subject: Cheilitis Remedies To Try Out [print this page] Have you ever developed sores in both corners of your mouth at the same time? This painful condition is actually quite common, and is often mistaken for cold sores or a herpes simplex infection, although it is probably an unrelated condition called cheilitis. Angular cheilitis can occur in anyone regardless of age or gender, although it is usually the very young and the elderly who develop this condition.
Angular cheilitis is a condition in which the corners of the mouth become inflamed and develop sores. These sores can be quite painful by themselves but the condition can worsen to such an extent that the sores begin to crack or cause splits on the lips. When this happens, bleeding is common and simple day-to-day tasks such as eating, speaking, yawning can be very painful.
For most health concerns wherein the root cause of the condition is a matter of medical knowledge, prescribing a treatment option is an easy enough task. This is not the case with angular cheilitis however, where the actual cause of the condition being somewhat of a mystery from person to person. The most accepted theories link bacterial or fungal infections, nutritional deficiencies, and colds and the flu to the development of cheilitis. Angular cheilitis is even thought to be caused by changes in the weather, although there is relatively little evidence to support this theory.
Since the cause of angular cheilitis is difficult to determine, it can be just as difficult to prescribe the proper form of treatment. This is why most cheilitis remedies-whether they are clinical solutions, over-the-counter medications, and home remedies-aim to deal with the symptoms of the condition rather than actually curing it. Even so, people that suffer from the condition can get considerable relief from the use of commonly available cheilitis remedies.
If you want to ease the symptoms of angular cheilitis right away, you can use a bit of petroleum jelly as a salve for the affected area. This is commonly available in most homes, so it is easy enough to try it out and see if it provides any relief. All you have to do is salve on a bit of petroleum jelly directly on the sores. In addition to relieving some of the pain, itchiness, and irritation caused by the condition, this will also help protect the sores from further infection.
If the symptoms persist or worsen with the use of petroleum jelly, there are other solutions that you can try. There are many over-the-counter solutions-particularly those of the antifungal variety-that may provide a considerable measure of relief. It is important to keep in mind however that not all of these products are specifically intended for the treatment of cheilitis. Angular cheilitis is a totally different condition than many of those which these solutions are intended for, so you may not get the desired effect.
Since angular cheilitis is thought to be caused by a vitamin and mineral deficiency, many cheilitis remedies often involve taking zinc, iron, or vitamin B12 supplements.
