Angular cheilitis, popularly known as perleche,, is a condition that occurs at the corners of the lips and is, most of the time, quite annoying. The area is usually red and the skin cracks and sometimes even becomes inflamed, usually in both corners at the same time, although it may only appear in one.
Well, this condition, which is more common than we imagine, can occur for many reasons, although as you will see below, the most common is candida infection.
Causes of anchovies and possible treatments
As we have said, the main cause is usually the infection of the Candida fungus and is caused by the accumulation of saliva in the corners, whose humidity favors the appearance of saliva.
However, it is by no means the only cause. The truth is that anchovies, or angular cheilitis, can also appear chronically if our corners are permanently moist. This usually happens when we wear dentures, constantly wet our lips or bite the corners.
Anchovies can also be generated as a result of a nutritional deficit. Deficiencies of vitamin B12, iron, folic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin have also been found to be risk factors. The intake of some medications may also have an influence. Finally, they can also appear sporadically if the lips are dry and cracked for any reason.
What do we do if we suffer from angular cheilitis or anchovies? It is always advisable to go to the specialist so that they can diagnose the cause, check if it is a fungal infection and something else. Depending on that, the treatment may be one or the other. At Clínica Bajo we help you to have a healthy mouth. Remember that you can find us in the south of Tenerife.
General Dentistry in Los Cristianos: Diagnosis and health for your mouth
In many cases, persistent mouths are the visible symptom of an invisible problem inside the mouth, such as an incorrect bite, the rubbing of an unadjusted dental prosthesis or the proliferation of fungi due to excessive salivation. At Clínica Bajo we do not limit ourselves to covering up the symptom, but we look for the origin of the problem so that it does not reappear. We invite you to have a complete check-up with our general dentistry team in Los Cristianos, we will thoroughly examine your oral health to restore comfort, well-being and tranquility to your day to day. Make your appointment and smile without discomfort!
