Why do sides of my mouth crack

Blue lips are most often caused when something is preventing you from getting enough oxygen into your body.

Read on to discover some of the causes of…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Pictures of angular cheilitis. Symptoms of angular cheilitis. What causes angular cheilitis? How is angular cheilitis diagnosed? Can angular cheilitis cause complications? How is angular cheilitis treated? What is the outlook for angular cheilitis? Written by Ana Gotter on March 19, Read this next. Why Are My Lips Itchy? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What Causes Split Lips? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Having said all of that, you may not have any of these issues and still get cracked lips. So what can you do to treat it? You may need a stronger cortosteroid than you can get over the counter. Here are some tips for keeping it at bay: Use a petroleum jelly at night to keep a protective seal and avoid saliva pooling in the corners of your mouth Stay hydrated — especially during the seemingly endless cold winter months to avoid dryness Keep up with your oral hygiene.

Brush and floss twice daily to keep your mouth clean and healthy and less likely to allow the fungus to grow Try not to lick your lips. See if cutting back helps to ease the reappearance of your Angular Cheilitis.

Even though Angular Cheilitis is a common disease, each individual needs their own specific care. In general they can include :. You might only experience these symptoms on one side of your mouth, or they might appear on both sides. Although these symptoms are usually only noticeable in the area around your mouth, in extreme cases they can extend all the way to your cheek. Dry mouth: People with dry mouth, aka xerostomia , have a higher likelihood of developing these mouth cracks.

Dehydration: Dehydration is one of the major causes of xerostomia. People with certain health conditions, like uncontrolled diabetes , are particularly susceptible to increased urination and dehydration and, therefore, are more likely to develop angular cheilitis. Medications: Medications that can irritate the skin, like the acne drug isotretinoin , or treatments like chemotherapy can also cause irritation and dryness that leads to angular cheilitis.

Nutritional deficiencies: A lack of sufficient iron can lead to anemia, which researchers have connected with angular cheilitis. Insufficient intake of some B vitamins and zinc have also been associated with angular cheilitis, potentially because of their roles in keeping the immune system strong. It can prompt people with Down syndrome to keep their mouths open and let their tongues protrude, irritating the corners of their mouths.

Age: Many of these risk factors translate into elderly people being most likely to develop angular cheilitis. Elderly people are more likely to experience dry mouth , for example. They also often have compromised immune systems, which makes it more difficult for them to fight off infections, says Dr.

Additional risk lies in age-related changes around their mouths, says Joshua Zeichner , M. Zeichner tells SELF. I had my own random risk factors. For instance, my bout of the condition happened in the winter months, when skin and lips tend to get super dry , according to Dr. Oral appliances: My symptoms also coincided with me wearing my nightly retainers again after totally ignoring them for a few years, which is a pretty common cause.