Dentistry-Online

Inflammation of the corners of the mouth

definition

Inflammatory changes at the corner of the mouth are very common and are referred to in medicine as so-called angular mouth infections.

Typically, in this case, the skin at the corner of the mouth is reddened, and cracks may even appear (Fissures) and crusty deposits.
The triggers for this inflammation are many and range from:

Infections with pathogens such as bacteria, fungi or viruses (such as herpes),
Skin diseases,
Deficiency symptoms up to
Metabolic diseases,
Diseases of internal organs and
allergic reactions.

Inflammations at the corner of the mouth are usually harmless, but can also be a symptom of a more serious illness and inflammations that are particularly difficult to heal should be examined by a doctor.

root cause

The causes of inflammation at the corner of the mouth are diverse and can also occur in combination.

Mechanical forces:

Even a jerky mouth movement can tear the corners of the mouth due to the strong pulling force.
Since the mouth area is populated with many pathogens, inflammation quickly occurs if a crack has formed at the corner of the mouth.
If the skin at the corner of the mouth is also very damp due to excessive salivation or is very dry, this puts a strain on the skin and it tears more quickly.
Herpes infection:

In combination with the so-called cold sore, an infection with herpes simplex viruses, inflammation occurs at the corner of the mouth.
The viruses linger in the body and are reactivated by certain circumstances, such as extreme stress or alcohol consumption.
They multiply especially in the transition area between red lips and skin, which is why the typical herpes blisters and crusts appear in the corner of the mouth.

Read more about this: Chapped lips - is it because of herpes?

Iron deficiency:

In this case, the body does not get enough iron from food or the body cannot absorb the iron properly.
In addition to inflammation at the corner of the mouth, iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, brittle nails as well as fatigue, dizziness and headaches.

You might also be interested in: Iron deficiency test or iron deficiency symptoms
Vitamin deficiency:

The lack of certain vitamins can also be linked to the development of inflammation at the corner of the mouth.
Skin diseases:

In addition, the inflammation often occurs in connection with other skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis (psoriasis) or so-called seborrheic eczema.
With these diseases, the entire skin is severely irritated and corresponding inflammations or cracks can also occur in the corner of the mouth.
Metabolic diseases:

It is not uncommon for metabolic diseases such as diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) to inflammation at the corner of the mouth.
In these diseases, the blood flow to the skin is impaired and the affected people are more prone to inflammation.
Liver disease:

Inflammation at the corner of the mouth is also one of the so-called liver signs.
In connection with other skin changes such as yellowish discoloration of the skin, inflammation at the corner of the mouth occurs in liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
Autoimmune Diseases:

Another less common cause of inflammation at the corner of the mouth is autoimmune diseases like this Sjogren's syndrome into consideration. In this disease, among other things, the salivary and lacrimal glands are attacked by the body's own defense system, which leads to pronounced dryness of the mouth and eyes.
Infections:

Another cause can be strong wrinkles at the corner of the mouth. A moist chamber can form between the folds, a perfect breeding ground for bacteria or fungi.
But even without a crease in the corner of the mouth, a fungal or bacterial infection can develop at the corner of the mouth.
Infections of the entire body can also lead to one-sided inflammation of the corner of the mouth, for example in one Syphilis infection.
Allergies / side effects:

Allergies or reactions to medication are also possible causes of inflammation at the corner of the mouth.
Missing teeth / incorrectly fitting dentures:

The misalignment or the lack of teeth causes wrinkles at the corner of the mouth, which promote the development of inflammation.

therapy

The treatment of inflammation at the corner of the mouth depends on the cause of the symptoms.

For example, if iron deficiency can be diagnosed as the trigger for the inflammation, a change in diet or therapy with iron-containing drugs is recommended.

Please also read: Floradix for iron deficiency, homeopathy for iron deficiency
If the inflammation at the corner of the mouth is triggered by mechanical stress and the resulting cracks, the therapy consists in avoiding excessive accumulation of moisture in the corners of the mouth or, conversely, treating very dry skin.

Read our article on this: This is how dry skin is treated
Cold sores can use Zinc sulfate ointments or creams with disinfectant additives be treated.
This dries out the typical herpes blisters and accelerates the healing process.
Most of the time, the cold sore heals after about two weeks without treatment.

Find out more about this at: Cold Sores - How To Treat It Right
If diabetes causes the inflammation at the corner of the mouth, optimal control of the blood sugar level is desirable.
Although diabetes is still not curable, the extent of accompanying symptoms such as inflammation at the corner of the mouth can be significantly reduced with suitable therapy.

You might also be interested in: Therapy of diabetes

If the inflammation at the corner of the mouth is caused by an infection with bacteria, antibiotics are used.
External treatment with antibiotic ointments is usually sufficient.
It is similar with a fungal infection, against which so-called antifungal ointments are used.
Allergies are also a possible cause of sore corners of the mouth. In this case, the triggering allergens should be avoided, such as certain triggering drugs.
Skin diseases that cause inflammation at the corner of the mouth should be treated appropriately.
Successful treatment can significantly alleviate the symptoms and complaints, for example with neurodermatitis or psoriasis, and achieve largely symptom-free phases.

You might also be interested in: Treatment of neurodermatitis, treatment of psoriasis
If the cause of the inflammation at the corner of the mouth is liver disease, any substances that can damage the liver, such as alcohol, should be avoided. Further therapy depends on the cause of the liver disease.

Anoint

There are a number of different ointments that are suitable for the different underlying causes of inflammation.

Pure nourishing ointments without active ingredients help with inflammation of the skin, which can be traced back to insufficient care of the affected area.
This type of ointment is particularly suitable for inflammation of the corner of the mouth due to dry skin.

Read more about this at: Dry skin - causes and care tips

In addition to the ointments without an active ingredient, there are ointments that contain a certain active ingredient.
This can, for example, have an antimycotic (against fungal infections) or antibiotic (against bacterial infections) effect.
When using these ointments, it is important to make a correct medical diagnosis beforehand.

An ointment that has antibiotic effects can only work if the cause of the inflammation was bacterial.
Furthermore, it may be that there is a bacterial infection, but the origin of the inflammation was completely different and the infection is a so-called suprain infection, in which the bacteria use the weakened skin as an entry point.

For this reason, a critical questioning of the origin of the inflammation should always be undertaken.

Home remedies

Home remedies can be particularly helpful in the care and thus prevention of painful inflammation.

So particularly enjoy

Aloe vera,
Tea tree oil or
Milking fat particularly popular in lip care.

On rubbing the inflamed areas with

Honey,
Quark or
other substances should be avoided if possible.

Inflammation cannot be eliminated with this.

Care with ointments containing herbal preparations can, however, be carried out safely.

If the inflammation does not go away after a few days, it is advisable to see a doctor so that the cause of the inflammation can be found and, if necessary, treated.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with inflammation at the corner of the mouth are:

Reddening of the skin
Swelling of the skin and
especially pain when touching the affected area or when moving the mouth.

In many cases, the inflammation arises from tears in the corner of the mouth; in addition, there can be superficial or deeper tissue damage in the corner of the mouth.

The cracked corners of the mouth often show flaking or crusting.
An inflammation at the corner of the mouth heals very slowly in most cases and often regresses after a temporarily symptom-free period.

Depending on the cause of the inflammation, there may be other symptoms.

You might also be interested in: Torn corners of the mouth - causes and tips for treatment

diagnosis

The examination of the corners of the mouth and the recording of the individual patient history (anamnesis) are in the foreground in the correct diagnosis of the disease.
A swab of the affected area can also help determine which pathogens are responsible for the inflammation.
With the targeted detection of the pathogen, therapy can be a much more effective and quicker remedy for the painful symptom of inflammation.
If the inflamed areas do not go away by caring for the affected skin, it may be necessary to do a blood test.
By analyzing the blood, systemic diseases can be identified, which then need to be treated.

forecast

In most cases, the inflammation of the corners of the mouth is not a serious condition.

The painful inflammation can usually be quickly brought under control by taking appropriate care of the affected skin.

However, if there is no improvement after a few days, a visit to a doctor is recommended.
By establishing the individual diagnosis of the disease causing the problem, the problem is usually solved quickly.

In principle, a doctor treating you should always be consulted in case of doubt. The sooner the diagnosis is made and the underlying cause treated, the more favorable the prognosis of the cure.

Inflamed corners of the mouth in the child

Children can also experience the painful symptom of corner inflammation of the mouth.

In addition to the causes, which occur roughly equally in adults and children, such as local irritation from dry skin or systemic diseases, the cause in children can be found comparatively often in a local infection of the corner of the mouth.

Often the inflammation of the corners of the mouth in children is caused by bacteria such as streptococci or staphylococci.

Children who suffer from certain previous illnesses, such as neurodermatitis or diabetes mellitus, are disproportionately affected by inflamed corners of the mouth.
Therefore, in the case of recurring inflammation of the corner of the mouth, a pediatrician should be consulted, who can make the correct diagnosis and thus initiate therapy against the recurring inflammation.

Sore corners of the mouth during pregnancy

Pregnant women are more likely to suffer from sore corners than other people.
This can mainly be attributed to a changed hormone balance and a vitamin deficiency that often occurs during pregnancy.

By increasing the intake of the necessary vitamins, the symptom of the inflamed corners of the mouth in pregnant women can largely be resolved.

Read more on the topic: Vitamins in Pregnancy

Of course, all other causes can also come into question if the corners of the mouth in pregnant women are inflamed.
Therefore, pregnant women whose mouth corners are inflamed for a long time or recurrently should ask their general practitioner or gynecologist for advice.
This can find out the cause of the inflammation and initiate the appropriate therapy.