Why are the corners of my mouth dry and itchy?

The dry and itchy corners of the mouth may be caused by eczema or angular cheilitis. These reasons are caused by the fact that we do not maintain lip hygiene in our lives, so it is recommended that everyone should pay attention to lip cleaning. When the corners of the mouth are dry and itchy, we should supplement vitamin B, pay attention to lip care methods, and reduce the impact of irritating foods.

Angular cheilitis is commonly known as "sore corners of the mouth" and is characterized by redness, blistering, cracking, erosion, scabs, and desquamation at the corners of the mouth. The patient easily bleeds when opening his mouth, which affects his eating and talking. The triggering factor of angular cheilitis is the cold and dry climate, which can cause the skin and mucous membranes around the lips and corners of the mouth to dry out, allowing the surrounding bacteria to take advantage of the opportunity to enter and cause infection; when the lips are chapped, people will habitually lick them with their tongues, causing the corners of the mouth to dry out; if the vitamin intake from the diet is reduced, resulting in a deficiency of B vitamins in the body, it will also lead to the occurrence of vitamin B deficiency angular cheilitis.

Causes

1. Mechanical factors

Improper tooth position causes the upper lip to overlap the lower lip, causing wrinkles at the corners of the mouth, and the mucosa there is often immersed.

2. Nutritional Deficiency

Riboflavin deficiency may be accompanied by symptoms such as strawberry tongue and scrotal itching. Excessive physical exertion or physical weakness, malnutrition, insufficient supply of iron and protein, and deficiency of multiple vitamins such as niacin and vitamin B6 can cause this disease.

3. Infection

The pathogens are mostly low-toxic staphylococci or Candida albicans, which are more common in children. Certain skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis; sialorrhea infiltrating the corners of the mouth; biting fingers and pens, etc. can also cause this disease.

treat

1. Malnutrition-related angular cheilitis

Vitamin B2 is usually given, and B complex vitamins are taken orally. Because when B2 is deficient, niacin and vitamin B6 are often deficient as well. Strengthen local care and apply gentian violet to the corners of the mouth to keep it clean and hygienic. If the interocclusal distance is too short, orthopedic restoration is required.

2. Bacterial angular cheilitis

Treatment should be done after the local area is cleaned, and antibiotics (such as erythromycin ointment) should be applied. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can be taken orally, such as penicillin V potassium tablets, sulfonamides, spiramycin, etc.

3. Fungal angular cheilitis

For treatment, the area should be cleaned and dried with nystatin solution, and then nystatin, clotrimazole, miconazole, etc. should be applied topically.