The difference between angular cheilitis and herpes.

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Angular cheilitis is a relatively common oral disease in daily life, often occurring during the autumn and winter seasons. This is mainly because during the dry weather of these seasons, patients lacking some trace elements or vitamins in their bodies can easily develop inflammation. The symptoms of angular cheilitis and herpes that occur in any season are quite similar, so many patients can easily get confused. The inducement of angular cheilitis is generally due to some patients' lack of vitamins and related to the weather, which can cause ruptures in the mucous membranes of the mouth corners and some dryness of the lips. As the condition worsens, symptoms such as swelling, erythema, ulcers, and rough skin appear in the area of the mouth corners. If caused by herpes, it results in blisters due to herpes virus infection.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What causes itchy angular cheilitis?

Angular cheilitis, commonly known as cracked corners of the mouth, is relatively common in daily life and usually seen in children. It generally occurs on one or both sides of the corners of the mouth. The causes of the condition can vary, including nutritional deficiencies, candidal angular cheilitis, or bacterial angular cheilitis. It is recommended that patients experiencing this condition consult a hospital for diagnosis. Topical application of anti-inflammatory ointments can be very effective in local inflammation control and repair. Dietary adjustments should include eating bland foods and avoiding spicy or irritating foods. Maintaining a regular lifestyle without staying up late and developing good living habits are advised. Appropriate intake of vitamins or trace elements, and possibly oral antiviral medications, can also be considered.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Are the red corners of the mouth angular cheilitis?

When a patient has angular cheilitis, there may be redness, erosion, or bleeding at the corners of the mouth. Thus, when the corners of the mouth appear red, it might be a symptom of angular cheilitis. The symptoms may appear together or individually. Therefore, it is recommended that patients should avoid licking their lips with their tongue and avoid exposure to cold winds. They can apply some erythromycin ointment or glycerin locally for treatment. Avoid eating spicy and irritating foods. If the patient has severe angular cheilitis, dietary adjustments should also be considered. Consuming fresh vegetables and fruits, and eating foods rich in vitamins can help heal angular cheilitis.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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How to determine the type of angular cheilitis.

Angular cheilitis is relatively common in everyday life, especially prevalent among children. The most common type seen is nutritional angular cheilitis, generally caused by a deficiency in vitamins due to children’s frequent picky eating, loss of appetite, and malnutrition. The symptoms usually manifest as moist whitish areas at both corners of the mouth, accompanied by ulcers and raw sores. In severe cases, it can spread to the inner mucosa and vary in length. Another type of angular cheilitis is streptococcal angular cheilitis, generally caused by infections from streptococci or staphylococci. This type of cheilitis typically results in erosion at the corners of the mouth, present with horizontal lines, and due to the bacterial infection, localized bleeding, crusting, and pus formation may occur. Local cleansing followed by the application of antibiotic ointments can be very effective for treating this condition. A less common type is fungal angular cheilitis, also known as candidal infection angular cheilitis, typically occurring in children when their immunity is compromised. The moist local environment leads to similar damage at the corners of the mouth, along with whitish erosion. It is crucial to maintain hygiene and boost the child's immune system to manage this type of angular cheilitis.

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Internal Medicine
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What vitamins should I take for angular cheilitis?

Angular cheilitis can cause changes in facial appearance, particularly causing discomfort and pain especially during eating. Angular cheilitis is closely related to diet, as deficiencies in vitamins, iron, zinc, and other trace elements are also among the causes. Vitamin deficiency, especially the lack of Vitamin B2, is a key factor. Therefore, it is advisable to consume foods rich in vitamins such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, lean meats, as well as seaweed, kelp, and mushrooms to recover quickly.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Angular cheilitis dermatitis is a deficiency of what?

Angular cheilitis is generally more common in the dry seasons of autumn and winter, because the skin around the lips is quite delicate. During the dry air of autumn and winter, the lips cannot withstand prolonged irritation, leading to dryness, peeling, and even bleeding of the lips. It can also occur in some patients who have long-term malnutrition, insufficient intake of vitamins, and some trace elements, leading to inflammation and erosion at the corners of the mouth, with no specific underlying causes identified. It is recommended that patients focus on regulating their diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Drinking more water, eating fresh vegetables and fruits, avoiding staying up late, and developing good living habits are advisable. Taking certain vitamins and trace elements as needed, and applying anti-inflammatory ointment to the affected areas can help with inflammation and repair.