Dry corners of the mouth
definition
Dry corners of the mouth are a common problem and usually occur in winter time. There are many different causes of dry corners of the mouth, most of which are caused by temperature and humidity. Dry corners of the mouth often lead to cracks (fissures) and can therefore be very painful. Usually dry or torn corners of the mouth heal on their own, but if they occur more often and heal poorly, this can also be an indication of a systemic disease and should therefore be clarified by a doctor.
causes
The most common cause of dry corners of the mouth is dry air in winter. The cold outside temperature and the dry, warm air in the apartment irritate the sensitive skin of the lips and dry them out. This also results in increased stress on the corners of the mouth, which also dry out and usually also tear. Since the mouth is stressed very often in everyday life, the cracks can only heal very poorly and tear open again, for example when eating, yawning or laughing. Another problem is that if the lips or the corners of their mouth are dry, many people tend to wet the affected area with their tongue. However, this leads to increased dehydration and at the same time bacteria from the oral cavity are transported into the wounds, which can lead to infection. Saliva has a slightly acidic pH value, which is why in some cases this alone is enough to cause dry corners of the mouth. For example, some people drool at night to sore corners of their mouths in the morning. If dry corners of the mouth heal very poorly or not at all or occur again and again (e.g. even in summer), an illness or deficiency symptom may also be the cause. In particular, infections caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, vitamin deficiency symptoms, iron or zinc deficiency, liver diseases, skin diseases (e.g. neurodermatitis), autoimmune diseases or diabetes come into question.
Dry corners of the mouth from fungus
There are many types of medically relevant mushrooms. Fungal skin, which also often causes problems on the mucous membranes and areas around the mouth, is usually the so-called "Candida albicans", which belongs to the group of yeasts. A fungal infection with candida albicans is medically also called "thrush"Or"Candidiasis“And is a very common disease. The reason for this is the natural occurrence of candida on the human mucous membrane. If the immune system is weakened or the corners of the mouth are torn, the fungus can spread and an infection can occur. Symptoms are itching and a sharply defined, usually reddish rash. A whitish coating is also often found on the mucous membranes (see Genital fungus).
Dry corners of the mouth due to lack of nutrients
Deficiency symptoms can also be a cause of dry and cracked corners of the mouth. Deficiencies in vitamins (especially vitamins C, D and B2), iron or zinc come into question. Zinc is very important for the immune system, which is why a zinc deficiency can weaken it and thus lead to an infection of the corners of the mouth. A siege, for example bacterial, results in very poor healing and persistent complaints. Iron deficiency usually manifests itself in several areas of the body. This can lead to dry corners of the mouth, brittle hair and brittle nails. Iron deficiency anemia (anemia) is also possible.
Diagnosis
Several different factors must be considered to make a correct diagnosis. If the dry corners of the mouth rarely appear and heal on their own within a few days, no diagnosis is usually necessary, as these are probably caused by a changed climate. In the case of long-lasting or recurring symptoms, the main consideration should be how deep the cracks are, whether there is a rash or increased redness, whether the area itches and whether accompanying symptoms occur. In any case, a doctor should be consulted.
Concomitant symptoms
The most common accompanying symptoms of dry corners of the mouth are redness, tears, the constant need to moisten the lips and corners of the mouth, burning, itching and pain, especially when eating, laughing, yawning, coughing or sneezing. If the whole thing is not based on a specific cause, the symptoms are usually limited to the symptoms mentioned above. However, if the dry corners of the mouth are caused by a deficiency symptom, infection or systemic disease, further symptoms can occur.
An infection often manifests itself initially as increased reddening. In addition, the affected area can swell and cause severe pain. In the case of bacterial inflammation, pus can also escape. Fungi usually cause dry, itchy and sharply defined redness. Viral infections are mainly triggered by herpes viruses and manifest themselves as crusty, red thickenings.
With deficiency symptoms such as iron, zinc or vitamin deficiency, symptoms such as fatigue, paleness, brittle hair, brittle nails, indigestion or dizziness often occur and are difficult to diagnose. In the case of systemic causes such as diabetes, neurodermatitis, liver diseases or autoimmune diseases, dry or torn corners of the mouth are often just a side effect and therefore in most cases not the first symptom that the patient notices
treatment
The most important therapy is the prevention of dry corners of the mouth. This is best achieved through protection and care. This includes drinking enough water and regularly applying cream to the lips and corners of the mouth (e.g. with Labello) and avoid regular wetting of the tongue. Even if the corners of your mouth are dry and torn, these measures can be very helpful. Avoiding contact with potential sources of infection and cleaning the affected area regularly should also be part of the treatment. For example, it can be helpful to avoid wearing make-up or lipstick. In the event of infections by viruses, fungi or bacteria, therapy should be given by a doctor. This will usually take a swab from the corners of the mouth to identify the pathogen. Depending on the pathogen, a cream is usually prescribed afterwards, which should be applied for several days.
Deficiency symptoms are difficult to diagnose, but can usually be treated very well by substituting (giving) the deficient substance.
If a certain illness is the cause, the treatment depends on the respective illness and can be very different.
Schüssler salts
The treatment of dry and cracked corners of the mouth with Schüssler salts is possible. Therapy by applying an ointment from the outside is possible, as well as therapy from the inside with tablets. A common Schüssler salt for use on cracked skin is the so-called Calcium fluoratum. Manganum sulfuricum and Ferrum Phosphoricum are also a popular alternative or supplement for torn corners of the mouth.
Treatment with home remedies
For dry corners of the mouth, greasy creams are best, such as Labello or hand cream. On the one hand, these can prevent drying out for the first time and, on the other hand, if the corners of the mouth are already dry, they can prevent it from deteriorating and thus tearing. If cracks have already appeared, regular cleaning and disinfection can protect against inflammation. Applying herbal products such as aloe vera can also be helpful and accelerate the healing process. In addition to the external treatment, it is also important to support the body from the inside. This includes adequate intake of fluids, vitamins (especially vitamin C) and zinc. In addition, it is very important to protect the corners of the mouth, as they tear again if the mouth is opened too wide or too quickly and the healing process can be unnecessarily delayed.
How long does it take?
The duration of dry corners of the mouth can vary greatly. This depends in particular on the cause. If only cold or warm and dry air tears the corners of the mouth, they usually heal within a few days. The process can be greatly accelerated by taking care of yourself and applying cream. It is important, however, that healing can only take place once the respective cause has been eliminated. If the immune system is weakened, the symptoms can last for weeks and the corners of the mouth become infected, so that medical treatment may be necessary. Even in the case of deficiency symptoms, improvement can only take place once the corresponding deficiency has been remedied.
Dry corners of the mouth during pregnancy
Dry lips and corners of the mouth are a common problem during pregnancy. Many different reasons can be responsible for this. However, the most common one is iron deficiency. This can even be responsible for torn corners of the mouth outside of pregnancy. Pregnant women have up to twice as much iron requirement, which is why an iron deficiency is much more likely. In addition to the dry corners of the mouth, symptoms also include brittle nails and hair as well as iron deficiency anemia (anemia), which manifests itself primarily as tiredness and fatigue. Other reasons for dry corners of the mouth in pregnant women are a changed hormone balance, a weakened immune system and increased stress.Frequent vomiting of acidic stomach contents, caused by the typical morning sickness, can irritate the mucous membranes and corners of the mouth and lead to dry corners of the mouth.
Read more on the topic: Dry lips during pregnancy
