY IT!
Barbie
NJ
Listerine applied with a cotton ball helped my husband after only 3-4 applications.
TalkingTinaD
South Carolina
I started developing this condition over the last 3-5 years. It seems to be recurring, every so often- which doesn’t surprise me due to lots of stressors in my life including auto-immune issues, allergies, and dermatitis. Essentially I have dysautonomia, and am not the best at cobsistently taking medications or supplements, mostly due to financial issues. In general, I tend to be low in iron, B vitamins & vitamin D. So I will try to work on keeping the supplements up; but I wanted to share what ultimately helped me with the cracks at the corners if my mouth. Kank-A, a product by Blistex™ Or similar products to treat canker sores, because health care information sites kept mentioning that the corners of the mouth are moist area & move which makes it hard to keep covered long enough for the healing to take place, so it occurred to me that if some canker sore treatments are able to cover areas inside the mouth, that it might be able to seal the corners of the lips too. It worked wonderfully & finally healed in three days what I had tried to heal in 3 weeks with Aquaphor and balms and even L-lysine.
The last time I put yhe canker sore treatment on at the first sign of cracking & it was gone in 24 hours.
Maybe this will help someone else with this challenging condition.
Ash
California
I have this horrible condition right now and it sucks so much, but I put dental gel on it and it temporarily stopped the pain, but now it feels hot. I’m going to put some more on and see if it works.
Hillary
California
I have suffered from angular chelitis on and off my entire life (I’m 39). My dermatologist prescribed Desonide cream .05% and Ketoconazole 2% cream, which are applied one at a time, with waiting in between. These work really well together if the flare-up is bad (use the Desonide first, and then the Keto- but sparingly as it is very drying).
But honestly, I have learned through much trial and error (and eliminating and then reintroducing sweets and foods) that if I STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR the corners of my mouth stay perfect. Doing this has been life-changing for me. If I slip up, I’ll immediately take Lysine, which I also swear by. By doing this I have hardly even touched the prescription medications at all. Try not eating anything with sugar in it for a while and see if you notice a difference!
JD
I apply sweet oil ( a form of olive oil over-the counter at the pharmacy) on a cotton ball and wipe my lips and mouth corners after brushing my teeth. Then I apply a layer of Vaseline on my lips. Seems to help. I too take a multi vitamin and B-complex.
stacie
us
I have suffered with this for years. I will go months with cracked corners of my mouth. My last ordeal with it lasted 3 months and went away around the time I was on antibiotics for a tooth. I was free of this problem for about a month and then two days ago the corner of my mouth started to crack again. I found this blog entry about how a person used cortisone ointment, not cream, on her angular cheilitis. I bought some yesterday, and it already seems to be healing. I want to tell the whole world about it!!
Andy
Wales
Glad you have found something that works, it took me a while to find a process that works for me, I had it for 6 months once, its depressing!
Now I can get rid in 4 days :D
Jay
pa
I recently had a moderate to sever case of angular Cheilitis. Nothing was helping. In the end it took keeping dry with corn starch, as well as washing it with dish soap and coating with petroleum twice per day. Healed in about 2 1/2 weeks after I started treatment. I also was taking b vitamins and putting anti- fungal cream on it . Personally I thing the dish soap and salve did it more than anything. After wash with dish soap, dry with paper towel, let dry out for 15 minutes before applying salve. I had it for almost 3 months total.
Robert
Fort Worth
As I became an adult I began getting cracks on the corners of my mouth but ONLY during the colder months, I tried a few things nothing worked, however taking a good multivitamin or in my specific case VITAMIN B cleared it up
Take a Multivitamin daily as well a B vitamin and you will not have any issues.
Nikki
NJ
I recently went to my doctor for what was diagnosed as angular chelitis. I had blood work done and my Vitamin D level was 12. I was given 50,000IU of Vitamin D once a week for 8 weeks. Within a day or two of the first pill it cleared up. I took it for the 8 weeks and my skin looked wonderful all over my face. Once I was done I never went back to get follow up blood work and didn’t take a maintenance Vitamin D dose. 2 months later- it’s back and I’m back on the Vitamin D. I also take Vitamin B daily.
I swear by Vitamin D to cure angular chelitis.
devika
india
I have been suffering from this problem for the past two years. I am tired of acquaintances asking how my lips look permanently swollen and red. Sometimes people talk to me and are only looking at my lips. It’s embarrassing. Can someone please suggest a cure to this problem? I have applied many creams but they have proved to be ineffective.
John F
CA
I never got this before but I had to go on several consecutive doses of antibiotics and then I had this a lot. I found Lotrimin cream helped a lot. Also a clear natural aloe vera gel dabbed on the corners every few hours and before I go to bed significantly increases healing time. I also will use clean hands and apply some regular chapstick (so I don’t infect the tube I am using). that helps a great deal. I also take a lot of regular multi vitamins and supplement with B complex, which seems to keep it more at bay. I feel like I am treating the symptoms but I just read that you need to keep applying the cream even up to 2 weeks after the symptoms have cleared and I haven’t tried that yet so now I will. Maybe that will do the trick. I’m going to increase vitamin D as the poster mentioned above.
joan
illinois
Yes, I think that’s the answer. I have been bad about taking my D’s, sometimes just taking 1 or none a day and last night I noticed some red by the corner of my lip. I also take b’s and my rosacea seems to be controlled. My face is so clear now. I will really try to be better now and see if the redness goes away.
Cyrille
After getting a temporary bridge, my dentist told me to use dental floss every day.
I did that, and after a week or so, I started to get the Angular Cheilitis disease. So I guess it’s probably because the dental floss procedure generates more saliva from the mouth that eventually gathers around the lips corners.
CarolCA
I have the cracking at the corners every few years. It used to be that you could buy Riboflavin alone but for some reason you can’t anymore so you have to buy the B-50 now. A couple days of that and they are gone for me for years. Until I found the Riboflavin treatment in an old Adele Davis(?) book nothing worked. I have given this tip to many people and it always worked.
LA
Even when I was a child I would get angular chelitis, though I didn’t know that was the name of this condition. My mother would tell me it was because I did not wipe the corners of my mouth after eating, which was not true. Thank goodness after decades of suffering with this condition, I finally found the way to prevent it: B vitamins. After having some routine bloodwork done as part of a physical exam, I discovered my B vitamin level was extremely low. So I started taking B vitamins for that reason… and guess what: I stopped having angular chelitis outbreaks!
I take a B complex vitamin as well as B12 supplement every day. If I neglect to take these vitamins, even just for a couple of days, without fail the angular chelitis comes right back. I really hope this helps other people because having A.C. is just horrible. It physically hurts, but it also hurts your self confidence to have those ugly cracks on the side of your mouth.
Mo B.
As a child, I had red cracks at the corners of my mouth, and was spreading.
My teacher told me to wash my face AFTER I brush my teeth.
Cured.
Zbet
I suffered from this condition for years, when there were no answers on the Web. At the time, I had poorly controlled rheumatoid arthritis, anemia from chronic disease, a weird thing called geographic tongue (e.g., a little cayenne could sear my tongue). I’d previously had thrush, as well. When my anemia didn’t respond to iron supplements, a blood test showed I had a vitamin D deficiency. Ultimately, the perleche/cheilitis resolved after high-dose Rx vitamin D therapy and the initiation of stronger meds to control my inflammatory condition. I recently read that a toothpaste called Squigle can help people who have perleche b/c it’s SLS-free. Good luck to those looking for answers. There are good suggestions on this page.
Vijay
Hi,
I am suffering from the same problem (Angular Cheilitis). I have had angular cheilitis for the past 12 years. pls anybody give me good suggestions.
Thanks…
Ankit
My mother said that angular cheilitis, can be cured by fish oil capsules or by taking adequate amounts of Vitamin B complex.
MK
Thanks to this site, I tried switching toothpastes, or applying turmeric, anti-fungal cream, or antibiotic ointment, and the antibiotic definitely cured it in a few days.
georges
Specific to the toothpaste theory, I whole-heartledly agree with that allergy, specifically to SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate.. Once I switched, things changed for me. Plenty of choices these days but certainly give it a try.
wb
I suffered from these cracks during high school but once I switched from Crest to another toothpaste I never had the problem again unless I used Crest! Guess mine was an acquired allergy.
M.A
Have had this condition for years, it won’t go away, have gotten things from the doctors and none of them have helped, what’s the strongest thing you can get from the doctors to most likely fix the condition??
dma
I also was tested and discovered I also had extremely low vit D levels, I was prescribed a very large weekly dose of vit D and never put two and two together – but have not had problems with the dry skin and cracking around the corners of mouth since! Until just now I never made the connection!
R.B
I’ve found that applying turmeric on the corners of chapped/cracked lips, and applying turmeric as facial packs, and even consuming turmeric daily helps banish angular cheilitis and, apparently, loads of other ailments. Do try it! Best wishes.
HENRY
someone please help I’ve been suffering angular cheilitis for 8 years and am tired of this crap :'( someone please help!!!!! am tired of having this and not be able to do a lot of activities cause of this! :'(
bh
I suffered from chronic angular cheilitis for years. I had chronic IBS also. Doctor after doctor dismissed the relationship between the two. I finally saw a nutritionist and she correlated the problem with a b vitamin malabsorption related to the IBS.
I started taking B vitamins SUBLINGUALLY – very important – leaves out the GI tract. I have not had any cheilitis for more than a year and a half. I also started a gluten free diet which has stopped my IBS symptoms. 20 years of symptoms – countless doctors – one nutritionist new all the answers (:
HSB
Our 7yo daughter had very painful cheilitis all around her mouth for over 1 year. Multiple pediatricians & dentists saw her. Responses varied from: (i) we were using too much chlorine in our pool (we had a salt-sanitation system and were chlorinating to the same recommended levels as always, and she’d never had any problem before; (ii) the wet/dry/hot/cold/sunny/cloudy weather was causing this (???); (iii) she had a yeast infection (although she tested negative; (iv) she was a compulsive “licker & picker”; (v) I was an overprotective mother/all kids get this; (vi) it was eczema/psoriasis…, etc.
She was given multiple prescriptions for anti-fungals, anti-bacterials, steroids, etc., and I tried multiple OTC and home remedies. I did some research online on my own and read about vitamin deficiencies. We are a health-conscious family who eats well, and I couldn’t believe this could be the cause, but tried giving her a multi-vitamin, and (for a few months) her cheilitis improved dramatically.
Then it came back with a vengeance, she developed anemia, and, in exasperation, I demanded a full work-up. As it turns out, she has Crohn’s Disease. Although she has not yet had the chronic diarrhea and similar symptoms typical of this disease, endoscopy showed multiple granulomas in her terminal ileum; the vitamin deficiencies were b/c her intestines were too inflamed to digest/absorb nutrients properly.
We had no reason to believe our sweet girl – who other than her chapped lips appeared to be the picture of health for months even while she was very sick – was ill (and apparently, neither did her docs/dentists). Docs can do simple blood tests (SED rate/CRP, etc.) to screen for inflammation markers if Crohn’s is suspected.
KM
You’re right it’s the yeast which is fed by the sugar!
KM
I had this condition one time and I took B complex to cure it. It appears to be caused by B vitamin deficiency in most people and the B deficiency in turn is caused by systemic yeast which eats up the B vitamins in your system. Taking a B vitamin is a quick fix but you must get the yeast under control with a clean diet.
Chris W.
I suffered from Angular Cheilitis on and off for about 15 years, tried B & multivitamins, anti fungal creams amongst others. 2 years ago for unrelated reasons I stopped eating any food with added sugar. Angular Cheilitis hasn’t been back since. Giving up sugar also means I eat very little processed food, so not only have I cut sugar but all the chemicals & food additives that food manufacturers love, so I can’t honestly say that sugar is the reason but I suspect it is.
LSD
About 60 years ago I was having a tooth extracted from an oral surgeon. I had a mouth crack and he put some ointment on it and it was cured. Later when I went to him and told him how well it worked, he put some ointment on a piece of waxed paper and folded it over and gave it to me. I would put it on my cracks and when it finally ran out he gave me a prescription for nystatin triamcinolone. It lasted me for years. When I asked my MD years later about a refill (I had moved in the meantime), he said it wouldn’t do any good and wouldn’t give me one. I eeked out the old tube for quite a while. Later he said he had done some research and found that it might help. I have used it for, as I say, 60 years and I find it cures mouth cracks almost overnight. I wouldn’t want to be without it.
Charlotte M
My doc suggested that I just needed to keep my sleep drool out of the corners of my mouth, and that I could use a waxy lip balm to do this. For the past couple of years, I’ve put Carmex on the corners of my mouth before bed and it’s worked really well.
Ellen
I have had those horrible cracks on and off for the last five yrs. My dermatologists nurse said nystatin cream would help and Prescribed it. It worked well for a couple of yrs and then it stopped!
So I tried taking a lysine capsule and using abreva from the drugstore and they are gone in 1 day! I don’t understand why it seemed to change but if one approach doesn’t work, try the other!
Linda
I had this annoying chelitis on and off for 8 months. Was given anti fungal creams to try with some results. Then I changed toothpastes as an after thought. It’s cleared up and hasn’t returned for over a year. Perhaps I developed a sensitivity to an ingredient in the toothpaste….one I liked a lot.
Liz
Vit D does amazing things for skin, so I’m not surprised it helps with the Angular Cheilitis.
Within a few months of my beginning Vit D supplementation, I found that it moderated several symptoms, including pain. It didn’t make them go away, but they became much less severe. Since I take a fairly high dose, my doctor checks the levels in my blood regularly.
Debbie
I went to a dermatologist for this problem, he explained that as we age the corners of the mouth droop and as we sleep we tend to drool, so basically just live with it (I no longer see him!). A friend researched this and told me to try vit B. It has helped, but not cleared up entirely. I’ll try Vicks and listerine. Thanks
Sharon
Fish oil clears up this problem for me.
Anonymous
I’ve had osteomalacia and treated with Vit D. During this treatment, cracks in the corners of my mouth disappeared and have not returned. Many things improved, remarkably, with Vit D treatment: my allergies, asthma, weight, strength, memory, cognitive processing in general, etc. It was pretty remarkable and unexpected since I was not told this would happen. As for the cracks, I read somewhere that Vit D affects tissues so that better absorption occurs. If that is the case, you’re improvement can be explained by better B Vitamin absorption
lisa m.
L-Lysine should work for many. my mother often had that problem and my sister’s mother-in-law recommended l-lysine. Worked wonders. Of course that also works for oral ulcers.
JL
I had the same symptoms as described above, never knew the name of condition.
My dentist told me to take Vitamin C with ROSE HIPS which I have been taking for over 40 years. No problems unless I go for several weeks without taking.
susan
In a stressful period of life as a young mother of two and finishing chiropractic school, I pushed further into a vegetarian diet. During exams [ more stress], I developed angular cheilitis. I immediately realized it was the b deficiency! It cleared up amazingly quickly on resuming moderate meat consumption.
EPM
Several decades ago I had a persistent problem with cracks at the corners of my mouth. My dentist prescribed a very expensive topical ointment, which temporarily relieved the condition.
When it was brought to my GP’s attention, he said it was caused by a vitamin B deficiency and prescribed prenatal vitamins for me. This resolved the problem. However … when I asked my doctor how I could have a vitamin deficiency even though I ate a well-rounded diet and loved fruits and vegetables, he said that some of us do not absorb nutrients as well as others.
It turns out that he was right (I also had slight anemia and some other bothersome chronic problems), but did not go nearly far enough in trying to uncover the root cause.
Twenty years later, while living in France and being treated for a kidney stone, my French doctors, just by chance, found that I had celiac sprue. This almost immediately cleared up the myriad problems I had been wrestling with for many, many years. My American doctors had been treating me for celiac symptoms for about thirty years without looking for the cause of the symptoms. When I returned to the U.S. in 2000, I asked my American doctor, who was well-credentialed and worked for a really good clinic, to verify the French sprue diagnosis. His response was puzzlement at the name “celiac sprue” as if I had mentioned some rare exotic disease. He also said he did not know how to test for it!
One of many lessons here: If you have persistent vitamin or mineral deficiencies, check for malabsorption to try to establish a root cause.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
EPM,
Thank you so much for sharing this powerful story. We have been writing about and interviewing experts about celiac disease for decades. It is so frustrating to learn that this surprisingly common condition is still considered rare.
Because this autoimmune condition makes it hard to absorb crucial nutrients from the digestive tract people can suffer for years from a range of symptoms. That can include a terribly itchy skin rash, digestive distress, memory problems (including dementia-like illness), weakened bones, anemia and so much more.
Anyone who would like to learn more about celiac disease will find our radio interview with top experts of value. We also provide additional details in our Guide to Digestive Disorders.
https://store.peoplespharmacy.com/guides/digestive-disorders.html
Interviews:
Radio Show # 856: Celiac Disease Update:
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/05/05/856-celiac-disease-update/
Radio Show # 727: Celiac Disease
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/06/12/727-celiac-dise/
Radio Show # 558: Controlling Celiac Disease
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2006/05/16/controlling-cel/
CS
I used to get that and B Complex helped. Most Doctors do dismiss vitamins and supplements.
Catherine G. R.
Vitamin A and fish oil for skin cracks.
Ellie
MANY years ago I had cracks in the corner of my mouth. I don’t remember the diagnosis (doc did scrapings of corner of mouth) but my Doctor gave me samples of an antifungal cream which cleared this up.
Now when I feel a crack coming on, I just spray a little antifungal spray (1%tolnaftate) (over the counter) and with my finger, dab on the corners of my mouth. It stings a bit but after a day or so, the cracks go away.
Maybe a cream version of this wouldn’t sting, but I have a container of the spray and just use that.