What is Angular Cheilitis? Angular Cheilitis is commonly termed for the inflammation at one or even both corners of the mouth. These are actually sensitive sores that start with a little discomfort and then take a serious form, causing chapping, dryness, and eventually red lesions. Angular Cheilitis does not spread as it only sticks to the area of lips.
You should keep in mind if the angular cheilitis only develops at one side of your mouth, then make sure to not touch the other corner of your mouth with the same lipstick, lip balm tube, or especially with the same finger. If you touch the same finger on the other corner of your mouth, then it spread to the other side too.
Causes of Angular Cheilitis
The common causes of angular cheilitis are poor hygiene, deficiency of important minerals like Vitamin B2, Zinc, iron, ill-fitting dentures, and age, which is also the cause of angular cheilitis. These all the main causes of angular cheilitis, but you can treat this problem through simple, easy, and natural treatments at home.
Symptoms of Angular Cheilitis
The symptoms of Angular Cheilitis may be mild or severe, but usually, the first sign of this problem is cracked and dry lips. Three stages from minor, mild to severe angular cheilitis are generally noticed, and their symptoms are:
Minor Angular Cheilitis
Whenever the person suffers from the minor stage of angular cheilitis, the symptoms generally go unnoticed, and the symptoms at this initial stage are:
- Small blistering skin is seen at the corners of the mouth.
- You can also feel stiffness at one or both corners of your mouth.
- You may also feel uneasiness while opening the mouth wide.
Mild Angular Cheilitis
At the mild stage of Angular Cheilitis, the symptoms become noticeable by everyone, and at this stage, most people try to treat this problem with the ChapStick.
- While eating or opening the mouth wide, a noticeable uneasiness is seen on one or both sides of your mouth.
- A crumbling skin also build-up at one or either corner of your mouth.
- Minor puffiness or redness also is seen on the corners of the mouth.
Severe Angular Cheilitis
At this stage, the symptoms of Angular Cheilitis become very prominent where most people realize that they are no more dealing with the chapped lips and the problem is something more than the chapping. At this severe stage of Angular Cheilitis, the topical ointment and Chap Sticks do not help.
- You can feel noticeable discomfort or even pain while talking, eating, and movement of the mouth.
- At one or even both sides of the mouth, severe and painful blisters appear.
- The edges of the mouth also get split, which is very difficult to heal.
12 Natural Treatments for Angular Cheilitis
Here are some simple and effective natural treatments to cure Angular Cheilitis given below:
Honey
To fight the infection-causing micro-organisms, Honey is the best option. Honey is also easily available at home, but make sure you have pure honey. Apply honey directly with the help of your finger on the affected area and leave it for 15 minutes. After that, wash your lips area or mouth with water. It can also be used alongside cucumber as it also works well with this.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera Gel is very effective for alleviating and treating the pain of angular cheilitis. Take one aloe vera stem or leaf and cut it, so the gel part of aloe vera comes out the rub it directly on the affected or cracked corners of your mouth as it proves to be very effective and helpful. Before applying aloe vera to the affected area, refrigerate a leaf of it. Rub the gel part of aloe vera directly for a few minutes and then let it dry for at least 15 to 20 minutes. After drying, wash it with fresh tap water.
Moisturizer and Lip Balms
Use unflavored and unscented lip balms like petroleum jelly or virgin coconut oil to heal angular cheilitis infection, as these are very effective and excellent natural treatments for this problem. Just make sure that the balm or moisturizer you use does not contain any chemical substances. Apply the moisturizer or balm as many times as you can in a whole day, and don’t forget to apply it right before sleeping.
Water
One of the best mantras for treating the problem of angular cheilitis is to ‘Hydrate you.’ In a whole day, drink as much water as possible so that you do not get dry or chapped lips as the dry lips eventually develop cracks. To cure the cracked or dry lips, keep your body hydrated and consume 10 to 12 glasses of water daily.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is a very effective natural moisturizer that can help you avoid chapped lips. It is not only a natural moisturizer but can also very effective in curing angular cheilitis. Apply a small amount of natural cocoa butter directly with the help of your finger on the affected area and apply it two to three times a day.
Tea Tree Oil
If the slits are developed on the corners of your mouth, then use tea tree oil is it is very effective for the treatment of angular cheilitis. In the mild or severe stages of angular cheilitis, these cuts can be excruciating, and you even feel pain while eating or even talking.
Prepare a homemade mixture that contains tea tree oil and Vitamin E oil to treat angular cheilitis. Take two tablespoons of tea tree oil and one tablespoon of Vitamin E oil in a bowl and mix them well to form a mixture. Then apply this mixture to your affected areas through the finger and leave it. Daily, apply this mixture at least five times a day. For quickening the pace of healing of the slits, this remedy is very effective and useful.
Lemon
For angular cheilitis treatment, lemon can prove to be a good home remedy as it can easily deal with the infection that causes angular cheilitis. Before you apply lemon on your cracked corners of the mouth, make sure that to soften the damaged tissues, make sure that the corners of your mouth must be soaked in warm water as this can also help open up the lesions.
Squeeze the lemon juice out and on the affected areas, massage it in a circular movement for about two to three minutes. After that, rinse off the corners of your mouth and, using a soft cloth, dry your mouth. To get the best and quick results, repeat the procedure every five hours.
Read: 18 Amazing Health Benefits of Lemon Juice
Cucumber
Cucumber is one of the best home remedies and natural, effective treatments for angular cheilitis that can help to moisturize the cracked and dry lips because of angular cheilitis and alleviate the pains caused by these slits.
Take a cucumber and them into slices, take one slice, hold it on your affected area for a few minutes, and repeat this process twice a day. Before application, put the cucumber in a refrigerator to cool it down.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is very beneficial for destroying the harmful microorganisms responsible for causing angular cheilitis or different skin conditions. Coconut oil is a great moisturizer for the treatment of angular cheilitis, and it is an excellent remedy. Three to four times a day, apply coconut oil on the affected areas through the finger. Coconut oil can also prevent future instances of angular cheilitis.
Baking Soda
To kill the microorganisms that can cause infections like angular cheilitis, baking soda can be helpful. Make a paste by mixing baking soda in a few drops of water. Apply this paste on the affected areas of your lips through your finger. For about five minutes, leave the paste and wash it with water, then dry your skin with a soft cloth. Repeat the process two times a day for better results.
Read: 12 Amazing Health Benefits of Baking Soda
Glycerine
To keep your lips moisturized all the time, Glycerine is very effective and beneficial for the treatment of angular cheilitis. At least three to four times throughout a day, dab a small amount of glycerine on your finger and apply it to the affected areas of angular cheilitis.
Ointments for Angular Cheilitis
There are also so many natural ointments available in the markets specifically for the treatment of angular cheilitis. ‘Terrasil Skin Repair’ is one of the ointments that provides noticeable improvements within one day of use. It can also relieve irritation, redness, and inflammation associated with the angular cheilitis.
Measures for the prevention of Angular Cheilitis
Following measures can help prevent angular cheilitis like avoiding licking your lips, drinking plenty of water, boosting your immune system, and taking supplements of folate, iron, and Vitamin B to overcome the deficiencies in your body.
