Cracked corners of mouth

JMFRANE

JMFRANE

Cathlete
For the last two months the corners of my mouth have been sore and cracked-on and off. Also, my lips seem to be really sensitive to spicy foods like pizza sauce (something that never bothered me before) and the next day they will be puffy. Anybody else have anything like this? Something has seemed to change in my body chemistry.

Joanne
 
Hmmmm...I'd have that checked out. Atleast maybe get your labs drawn.

Ok, the obvious would be dehydration. Are you drinking less? Have you changed face moisturizer/cream? Next obvious: salt. More salt in your diet? More spicy food that may be salty?? Alot of the reason pizza sauce bothers you is the acid in the tomato.. Did you start running? That can chap your lips bad if you are prone to it... I guess maybe it could be the change in the weather too, is it windy where you are? Did you start any new medications? They can cause that.

If there is a change in your chemistry, the rest of your body really should feel drier too??

I don't have a problem with this so sorry I couldn't be of more help. If it does not go away and you can't narrow down the problem, I would have it checked out..In the meantime...CHAPSTICK!!! :)
 
This happened to me when I started eating a lot of citrus fruit. It FINALLY dawned on me that I was allergic to something and I managed to narrow it down to strawberries. Once I gave them up, the problem cleared up, so maybe you are having an allergic reaction?

I use Blistex DCT several times a day. It has SPF in it, too, so it's great for sun protection. This stuff works wonders! It is the one thing I never leave home without!

Good luck,
Marie
 
Having some blood work might be a good idea. I was found to be anemic a few years back. My primary asked me at the time the blood work was drawn, if I was tired at all. I was too busy to be tired--makes sense huh ? :)

After having a few more things done, I was found to be very anemic and placed on iron 3 times a day--not fun. BUt one symptom my doctor mentioned later on to me was the cracks in the corners of my mouth. He also asked about brittle nails. Those symptoms I did have. Just a thought--everyone is different but it may be worth it to have some blood work done to be sure. I now take one iron a day and I am checked yearly for the anemia. My lips have not been cracked since and my nails are super strong now.:)
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I have been eating a lot of citrus fruits during this past summer (more than usual because I love it so much). So, I won't eat so much fruit and if that doesn't work I may get some blood work done.

Joanne
 
Joanne,
Do you take a multivitamin supplement? If not try taking one with extra B vitamins. Also have you changed toothpastes?? Some of the whitening ones are very hard on the oral mucosa. Deb
 
Joanne,
Sometimes a deficiency of Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 manifests itself as cracks or sores in the corners of the mouth or eyes.

Robin
 
Hi Joanne,
My DH is a dentist and he mentioned that it could also possibly be a type of fungal infection called candidiasis. So you might want to check w/your dentist if the other suggestions don't work.
Good luck :)
Cath :)
 
Hi - I just wanted to add that I get this too sometimes.

I don't know what causes it but I do know that applying a little neosporine helps mine.

Interesting about the iron...I've never been diagnosed with anemia but I sometimes get denied when I try to give blood because my iron is too low. I think mine is diet though (very little red meat) - if I am low one day I can have a hamburger and spinach salad for dinner and be fine the next day!

It makes sense that the low iron can be associated with the cracked mouth corners for me
 
Hi, I too had this as a ongoing thing, really bad in corners of my mouth. When I went to the dentist I found out it was a combination of acid reflux which I am now on medication for and a infection in my mouth from my teeth. I no longer have this now that I take medication. I would have it checked. Lori BC
 
I just made a dentist appointment. So, not only do I love getting my teeth cleaned but hopefully they will know the problem and it will be resolved. In the mean time, I will try to cut down some on the fruit and tomatoes, and put on some neosporin.

Thanks again everyone for your help. You gals are great!

Joanne
 
Jo-Jo, I can't believe this! I've had the same thing on and off (about three times now) within the past year! My lips get very sensitive and burny-feeling, and I can't have any salt, spice OR citric acid on them.

The only thing for me that keeps them comfortable during these times is to stay well-hydrated so that my saliva doesn't get all icky, AND to keep slathering on Chap Stick.

Too weird, this coincidence. We shoulda talked about this on Sunday!

A-Jock
 
A-Jock-

I meant to bring it up on Sunday and I forgot (the time just flew and we sure had a lot to talk about - didn't we?). This is so weird-what a coincidence indeed.

Joanne
 
I just took a continuing ed. course at the Cal.Dental Assoc. convention about this very thing. It is called angular cheilitis and it is an infection from a combination of candida albicans and a salivary species of streptococci.

It has long been associated with deficiency of Vitamin B and decreased vertical dimension (like a denture wearer closing his mouth without dentures on). It is also associated with hypoparathyroidism, a very rare and life-threatening condition. I happen to know someone who has this, a fun girlfriend who introduced me to rollerblading, but I digress.

It responds very well to combination therapy containing an antifungal and a topical steroid. Avoid the temptation to lick the lesions because this will continue to superinfect the cheilosis (pronounced Kee-losis) with salivary bacteria.

It can infect the whole mouth (burning feeling) and be sensitive to acidic foods (citrus) so it sounds like what you guys might have.
 
RE: Connie1: THANKS

That's some good info! Do you have any additional info as to which antifungal (are there any over-the-counter brands, or by prescription only?) and topical steroid (same ?? re OTC or prescription) that you can suggest?

A-Jock
 
Thanks for the info Connie! Interesting... Do they ususally try the B vitamins first (ruling out first a B2 deficiency) and if that doesn't work go with something like a Nystatin Suspension for the Candida along with a Triamcinalone Dental Paste as the steroid (since it is the mouth area) or do they have other drugs of choice?

Robin
 
I wish I remembered the details, but I think there is a combination out there called Kenalog in Orabase, that's available w/o prescrip. I may be wrong about the ingredients or availability.

I have no info about the vitamin B. I think, however, that malabsorption due to another condition is more common than simply not eating enough vit.B (in this country).
 
Yes this happens to me occasionally. One dermatologist told me it's because my lips sort of press together at the corners so say I eat something salty, it can get kind of "trapped" there and irritate. Anyway the best solution I found was 1) don't touch your lips with your fingers unless you have just washed them, 2) wipe your mouth with a clean napkin very well after eating, 3) avoid really outwardly salty foods like tortilla chips, 4) Keep Aquaphor on them at all times (it's a clear lotion that looks like vasaline but it's more water-based...just use it like chapstick but the nice thing is if it gets on your skin it doesn't seem to cause breakouts like vasaline would), 5) Keep drying face products (like acne gel or toner) away from the edges of your mouth.

Also, just in case it's some kind of fungus or bacterial thing, I'd throw out all lip products you currently have and start fresh. Also, watch for skin sensitivities (and you can develop ones you did not have before). One of your lip products could be causing it.
 
Ah...Kenalog in orabase is the brand name of triamcinlone dental paste, but unfortunately it isn't available in this country without a prescription. It's true about the B vits...it really is rare to have a deficiency in this day and age, but it did happen to me in my early teens (skinny malnourished thing that I was..LOL) and my cracked mouth healed up right away when the doctor advised me to take riboflavin.

Robin:9
 
My doctor diagnosed me with angular chelitosis or however it is spelled and told me to use Lamisil and cortaid but mine isn't dryness it is more like little blisters and itch.

Rhonda
 
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