Angular cheilitis
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Explore overview, symptoms, causes, treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and FAQ articles for this condition.
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What is Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the corners of the mouth, also called the oral commissures. It develops where the upper and lower lips meet and the skin transitions into a moist mucosal surface, a region that is anatomically vulnerable…
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Symptoms of Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis causes soreness, cracking, and inflammation at the corners of the mouth. The most typical symptoms are red, tender fissures at one or both oral commissures, often accompanied by dryness, peeling, burning, and pain when the mouth opens, eats, or…
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Causes of Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis develops when the skin at the corners of the mouth becomes damaged and then fails to maintain its normal barrier function. The immediate causes are usually a combination of moisture-related irritation, breakdown of the skin surface, and secondary infection…
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Diagnosis of Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis is usually diagnosed by recognizing a characteristic pattern of irritation and breakdown at the corners of the mouth, then determining why that skin has become inflamed. Clinicians do not rely on a single symptom or one definitive test. Instead,…
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Treatment for Angular cheilitis
Treatments for angular cheilitis include topical antifungal or antibacterial medications, barrier ointments, measures to reduce saliva-related irritation, correction of nutritional deficiencies, and treatment of any underlying systemic disease. The choice of treatment depends on the cause, because angular cheilitis is not…
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Prevention of Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis is inflammation and breakdown at the corners of the mouth, where the skin meets the moist lining of the lips. It develops when the local barrier is repeatedly exposed to moisture, friction, saliva, or microbial overgrowth. In that sense,…
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FAQ about Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis is a common inflammatory condition that affects the corners of the mouth. This FAQ explains what it is, why it develops, how it is diagnosed, which treatments are used, and what people can expect over time. It also covers…