What Causes Angular Cheilitis?
Angular Cheilitis is an uncomfortable situation in the mouth area where the corners have painful lesions that break open when the mouth is opened to talk or to eat. It is not a serious condition in most cases, but it could be an indication that it is a symptom of something more troublesome.
The main cause of Angular Cheilitis has been traced to deficiencies in essential and trace minerals such as Vitamin B2, zinc, and iron. A poor diet can thus explain why the ailment occurs.
As in many diseases or health problems, it is not only about the amount of food that a person takes in to provide these nutrients, but the proper kind of food with respect to the amount. Though the relationship of these deficiencies to the disorder has not been fully explained by medical science, there is a strong indication that they are related.
One explanation is that because these vitamins and minerals are essential to the upkeep of the immune system, when there are not enough of them, the immune system gets weaker, and the normally harmless microorganisms in the body, like the Candida (a species of fungus) will begin to proliferate and cause an infection.
This could also be the reason why oral thrush is often associated with Angular Cheilitis.
Another factor that is being considered to make a person more likely to have Angular Cheilitis is age, and again, likely because of the problems that people face when they are very young or very old. In the case of children, the immune system is not yet matured, and can easily be compromised. Children are also not as concerned about eating the right kind of food as adults are. On the other hand, the elderly are likely to get many ailments that simply come with growing old.
Some medications are also being considered as the cause of Angular Cheilitis. Medications that dry the skin will obviously dry the lips as well.
In a nutshell, the best way to prevent Angular Stomatitis from happening is to have a healthy and well balanced diet and lifestyle. Introduce some good bacteria into the immune system so that it will have the extra help it needs to fight off infections like the lactobacilli.
If taking medications that will affect the way the body moisturizes the skin surfaces, ask the doctor for alternative medications that will not have the same effect and weigh the consequences carefully before doing the switch.
