subject: Over The Counter Remedies For Angular Cheilitis [print this page] There are a number of over the counter remedies for angular cheilitis which you can buy from your pharmacy or supermarket. These do have differing degrees of success and some only seem to bring some temporary relief.
Angular cheilitis is a bacterial or fungal condition which results from having severe inflammation around the edges of the lips. This can lead to cracking, splitting and scabbing of the area and can cause great pain and embarrassment. The condition is highly visible due to its location and very painful, due to the fact that the mouth is in constant use for speaking, eating and drinking and each time movement happens, this can aggravate the affected area, making the splits more pronounced.
These factors make prompt treatment a necessity and very often, over the counter remedies for angular cheilitis are the first thing a sufferer tries.
One simple treatment you can buy is petroleum jelly. Although this will not deal with the bacteria or fungal infection, some people find that a thin layer of this will give some pain relief, albeit temporary. Similarly. vitamin E oil, or Aloe Vera gel can be used. Topical antifungal medication can also be used. Common types include econazole, clotrimazole and nystatin. If you are using any of these, it is best to speak to your doctor or pharmacist beforehand.
Other over the counter remedies for angular cheilitis include supplements of vitamin B, iron and zinc. These can be useful where the root cause of the condition is identified as a nutritional deficiency. However, to have significant effect, these need to be taken for some time and they can help prevent future outbreaks.
Of course, although prevention is important, the most pressing issue is to deal with is the current outbreak. The key to quickly eliminating the pain is to starve the affected area of moisture and oxygen as without these, the fungal infection and bacteria cannot survive and the condition will heal with speed.
If you have had cracked lip corners or scabs for more than a couple of days, it is likely that the condition has taken hold. If you would like to look at pictures that can help you verify your own condition, you can download this simple and effective overnight cure which is completely guaranteed to work fast. This cure will dry out the sore area within hours, providing fast and permanent relief.