Cracks in the corners of the lips - causes and treatment

The appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips is due to a weakening of the immune system, in most cases this occurs in the spring months. Microbes present in the oral cavity of every person usually become a provoking factor. However, only when the body's defenses are reduced, a pathogenic process develops. As a result, painful sensations arise when a person speaks, eats, laughs.

Why do cracks appear in the corners of the lips?

To find the right solution to the problem, you need to understand what kind of reason caused it. There can be a lot of provoking factors, the most common of them:

1. Decrease in the body's defenses after suffering stress, illness, changes in climatic conditions, change of weather.
2. Deficiency in the body of the necessary vitamins - A, B, E, D, as well as beneficial elements - zinc, iron. This can also happen after stressful situations, in women - with heavy menstrual flow, breastfeeding.
3. Constantly licking lips, especially in windy and frosty weather.
4. Frequent dental procedures. A long stay with an open mouth, the use of medical instruments and aggressive substances by a doctor - these factors cause injury to the corners of the mouth. And since when it is necessary to cure teeth, more than one visit to the doctor is required, the damage does not have time to heal. A similar situation exists in people who wear removable dentures.
5. Using a new toothpaste. As part of modern dentifrices, a lot of fluoride is usually present, which can cause an allergic reaction in the form of cracks in the corners of the lips. The use of new lipstick can also lead to this.
6. Diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders, as well as pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
7. Various infections resulting from inadequate personal hygiene. Often, such cracks form in babies who taste everything that seems interesting to them. Some adults also have this habit and, thinking about something, gnaw a pencil or any other object. In some cases, the appearance of cracks is associated with damage to the fungus.
8. Addiction to cigarettes and alcohol. Bad habits can cause cracks in the corners of the mouth, especially against infectious diseases.

Symptoms

First, a small crack appears, because its size increases. As a result, an expression resembling a gap is formed. Its appearance will help determine what exactly caused this process. The crack is covered with a crust of pus and blood - the cause is an infection (streptococcus or staphylococcus). The appearance of a pale gray plaque indicates a fungal infection. If the mouth is not opened, such a crack can be mistaken for a fold of skin. In addition, the appearance of a jam in the corners of the lips is accompanied by such symptoms:

• pain near the wound;
• itching and burning in the place where the crack formed;
• pain in opening the mouth.

When a person who has cracked lips has something salty, sour or sharp, the pain intensifies. It is difficult for him to speak, smile, brush his teeth.

Diagnosis

• urine and blood tests;
• scraping from the surface of the wound;
• smear from the oral cavity.

Inspection of a therapist, who, if necessary, will send to specialists of a narrow profile - an endocrinologist, dentist, hematologist.

These studies make it possible to detect the presence of microbes at the site of formation or in the oral cavity. Other diagnostic measures are needed in order to establish the disease that accompanies the appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips. It can be anemia, diabetes, intestinal infectious diseases, HIV.

To quickly and permanently get rid of such a phenomenon as cracks in the corners of the mouth, the correct diagnosis is required. For this, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination to detect hidden diseases, if any. Because the most important is a strong immunity. A healthy body can easily overcome any infection. Consequently, the healing process of the cracks will pass soon.

What to do with cracks in the corners of the mouth?

If the appearance of cracks along the edges of the lips is caused not by serious diseases, and the nature of the phenomenon is not protracted, then the following rules can help:

1. Strengthening immunity. You can cope with this task if you start taking vitamins. The most effective in this case will be vitamin B, which is found in brewer's yeast. In addition, vitamins E and A contained in the Aevit complex will bring invaluable benefits to the skin condition. The tool has an antioxidant and immunostimulating effect. You can use it externally, applying a cotton swab to damage three times a day.
2. Power adjustment. Until the cracks pass, salty, spicy, sour foods, peppers, and spices should be removed from the diet. If this is not done, damaged areas will be constantly irritated.
3. Hygiene. Do not touch the cracks with your hands, especially unwashed ones. When brushing your teeth, care must be taken. When choosing a toothpaste, it is better to give preference to the one that contains less fluoride, or children's, as it is less aggressive.
4. Drinking plenty of clean water. Such a measure will help get rid of the sensation of constriction that occurs when the wound heals and a crust forms.

How to treat cracks in the corners of the lips?

Any therapeutic measures should be taken only when the nature of the disease is established. The most commonly used medications are:

1. It is possible to treat cracks that appeared on the background of infection with the help of therapeutic ointments: Vishnevsky, Methyluracilova, Levomekoleva, Tetracycline.
2. If the pathogen is a fungus, apply Nystatin or Levorin ointment.

Regardless of the provoking factor, it is recommended to disinfect the lesions with iodine.

If cracks in the corners of the mouth are a symptom of a disease, then treatment should be aimed precisely at its elimination. For example, if the phenomenon arose as a result of an allergy, then it is necessary to eliminate contact with the allergen substance and take an antihistamine.

Folk remedies

When conducting a course of therapy using drugs prescribed by a doctor, you can supplement it with alternative recipes so that the wounds heal faster.

There are many popular ways to deal with this phenomenon. It should be noted that, as a rule, all of them are aimed at eliminating precisely the symptoms, and not the reason, therefore, they can only supplement the main treatment.

The following are considered the most effective:

1. Tea tree oil. You should take cotton wool, moisten it in a product and apply it twice a day to the wound for a couple of minutes. Therapy is carried out until the cracks pass.
2. Butter. To soften the crack, you can use ordinary butter, which should treat problem areas several times a day.
3. Kalanchoe. The tool has anti-inflammatory and healing effects. Fresh leaves must be chopped, and then squeeze the juice from them.The resulting mixture to treat damaged skin.
4. Infusions of medicinal herbs. For these purposes, you should take sage, celandine, chamomile - these plants will help relieve inflammation and accelerate the healing process. Pour a large spoonful of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leave for 60 minutes. Then take a cotton pad, moisten in infusion and attach to a sore spot.
5. Aloe. The plant is also an excellent tool to help keep the skin healthy and beautiful. To prepare a medicine for cracks on the lips, you need to tear off a leaf of an agave, grind it to a gruel-like consistency, squeeze the juice, moisten a cotton swab in the resulting liquid and gently treat the affected areas throughout the day.

Sea buckthorn essential oil helps, which need to lubricate cracks before bedtime.

Streptocide tablets have high antiseptic properties. The medicine should be crushed and the resulting powder should be treated with cracks, before wetting the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide.

Preventative measures

It is always easier to warn than to treat later, so in order not to encounter the appearance of cracks in the corners of the mouth, several rules must be observed. First of all, you can not allow a lack of moisture so that the lips do not dry out. In addition, we must try to reduce the possible impact on the skin of negative environmental factors. With a long stay in the cold, you need to use hygienic lipstick.

It is necessary to regularly drink the vitamin complex, especially in the spring, when vitamin deficiency is observed.

Of course, the best solution is to contact a specialist. If the reason that triggered the occurrence of such a problem is unknown, self-medication is not recommended.

Video: treatment of jam in the corners of the mouth