Irritation in the corners of the lips: causes and treatment of angulitis or the well-known “jams”

Last update: 03/03/2021

Painful cracks in the corners of the lips are familiar to everyone from early childhood. Unfortunately, this trouble does not go away over the years, like childhood allergies to oranges and chocolate. The skin at the site of irritation may be very dry or weeping, bright red or covered with a white crust. One way or another, eating causes a lot of unpleasant sensations: it’s impossible to open your mouth due to pain, any contact with sour and salty foods becomes torture. Sometimes it hurts to even talk, and looking in the mirror, you just don’t want to leave the house.

Causes

Seizures usually appear suddenly and can go away within a week, or they can last for months, only to return after a while. There are several reasons for irritation in the corners of the lips.

Negative environmental influences - cold wind, snow, lack of moisture, exposure to saliva and fumes from breathing make the skin around the mouth extremely dry and prone to cracking.
Also negative factors for the appearance of jams are: incorrect bite - when the corners of the lips begin to “swim” in saliva, and other problems in the oral cavity. Thus, caries and “holes” in the teeth provoke the spread of microbes that affect the condition of the mucous membrane in the corners of the mouth.
Typically, an exacerbation of seizures is associated with a general decrease in immunity, a lack of B vitamins in the body, a depressed emotional state, and a sharp change in climatic conditions. Often, it is by the appearance of long-term non-healing lesions that chronic intestinal diseases, diabetes, and pathologies of the nervous system are diagnosed. After all, the mucous membrane is one of the most sensitive elements of our body, and it is on it that symptoms of weakening of the body first begin to appear.

10 reasons for cracks in the corners of the mouth

The condition of the lips (their soreness, appearance) is one of the indicators of human health. Peeling, dryness, pallor, as well as cracks in the corners of the mouth can be not only a cosmetic defect resulting from physical damage and weather conditions, but also a companion to certain diseases and disorders in the body, and then treatment is required. Let's look at 10 reasons for the appearance of angular cracks (jams) in the corners of the mouth and ways to eliminate them.

Traumatization

Traumatization of the area around the lips leads to the appearance of cracks, causing an annoying feeling of dryness, tightness of the skin, and pain. The most common cause of damage is regular visits to the dentist, during which a person has to stretch his lips and open his mouth too wide. This is especially true when a doctor uses an instrument, such as an examination mirror, carelessly. Sometimes, after prolonged treatment by the dentist, the crack simply fails to heal.

In addition, similar problems can arise when using removable dentures: when they are inserted and removed, it is the area of the corners of the lips, which is particularly sensitive, that is most injured.

For quick healing in such cases, it is recommended to apply a complex of vitamins A and E to the damaged areas and make lotions from medicinal herbs (sage, calendula, chamomile).

Poor oral hygiene

Penetration of infections into microcracks in the skin due to insufficient hygiene of the body and oral cavity also often causes inflamed wounds in the corners of the mouth - especially in children who touch their faces with dirty hands. Frequent occurrence of angular cracks due to bacterial load also affects people who neglect regular brushing of their teeth and gums.

Adverse weather conditions

Dry, windy weather, frost, and arid heat are common causes of flaking and tightness of the skin in the mouth area, which, if it is not sufficiently moisturized, can lead to the formation of an inflamed crack. It is easy to prevent its occurrence by caring for the sensitive area: daily applying nourishing cream or Vaseline before going outside.

Avitaminosis

A lack of vitamin B12 in the body can cause angular fissures, and with them swelling and redness of the lips, inflammation of the tongue, conjunctivitis, and burning in the eyes. This condition is observed in spring vitamin deficiency, insufficient intake of the vitamin from food and in diseases that lead to disruption of its absorption by the body. In the first two cases, it is recommended to compensate for the lack of vitamin by including in the diet a sufficient amount of meat and dairy dishes, eggs, cabbage, spinach, legumes, and whole grain cereals. In the latter case, you need to see a doctor and undergo a course of treatment.

Fungal skin lesions

Cracks in the corners of the mouth can be fungal in nature - for example, caused by the Candida fungus. The disease is often provoked by reduced immunity due to past illnesses or the presence of general diseases (gastrointestinal pathologies, diabetes mellitus, blood diseases, etc.), taking antibiotics, cytostatics, hormonal drugs. Candidomycotic or yeast infection is usually covered with a grayish-white coating, which is easily removed with a napkin; there is no crust. Treatment of the fissure is carried out with the help of nystatin, levorin or other special ointments, and in severe cases it is accompanied by taking antimycotic drugs orally. A doctor should prescribe medications to treat fungal infections.

Syphilis

One of the elements of primary syphilis - chancre - is often disguised as an ordinary syphilis. In this case, the crack is usually painless, covered with a silvery-white coating and has a compaction at the base, which, when the lips are stretched, takes on an oval shape. When a secondary infection (bacterial or streptococcal) is added, the syphilitic lesion deepens and turns into a discomforting ulcer. Treatment of such a disorder is carried out under the supervision of a venereologist and consists primarily of destroying the causative agent of syphilis - Treponema pallidum.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Low hemoglobin is one of the common causes of cracks in the corners of the mouth. In the presence of the disease, the ulcer is often accompanied by general weakness, pallor, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and other symptoms. Treatment of angular fissure in anemia should be accompanied by the elimination of iron deficiency in the body, depending on its cause: eating foods rich in iron and vitamin B12 (whole grain bread, fruits, red meat, nuts, greens), taking special medications, antiparasitic therapy (in the presence of worms ) and other methods.

Diseases of internal organs

Sometimes chronic and recurrent binge eating can accompany some common diseases - for example, endocrine diseases, diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, and even disorders in the psycho-emotional sphere. In this case, the ulcer is usually soft to the touch, covered with a crust and is moderately painful. Elimination of the crack is possible with full treatment of the disorders that caused it. It is worth noting that it is not recommended to treat a stubborn crack in the corner of the mouth on your own - according to doctors’ observations, in 3% of cases it can become malignant.

Atopic cheilitis

Atopic cheilitis is an inflammatory disease of the lips, which often leads to the formation of a lip. The disease is neurodermatological in nature and can be provoked by allergies, hormonal disorders, but most often by malfunctions of the nervous system, which is why it is most common in children and adolescents aged 10-17 years. A crack in the disease occurs against the background of peeling, dry skin of the lips and face; Inflammation of the lip border and covering of their surface with small scales are also observed. For atopic cheilitis, vitamin therapy, treatment with antihistamines, and corticosteroid ointments are carried out in strict accordance with the doctor's prescription.

Bad habits Bad habits are common sources of health problems, and the symptom in question is no exception. Smoking, drinking alcohol, licking lips, biting nails, holding a foreign object (pencil, pen) in the mouth contribute to a decrease in both general and local immunity. When the harmful effects cease, cracks that arose for the above reasons quickly heal and stop appearing.

Pathogens

Irritation in the corners of the lips even has a scientific name - angulitis. There are two subtypes of angulitis - depending on the causative agents of irritation.

Streptococci. These are bacteria of several types that cause a wide range of inflammatory diseases - from scarlet fever to meningitis. Children are most susceptible to streptococcal infections.
Yeast-like fungi Candida. In fact, such a fungus is constantly present in our body. But when immunity decreases, its cells begin to multiply many times. As a result, inflammation and whitish discharge appear.

Causes and symptoms

The development of a jam often begins with the appearance of a small bubble in the corner of the mouth. Almost immediately after formation, the bubble bursts, and a wound remains on the mucous membrane, causing serious discomfort. In the absence of proper treatment, the jam increases in size and becomes deeper. As a result, severe pain occurs when moving the lips, while eating, or talking.

Angulitis is often confused with herpes. But in fact, the nature of these diseases is different. The cause of herpes is a virus. The causative agent of angulitis is streptococci and yeast-like fungi Candida. Streptococcal and candida infections differ in symptoms:

Streptococcal angulitis. This form of the disease is most often observed in children, but in the presence of provoking factors it can also develop in adults. Seizures caused by streptococci begin with a small bubble. After its rupture, a wound appears, and after 1.5-2 hours a purulent-bloody crust forms. If it is removed, you will be left with a wet, bleeding surface with a crack in the center. After a short time, a crust will form on the jam again. Another symptom of streptococcal seizures is constant burning and itching, which intensifies when eating, talking, or moving the lips.
Candidal angulitis. A distinctive feature of this form of the disease is the absence of a weeping wound and crust. Outwardly, it manifests itself as crevice-like erosion, that is, a crack. Also, the surface of the jam may be covered with a grayish coating, which is easily removed. With closed lips, candidal angulitis is almost invisible, but as soon as you open your mouth, the crack becomes clearly visible. Without treatment, candidal angulitis quickly turns into a chronic relapsing form.

In addition to streptococcal and candidal angulitis, a mixed form is found. In this case, signs of both types of disease are present.

Streptococcal form of angulitis.

Symptoms

The pathogen can be identified even by its appearance.

With streptococcal angulitis, a soft bubble with transparent contents first appears in the corner of the lips. When it bursts, a bloody ulcer with a soft crust appears. If the crust is removed, the ulcer will begin to bleed, and after a few hours it will heal again.
Candidiasis immediately appears as a scarlet ulcer in the corner of the lip. The surrounding skin is soft, moist, fringed. Instead of a crust, the irritation may be covered with a whitish soft coating. Since the Candida fungus is constantly present in our body, such seizures can appear regularly when immunity decreases.

Prevention

Prevention of the appearance of cheilitis comes down to measures that prevent certain causes of the development of the disease. In a general sense, it is important to follow the diet and carefully select the child’s diet. Food should be tasty and healthy at the same time, while being rich in vitamins and minerals. You need to be extremely careful when handling products and items that cause an allergic reaction.

You can take prophylactic vitamin-mineral complexes and nutritional supplements. It is important for a child to have a strong and healthy immune system, so regularly ventilate the room and humidify the air in it, carry out hardening procedures, and take a walk in the fresh air every day.

The child must have a stable physical and emotional state. If the child suffers from high sensitivity, then the introduction of new medications should be done with extreme caution if there are antihistamines in the home medicine cabinet.

Teach your child daily personal hygiene rules and monitor their compliance. Learning is best done by example.

It is important to explain to the child in an accessible form the importance of thoroughly washing vegetables, fruits and berries. The child must understand why he should not put dirty hands in his mouth or rub his lips and their corners, as well as his chin.

Carefully monitoring the child's health is important for parents. Timely treatment of concomitant diseases reduces the risk of cheilitis, for example, stomach or intestinal diseases, dysbacteriosis.

Taking antibiotics should be accompanied by taking eubiotic drugs to reduce the likelihood of skin damage by fungi, the main purpose of which is to restore the microflora.

It is necessary to monitor the absence of oral diseases - caries, periodontitis, stomatitis and others. After all, inflammation of the oral cavity quickly spreads to neighboring areas. In this case, you cannot use folk remedies yourself.

Treatment

Sometimes, in order to cope with irritation in the corners of the lips, it is enough to pay more attention to skin care: do not eat or drink in the cold, use nourishing creams and lip balms.

It is also necessary to protect the damaged surface from new infections: do not touch the ulcer with curses, do not tear off the crusts, and rinse with disinfectant solutions.

To treat streptococcal infections, ointments containing antibiotics are used. For candidiasis, use drying ointments with an antifungal effect. The ointment is applied at least 2 times a day. In most cases, relief comes after two days of treatment.

During treatment, it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and pay special attention to B vitamins. In addition to pharmaceutical tablets, the necessary substances are contained in such products as:

dairy
beef
legumes
broccoli, spinach, sprouted oats

Diagnostics

Incorrect treatment will cause great harm to your child. The diagnosis is carried out by a pediatrician. Mandatory examination methods are:

general blood analysis;
study of the performance of the thyroid gland;
stool culture for dysbacteriosis;
test to identify allergens;
collecting medical history data - diet, presence or absence of bad habits, hygiene;
consultations with related specialists - gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, allergist.

The purpose of diagnosis is to identify pathogens. In our clinic you can undergo all the necessary examinations.

Cream "La-Cri" against irritation in the corners of the lips

La-Cri cosmetics are created specifically to combat skin irritation in both children from 0 months and adults. The cream is suitable for combating mild seizures, as well as for prevention and skin care.

The cream is based on extracts of natural components that have a gentle effect on the skin and do not cause an allergic reaction.

Serena and licorice soothe inflammation and relieve flaking.
Violet and bisabolol also have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects.
Avocado and panthenol soften the skin and help it recover.
Walnut protects the skin from germs and promotes healing.

Treatment of seizures in children

What to do when a child has sticking on his lips? Initially, establish the provocateur factor. Since simple healing of wounds without eliminating the causes causes frequent relapses of cheilitis. Moreover, each subsequent case of relapse brings more severe pain.

In addition to discomfort in everyday life, cheilitis spoils the aesthetic appearance. This is where complexes and psychological problems arise. Children of school and preschool age are afraid of severe pain on the cracks when actively moving their lips or smiling and refuse to read, sing out loud, or laugh.

How to treat lip jams in children? Elimination of cracks in a short time occurs when taking tablets. The duration of treatment is determined by the attending physician. Complete elimination of the problem is only possible if the use of ointments ends several days after the symptoms disappear.

The most effective remedies are antibiotics and antifungal medications. At the time of laboratory testing, a special sensitivity test is performed, the result of which determines the choice of a particular drug.

The activity of fungal pathogens is reduced by the action of tablets and specialized ointments. Daily use of such products along with local antibiotics brings visible results.

It is recommended that infected areas be treated before bedtime with wound-healing agents that have an antibacterial effect. Antiseptic solutions eliminate inflammation in the oral cavity and block the proliferation of fungi. It is allowed to introduce special vitamin and mineral complexes corresponding to your child’s age group.

Folk remedies and recipes

The use of traditional medicine recipes is quite often approved and even recommended by pediatricians for the treatment of cheilitis in children. However, using such products on your own is not recommended. It is necessary to consult a specialist.

Traditional medicine recipes are useful and effective, because they contain only natural and non-toxic products that have hypoallergenic properties and a wound-healing effect for erosions and cracks in people of any age and gender.

Mode of application:

smear at least 5 times a day;
apply lotions with herbal decoctions and immediately soften the skin by applying ointment.

Folk remedies recommended by pediatricians:

sea buckthorn oil or rosehip/avocado oil;
juice of fresh cucumber, Kalanchoe or aloe;
oil solution of vitamins E and A – retinol and tocopherol in a scientific way;
herbal decoctions - chamomile, calendula, string;
lotions of propolis and butter in a ratio of 1 to 10 on cracks help relieve swelling, redness and fight inflammatory processes in the oral cavity - the mixture is used warm;
lotions for cracks made from honey and butter in a ratio of 1 to 10 are used in the presence of an inflammatory process in the oral cavity, but are not used in the presence of allergic reactions. Honey can be replaced with a finely pureed sour apple;
green tea - a cotton swab is applied to the sore spot soaked in strong tea leaves. It is important to use tea leaves in their pure form without additives;
Earwax can heal wounds, but the remedy is banned by doctors.

Diet therapy

A balanced diet accelerates the healing process of wounds and cracks. The child's diet should be rich in vitamins and microelements. If the disease appears due to a lack of any useful substance, the effectiveness of treatment depends on replenishing its deficiency.

Recommended foods rich in B vitamins, iron and zinc - lean beef and liver, buckwheat and bran, eggs and cottage cheese, fermented milk products and brewer's yeast, leafy greens and dill with parsley, fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals and millet, black currants and low-fat fish.

Clinical researches

Clinical studies have proven the high effectiveness, safety and tolerability of products for daily skin care of adults and children with mild and moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients. As a result of therapy, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.

Based on the results of the clinical study, the placement of information on the packaging “Recommended by the St. Petersburg Branch of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia” was agreed upon.

Sources:

Ratner Desiri, Avram M.R., Avram M.M., Procedures in Dermatology. Clinical cosmetology, GEOTAR-Media, 2019
Sukolin Gennady Ivanovich, Illustrated clinical dermatology. Brief alphabetical reference book, publishing house Lux Print, 2010
Kildiyarova Rita Rafgatovna, Pediatrician for every day. Guide for doctors, GEOTAR-Media, 2021.