Red, itchy and peeling corners of mouth

The phenomenon of redness, itching and peeling of the corners of the mouth occurs in many people. It is medically known as angular cheilitis. Redness, itching and peeling are only relatively mild symptoms. If they are not treated in time after they occur, blisters, cracks and erosions will occur, which will make the patient very uncomfortable. At the same time, because the location is relatively obvious, the impact on the facial image is also quite large. Let’s take a look at some situations where redness, itching and peeling of the corners of the mouth occur.

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 and crack, 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.

Clinical manifestations

Initially, the lips are dry, with erythema, edema, exudation, and crusting at the corners of the mouth. When the disease turns into a chronic disease, the local mucosal skin becomes moist, chapped, rough and desquamated, with radiating wrinkles extending outward from the corners of the mouth. If it is caused by malnutrition, anemia, or riboflavin deficiency, it may be accompanied by damage to the oral, tongue, and genital mucosa, such as smooth tongue, redness of the scrotal skin, and corresponding systemic symptoms. It is usually bilaterally symmetrical, but can also occur unilaterally. Conscious burning sensation. Malnourished children may develop pustules at the corners of their mouths and around them, which are often related to staphylococcal infections. The disease can be divided into:

1. Malnutrition-related angular cheilitis

Malnutrition-induced angular cheilitis often occurs in people with nutritional deficiencies and vitamin B deficiency, and angular cheilitis caused by vitamin B deficiency is the most common. The symptoms are wet white, eroded or ulcerated corners of the mouth on both sides, with horizontal fissures, and even extending from the corners of the mouth to the oral mucosa or skin around the mouth. The fissures vary in depth and length, and the pain is not obvious. The corners of the mouth often hurt when stimulated. It is often accompanied by dry lips, cracks, occasional scaling, and slight swelling of the lips. The dorsum of the tongue is smooth, the filiform papillae are atrophied, the edematous and hypertrophic fungiform papillae are scattered, and there are often tooth marks on the edge of the tongue. It is often accompanied by cheilitis and glossitis.

2. Bacterial angular cheilitis

Bacterial angular cheilitis is angular cheilitis caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal infection. It is more common in elderly edentulous patients. It manifests as wet white, eroded or ulcerated corners of the mouth on both sides, with horizontal cracks, and may also fester, bleed, and form scabs.

3. Fungal angular cheilitis

Fungal angular cheilitis is angular cheilitis caused by fungal infection (mainly Candida albicans). The symptoms are wet and white corners of the mouth on both sides, with the white color being more obvious, erosion or ulceration, horizontal cracks, and possible suppuration, bleeding, and scabs. It is often accompanied by cheilitis and lip erosion. PAS staining showed Candida hyphae.