Angular Cheilitis is one of the most painful dermatologic conditions. It affects almost all groups of people and it can turn to serious disease if it is not treated accordingly and in due time. The factors which trigger this condition can be multiple. There may be one factor causing the condition or a combination of causes may give rise to it, so knowing exactly what was the main cause of your Angular Cheilitis is essential in developing a treatment that will not only address the cheilosis, but will also prevent its further apparition by treating its main causes.

Most cases of Angular Cheilitis occur in old persons wearing dentures and in people with a bad dentition as the mouth no longer closes well and several folds are made around the lips. When these folds are filled with moisture (sweat, saliva) that stays there for a great amount of time, the skin becomes red, irritated and eventually starts to crack. In order to avoid that, it is recommended that you ask your dentist to change your denture when you feel it is no longer suitable for your face. Also, maintaining a thorough oral hygiene can seriously diminish the risk of infection or severe Angular Cheilitis, as the will be no more bacteria around and inside your mouth.

Chapped lips that are continuously licked may also develop into Angular Cheilitis, thus if you see your child doing that, you should explain them this is not ok and start using lip balm to soothe the discomfort caused by chapped lips. This will moisturize the lips and will prevent the further development of the Angular Cheilitis.

Most of the times, these cracks get infected with thrush (Candida albicans) or with other types of fungi and bacteria. This will further increase the pain the patient feels, while the cracks will get deeper, start to bleed and even accumulate infection inside (in severe cases). This is why this condition must be treated as soon as possible.

The lip folds, chapped lips and candida albicans are external factors which can trigger Angular Cheilitis. Yet, most of the times internal factors are also involved in the process of development of this disease. Anemia, or lack of nutrients and vitamins necessary for the body, is most of the times responsible for the apparition of Angular Cheilitis. The deficiency in iron, zinc and vitamin B2 weaken the immune system, which is less capable of fighting any external aggression. This is why supplements are given to people who suffer from this condition and a healthy diet is recommended in order to strengthen the body and make it more resistant in front of both external and internal aggressions.

These are the main causes which trigger Angular Cheilitis. Other factors may cause it, like too much Vitamin A, but they are less productive than the ones mentioned above.