What causes the corners of the mouth to crack ?

If you have a sore or a crack at the corner of your mouth, then the cause of it is a skin problem called Angular Cheilitis or Perleche.

This problem is caused by the infection of the labial commissure (the corner of the mouth) by the fungus Candida Albicans or by a bacteria.

Researchers have also proven that people who have a deficiency in vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B-3 (Niacin), vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) or vitamin B-12 (Cyanomobalamin) as well as those who have iron deficiency are at a higher risk of having this problem.

There is a variety of factors that trigger the inflammation of the corners of the mouth and the occurrence of angular cheilitis.

For example, the use of ill-fitting dentures by elderly people can cause the over closure of the mouth. because of this, saliva builds up in the corners of the mouth and favors a bacterial or fungal infection.

The long exposure to the sun or to the cold wind can also cause the the corners of the mouth to crack. And then, what makes things even worse is that infected people often lick their lips in an attempt to provide a moment of temporary relief.

Other conditions that cause the corners of the mouth to crack are allergies to toothpastes or cosmetics and seborrheic dermatitis.