People should remain vigilant regarding their skin health. Individuals who exhibit symptoms such as swelling and red patches at the corners of the mouth should consult one of the reliable and competent dermatologists in Dr. Ziauddin Hospital. The inflammation and redness indicate that the person is suffering from angular cheilitis. Proper guidance and treatment can help the patient recover smoothly without complications.
Angular cheilitis is a condition, in which the person can observe red patches at the corners of one or both sides of the mouth. It can cause dryness and pain. Additionally, the patient can suffer from anxiety regarding their physical appearance.
The symptoms of angular cheilitis are:
- The patient can notice that the lips remain cracked and dry most of the time.
- The patient suffers from pain sensations most of the time due to extreme dryness.
- The patient suffers from swollen lips.
- Due to irritation, the patient struggles to eat and drink.
- The patient can notice redness around the corners of the pain.
- The patient may suffer from bleeding.
Known Causes of the Condition
The common causes that correlate with angular cheilitis are:
- The person may suffer from the condition as a result of a yeast infection. The oral thrush can cause the growth of the yeast around the corners of the mouth.
- Bacterial and viral infections can lead to angular cheilitis
- Individuals who have an iron deficiency are prone to suffer from the condition.
- Individuals who wear braces or dentures should prioritize their oral hygiene, or else it can lead to complications, such as angular cheilitis.
- Individuals suffering from diabetes, anemia, and eczema must take proper treatment to control the symptoms, or else it can lead to complications, such as angular cheilitis.
Complications Associated with Angular Cheilitis
The patients diagnosed with angular cheilitis must take proper treatment and follow self-care steps or it can spread to other parts of the mouth and cause oral thrush.
Preventive Measures
The steps that can help minimize the occurrence of the condition include:
- Individuals must prioritize their oral health.
- People with chronic diseases must take treatment to avoid complications.
- Children and adults should avoid licking their lips as it can cause the growth of yeast and lead to infection.
Diagnosis
The tests that help in diagnosing the condition are:
- Physical Examination: The specialist will check the affected area. The swelling, dryness, and redness indicate that the patient may be suffering from angular cheilitis.
- Oral Swab Culture Test: The test helps detect the type of bacteria that causes the person to suffer from the condition.
- Patch Testing: The test helps in detecting the allergic reaction and inflammation on the skin.
Effective Treatment Options
The medications that are proven effective in treating the patient diagnosed with angular cheilitis include:
- Use of Topical Antifungal: The cream helps fight the fungal infection, that causes redness and dryness.
- Use of Antibiotics: The bacterial infection cause cracking of the skin. Antibiotics help fight bacterial infection and ease the pain.
- Use of Topical Steroids: The patients who suffer from eczema that may have led to angular cheilitis use topical steroids.
- Use of Immunosuppressants: The medications help reduce inflammation and ease the pain.
Self-Care Steps
The individual suffering from the condition must take steps to deal with the symptoms. The steps that can help ease the symptoms are:
- Individuals should use petroleum jelly daily to avoid dryness.
- People must keep their bodies hydrated to avoid skin-related problems.
- Patients can apply honey and lemon to reduce inflammation.
- The aloe vera gel helps reduce the redness and swelling. Therefore, applying the aloe vera gel daily can help fight against skin-related problems.
Individuals suffering from angular cheilitis must visit a dermatologist in Doctors Hospital. The specialist will provide guidance regarding the cause of the condition and treatment that would allow the patient to get better without complications.
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