The cheilosis, Also known as angular cheilitis, it is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the corners of the lips. It can involve one or both commissures, and present suddenly or be a state that lasts over time.
Cheilosis can occur in any individual; Nobody is exempt from suffering from it and many have already presented this condition throughout their lives, even without knowing that it is a disease that can be treated.
The inflammation that occurs in the corners can be very severe and be accompanied by annoying infections that cause symptoms such as burning, more or less deep cracks and aesthetic discomfort, as it represents an unattractive element on the face..
This clinical condition manifests itself from multiple causes, including: lack of teeth, age, lip licking a lot (which is very common in children), infections due to diseases that make individuals more susceptible, such as AIDS, and lack of some vitamins due to malnutrition.
The following article seeks to explain in depth cheilosis as a disease, its causes, treatments and prognosis. With this information it will be easier to recognize the disease and go to the doctor to receive the appropriate treatment in the shortest possible time..
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Cheilosis or angular cheilitis is a process of inflammation of the skin, originated from multiple causes, both medical and environmental. This inflammation specifically involves the corner of the lips.
The corners of the mouth, which are the lateral corners of the mouth, are areas of a lot of movement. For this reason, when there is a process of inflammation, the skin weakens and with normal movements, such as opening the mouth, cracks can form that become very deep..
When there are cracks in the corners, they can easily become contaminated with bacteria and fungi. The fungus that contaminates most frequently in this condition is called Candida albicans, creating an infection known as yeast infection.
In most cases of cheilosis there is candidiasis. This infection makes treatment more difficult and becomes a more difficult disease to manage and can last over time..
Cheilosis is a condition that occurs for multiple causes that have in common the increased exposure of the corners of the mouth to saliva, which causes weakening and maceration of the skin.
Factors such as age or great weight loss as well as tooth loss, form wrinkles in the mouth corners exposing them to constant contact with saliva. Saliva contains molecules that aid in the digestion of food, which is why it is capable of weakening the skin at the corners.
Cheilosis is common in cold climates because of dry lips. Many individuals seek to moisturize their lips by licking, which causes momentary relief but inflames the mouth and eventually cracks at the corners..
Any product that causes allergies in the mouth can trigger inflammation of the corners of the lips. This is common in the use of lipsticks with strong chemical ingredients or the use of balms with expired sunscreen..
In addition to these factors, which are not the individual's own, there are diseases that can lead to the formation of this annoying condition.
States in which the body's defenses are lowered, known as immunosuppressive states, make it easy for fungal and bacterial mouth infections to develop. Thus, it is common to find cheilosis in patients with HIV / AIDS, lupus, diabetes and other syndromes that compromise the defenses.
Along with the explained causes, a common factor for cheilosis is severe nutritional deficiency that leads the patient to an anemia condition..
In states of malnutrition that involve a deficiency of vitamin B, iron and folic acid, cheilosis is a frequent sign in the clinical examination and, as in the causes mentioned before, it can also be contaminated with microorganisms that aggravate the problem..
Being an inflammatory process, cheilosis presents in the same way as other inflammations: with redness of the skin at the corner of the lips, which can be on one or both sides, increased local temperature and pain.
Thus, cheilosis is a visible condition that is easily identified. It is generally self-limited, that is, it can disappear without professional help and with home treatments, although it is not recommended..
When the situation worsens or there is infection, evaluation by a doctor or dentist is necessary. The diagnosis, generally, is through clinical examination and questioning.
In cases where malnutrition and other diseases are suspected, it is important to do blood tests to make sure of the cause that is causing the cheilosis picture..
More in-depth examinations, such as biopsies or sampling of the lesion, are rarely necessary to evaluate the microorganisms that are contaminating. However, in specific cases it is essential to do so.
The decision of which treatment to use in a case of cheilosis depends on the symptoms of the patient, the main cause that is causing the inflammation and the presence of infection.
Thus, when there is an infected cheilosis, the microorganism (either bacteria or fungus) that is causing the infection must be determined. Depending on the case, antifungal or antibiotic drugs are used.
Depending on the degree of infection, the medications will be applied locally, such as creams or ointments, pills administered orally or ampoules for injection..
Once the infection is controlled, the underlying problem must be treated. For example, if the patient has an allergy to a product that is applied to the lips, the use of that product should be discontinued; if you are a diabetic patient, you need to monitor blood sugar levels; If the patient is malnourished and there is a lack of vitamins, they should be replaced..
Most cheil disorders resolve relatively quickly. When there are cracks, they begin to heal at the beginning of the treatment and approximately a month later, the full recovery will be seen..
Cheilosis is a totally tolerable condition and, almost always, easy to manage. In most cases, recovery is complete and not life-threatening..
The scars that are formed, due to the appearance of cracks, heal completely and do not represent a risk of disfigurement of the face.
Once the underlying cause and infection, if any, are treated, cheilosis is a completely benign condition..
It is important to bear in mind that, on many occasions, cheilosis is the symptom of a more serious problem that must be treated. For this reason, you should always consult a doctor or dentist when this condition appears..
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