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Angular Cheilitis is a type of infection that attacks the corners of the mouth where the top and lower lips meet. Although Angular Cheilitis is rarely a serious or life-threatening condition, it can be notoriously difficult to cure.
This matter is made even worse because of the fact that Angular Cheilitis often appears to be nothing more than severely chapped or cracked lips. But in reality, the condition is more serious and represents an infection in the corners of the lips caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the corners of the mouth.
One of the most common treatments for Angular Cheilitis is an antifungal-steroid combination. Mycolog-II cream is one such medication that is often prescribed for the condition. The steroid treatment, while controversial, is sometimes necessary to help the body's immune system overcome the infection.
One of the most unusual aspects of Angular Cheilitis is that it sometimes appears to be caused by a bacterial infection, and other times appears to be caused by a fungal infection. Because of this, doctors must often go through a trial and error process to determine which treatment would be most appropriate.
In cases of Angular Cheilitis that appear to be caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic gels and creams are often prescribed. Miconazole is one such antibiotic ointment. Doctors may also prescribe high dosages of vitamins and certain minerals (especially iron) in more severe cases of Cheilitis, to help speed up the healing process.
But because Angular Cheilitis is such a tricky disease to cure, the best strategy is to be aware of the warning signs and try to avoid the con
dition altogether. One of the main causes of Cheilitis is denture fixtures that do not fit correctly. This results in an over-closing of the mouth, and can have the effect of creating pockets of moisture on each side of the mouth where the lips meet.
These warm pockets of moisture provide a perfect breeding ground for several types of pesky bacteria, and this is believed to be the primary cause for many cases of Angular Cheilitis.
Even though Angular Cheilitis may appear very similar to chapped lips, is a very different condition, and exposure to sun or cold weather (while certainly not good for the lips) does not usually contribute to the infection present in cases of Cheilitis.
However, poor oral hygiene, and habitually licking the lips have been known to cause the condition, as can continually wiping the corners of the mouth, especially with unclean fingers. Because these kinds of actions are common in children, it is not rare for preteens to develop minor cases of Angular Cheilitis. Normally the condition is not severe in children, and fades on its own relatively quickly.
The exception to this is in cases where children (or adults) are suffering from malnutrition or anemia. These conditions starve the body of necessary nutrients, and can increase the likelihood of contracting Angular Cheilitis.
Remember, Angular Cheilitisis not a simple case of chapped lips. The same types of balms and creams used to soothe chapped and cracked lips will often make Cheilitis worse. In fact, petroleum-based balms can even help to spread the infection, and should be completely avoided by those suffering with Angular Cheilitis.
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