Home Remedies and Herbs for Angular Cheilitis

Angular Cheilitis is a bacterial or fungal infection. It usually occurs on one side of the mouth however, it can happen on both sides of the mouth. The bacteria associated with Angular Cheilitis occurs naturally within the human body but it can overgrow within the patient due to lack of immune system functionality and other factors. This is what leads to a diagnosis of Angular Cheilitis. ¹

What Causes Angular Cheilitis?

There are a variety of problems that can cause Angular Cheilitis. Not all of these causes may be present however; each cause can lead to others. Some causes of Angular Cheilitis include:

• Upper Lip overhang
• Salivary dribbling which leads to contact dermatitis
• Very chapped lips
• Pre-existing bacterial or viral infections
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Anemia
• Malnutrition due to celiac disease or anorexia

What are the Symptoms of Angular Cheilitis?

Angular Cheilitis has a broad range of symptoms. As with the causes, not every patient will have all the symptoms. Angular Cheilitis may look like other bacterial problems at times. The basic symptoms include:

• Chapped Lips
• Cracked lips
• Lip pain
• Lip tenderness
• Lip ulceration
• Fissured lips

These symptoms of Angular Cheilitis are not all-encompassing and they will vary from patient to patient. The physician will take all symptoms into account when attempting to diagnose Angular Cheilitis.

How is Angular Cheilitis Diagnosed?

In order to get a proper diagnosis of Angular Cheilitis a physician will often do an examination of the affected area. This may also include swabbing the area, getting a complete medical history, and assessing if there are other factors that could be contributing to the development of Angular Cheilitis.

How is Angular Cheilitis Treated?

Angular Cheilitis can be treated in a myriad of simple, yet inexpensive ways. Some of these can be purchased over the counter while others do require a prescription. Some treatments for Angular Cheilitis are:

• Lip balm
• Topical antibiotics
• Nutritional supplements
• Anti-fungal medication
• Filler injections or implants ³

Natural Medicinal Options for Angular Cheilitis

In addition to the regular medicinal options, Angular Cheilitis can be treated using natural and holistic options as well. Many of these options can be taken orally or even eaten for maximum effect. A few of the natural options for Angular Cheilitis include:

• Manuka Honey-Applied topically this remedy can be wonderful because honey has some wonderful naturally occurring antibiotic properties to treat Angular Cheilitis.
• Aloe Vera-This is another Angular Cheilitis remedy that can be applied topically. Aloe can be very soothing to chapped or irritated skin so this remedy is often used to aid in the healing process.
• Yogurt-Eating yogurt can be very effective for Angular Cheilitis. Due to the different types of good bacteria within yogurt, it may help stave off the “bad” bacteria associated with Angular Cheilitis.
• Coconut Oil-Add remedy for Angular Cheilitis to the long list of coconut oil benefits. Similarly to the honey mentioned earlier, coconut oil can be used topically to help keep the lips and affected area soothed during a bout of Angular Cheilitis. Simply melt it down a bit and apply as needed.

Conclusion

Angular Cheilitis is a fairly common condition. Anyone can experience it in their lifetime. It is important to note that Angular Cheilitis is not a condition that is contagious so it cannot be passed from one person to another like cold sores. ⁴ Angular Cheilitis can be unsightly but treated properly; it can be managed and even healed with that treatment.

References

1. http://www.angularcheilitishelp.org/angular-cheilitis-causes.php
2. http://www.pharmainfo.net/angular-cheilitis#Causes
3. http://www.dermnetnz.org/site-age-specific/angular-cheilitis.html
4. http://www.angularcheilitishelp.org/angular-cheilitis.php