What is "lip rot"? Don't take it lightly!

Expert of this article: Wang Weibao, Endocrinology Clinical Pharmacist, Dongying People's Hospital

This article was reviewed by Dr. Tao Ning, Associate Professor at the National Institute

In this season of transition between winter and spring, many people begin to be afraid to open their mouths wide, and they can’t enjoy their meals, which more importantly affects their appearance.

That’s right, “rotten mouth corners”!

Some people may say, I drink a lot of water, so why do my mouth corners get sore again? Some people even have never had good mouths.

When the corners of the mouth are rotten, many people use erythromycin ointment to rub it. Is this really scientific? What is the disease of "rotten corners of the mouth"? Today we will talk about it...

What exactly is “sore mouth corners”?

Angular cheilitis is a general term for various inflammations in the corners of the mouth where the upper and lower lips meet, which is what we call "sore mouth corners". It can be seen in people of all ages, and is more common in children and the elderly.

If the treatment method is incorrect or the problem of mouth sores is not solved fundamentally, it will cause the mouth sores to recur. If it continues for a long time, it may cause mouth ulcers, further aggravation of pain, and even the risk of oral cancer.

Cheilitis is an acute or chronic inflammation that occurs on the vermilion of the lips, the edge of the lips, and even around the mouth and oral mucosa. It can also be said to be an inflammation that occurs on the lips.

Cheilitis and angular cheilitis are both common oral diseases, but cheilitis occurs on the lips while angular cheilitis occurs at the corners of the mouth.

If you have angular cheilitis, should you apply erythromycin?

Regarding whether applying erythromycin is effective or not, let us first figure out what causes angular cheilitis.

The following is a brief summary of 9 factors that cause angular cheilitis, which we will call the "nine major culprits."

Malnutrition - mainly due to lack of vitamin B2;

Bacterial infection - mainly streptococcal and staphylococcal infections;

Fungal infection-mainly Candida albicans infection;

Viral infection-mainly herpes simplex virus infection;

Bad living habits - licking the corners of the mouth, tearing the dry skin at the corners of the mouth, etc.

Improper tooth position - especially in the elderly, the interocclusal distance is too short, the upper lip is pressed against the lower lip, which can easily lead to bacterial growth in the mucous membrane skin at the corners of the mouth;

Traumatic - accidentally hitting the corners of the mouth during exercise, dry environment causing the corners of the mouth to crack, etc.

Environmental factors - dry climate or dry indoor environment, leading to dryness and cracking of the skin and mucous membranes at the corners of the mouth;

Contact factors - contact with allergens causes allergic reactions.

From a medical point of view, angular cheilitis can be divided into four types: infectious angular cheilitis (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms), contact angular cheilitis (allergic reaction), traumatic angular cheilitis (including dry environment, licking corners of the mouth and other bad habits), and malnutrition angular cheilitis (lack of vitamins, etc.).

From the factors and classifications mentioned above, it can be seen that erythromycin is only effective for angular cheilitis caused by bacterial infection, so erythromycin does not necessarily have to be used if you have angular cheilitis.

How to deal with angular cheilitis?

Infectious angular cheilitis

For bacterial infections, bacterial antibiotics such as erythromycin and chloramphenicol ointment can be selected;

For fungal infections, fungal antibiotics such as miconazole cream can be used;

For viral infections, antiviral medications such as acyclovir cream may be used.

Contact angular cheilitis

It is recommended to identify and avoid contact with allergens. If you are not sure what you are allergic to, you can go to the hospital for an allergen screening and make further judgment.

Traumatic angular cheilitis

For injuries to the corners of the mouth caused by sports impacts, you can use watermelon frost spray appropriately. If erosion and inflammation occur, choose appropriate antibiotics or other drugs for treatment.

If your home or office is dry, you can place a humidifier or add green plants to increase the humidity of the environment.

People who have bad habits such as licking the corners of their mouth and tearing the dry skin at the corners of their mouth should avoid these bad habits from now on.

Nutritional angular cheilitis

Eat more foods rich in vitamin B2, such as animal liver, eggs, etc. Pay attention to dietary diversity and reduce the intake of spicy and overly hot foods.

How to prevent angular cheilitis?

Of course, for any disease, prevention is the key. We need to do the following:

Eat a balanced diet

Fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, meat, etc. should all be supplemented to ensure that the body has adequate nutrition.

Active exercise and adequate sleep

Exercise more, get enough good rest, increase your resistance, and your chances of getting sick will naturally decrease.

Maintain oral hygiene

Pay attention to personal hygiene, wash your hands and face frequently to reduce the risk of infection. People with missing teeth or improperly positioned teeth should visit the dental department in time.

Drink plenty of water

Make sure to drink 1500ml-2000ml of water every day, which is about 8 disposable paper cups. You can also rule out factors such as medication by observing the amount and color of urine. Sufficient urine volume and light color generally indicate adequate water intake. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water, and reduce the intake of beverages at the same time.

Overcoming bad habits

Avoid bad habits such as licking the corners of your mouth and tearing the dry skin at the corners of your mouth. You can choose lipsticks containing vitamin E, vaseline and other moisturizing and repairing effects, and avoid choosing lipsticks containing flavors, pigments, and preservatives. Especially in dry seasons and environments, apply them appropriately to keep your lips moist.

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