Factors causing angulitis
Seizures (angulitis, angular stomatitis) are a type of skin lesion that is located in the corners of the mouth. The causes of this disease are as follows:
- increased reactivity of the immune system of an allergic nature, often seizures are one of the accompanying diseases, for example, with eczema, atopic dermatitis;
- the occurrence of some chronic infection in the body against the background of immunodeficiency;
- diabetes mellitus (the mechanism is the same as during the formation of a diabetic foot, when tissue trophism is disrupted);
- hypo- and vitamin deficiency, especially for B vitamins;
- long-term and intensive antibacterial therapy (destroys beneficial microflora, as a result of which opportunistic microflora is activated);
- serious changes in hormonal levels, physiological (adolescence, pregnancy) and pathological (with disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands).
Diagnostics
After a physical examination with the collection of complaints, a visual examination of the oral cavity and problem areas of the skin, and clarification of the supposed causes of the pathology, appropriate diagnostic measures will be prescribed aimed at identifying the disease that led to such manifestations
Necessary diagnostic methods:
- Bacterial seeding of the contents of conflict with identification of the pathogen and determination of its sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs.
- Analysis of immune status to determine functional and quantitative indicators of the state of the immune system.
- Serological studies. Prescribed to identify the cause of seizures, for example, to determine antibodies to the pale spirochete that appear with syphilis.
- Dermatoscopy is a visual assessment of pathologically changed areas of the skin using a digital or optical dermatoscope, which repeatedly magnifies the tissue being examined. The study is necessary for the differential diagnosis of a seizure with a nevus, malignant neoplasm, hemangioma, etc. Prescribed for suspected streptococcal impetigo.
- Skin pH-metry is a diagnostic method that allows you to determine the acid-base balance of the skin using special pH meters. The disease is detected depending on whether the displacement has occurred into an alkaline or acidic environment. Alkalinization of the epidermis occurs in eczema and atopic dermatitis. A shift to the acidic side indicates psoriasis.
- Histology and cytology of altered skin. These are optional studies carried out according to indications to exclude an oncological process.
Based on the suspected cause of the cracks, you may need to consult a venereologist, endocrinologist, neurologist or allergist.
Varieties of jam
Thus, angulitis can be an allergic inflammation, or a bacterial infection that occurs against the background of weakened immunity and/or impaired trophism of the skin in the corners of the mouth. Allergic seizures are easily identified - they occur after eating some food that is an allergen for the patient. Or the food itself may be overly irritating (spicy, sour). Allergic seizures are often a concern in childhood, when the level of allergic reactivity is especially high. In all other cases, the development of seizures is associated with the addition of an infection:
- Streptococcal infection. It begins with the formation of a vesicle in the corner of the mouth, which quickly resolves, leaving a small, slightly bleeding erosion. The erosion quickly heals with a purulent-bloody crust. The crusts may peel off and grow back. The jam when moving your mouth can be a little painful. Often develops against the background of bacterial tonsillitis in children.
- Candida infection (opportunistic fungi of the genus Candida). Here the erosion is not covered with a crust, but is framed by softened epithelium. An easily removable grayish film may appear on the wound. This jam is less noticeable when the mouth is closed.
- Less commonly, seizures are caused by viruses. If this happens, then with a 95% probability it is a herpes virus type 1 or 2.
The choice of drugs depends entirely on the etiology of angulitis. The nature of the pathology is determined by a dermatologist during a clinical examination, and the exact infectious pathogen is identified by taking a scraping.
Cheilitis - symptoms and treatment
The lip consists of three sections: cutaneous, transitional (red border of the lips) and mucous. Deep in the lips is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is responsible for their movements.
The cutaneous section is similar to normal skin: it contains hair, sweat and sebaceous glands, and keratinizing epithelium. In the keratinizing epithelium, scales are formed that protect the underlying layers of the skin. Over time, the scales fall off and are replaced by new ones.
The transitional region is different from the skin: there is no hair and sweat glands, the sebaceous glands remain only in the corners of the mouth. They perform a protective function so that open areas of the lips do not dry out. The keratinizing epithelium gradually turns into non-keratinizing epithelium, i.e., protective scales do not form on it.
In the mucous membrane, the sebaceous glands completely disappear, the epithelium becomes non-keratinized and small salivary glands appear.
Cheilitis can be accompanied by various manifestations: scales, crusts, cracks, erythema, blisters and erosion.
Scales in cheilitis are silvery plates that form after the death and rejection of a layer of surface tissue. The keratinizing epithelium can only be seen under magnification, but the scales are immediately noticeable. They can also appear on non-keratinizing epithelium if its cells have died.
The next pathological element is the crust. It is similar to a scale, but is formed if the death of surface cells is complicated by inflammation. Fluid containing immune cells emerges from the blood vessels, and the scales swell and turn into crusts. Due to the fact that there is more fluid between the cells, the adjacent tissues increase. They begin to compress pain receptors, and pain occurs.
Cracks are painful defects in the form of straight lines. They occur when lips become dry and lose their elasticity. They can appear due to bad habits such as smoking and lip biting, as well as burns, physical and chemical trauma.
Cracks can heal and reappear after some time, often in the same place. This cycle can be seasonal, for example worsening in winter due to adverse weather conditions or weakened immunity.
Erythema is a red spot without clear boundaries, most often due to allergies. Usually painless, but sometimes its sensitivity increases slightly.
A vesicle is a small formation above the surface of the skin or mucous membrane. Inside it there is a liquid - blood plasma with living and dead immune cells and microorganisms; in more severe cases it is called exudate, or pus. The appearance of fluid is often preceded by an infection, to which the body's immune cells react.
Erosion is a pink or red formation that appears at the site of a large burst bubble. It is painful when touched. It differs from erythema by clearly defined boundaries and location below the level of the skin or mucous membrane, forming a small “pit”.
Treatment of allergic angulitis
If the seizure is of an allergic nature, then antihistamines are first prescribed. The generation of the drug does not play a special role here. It’s just that Suprastin (Chloropyramine, 1st generation) causes severe drowsiness and sometimes headache, and its effect may weaken over time (allergic resistance). Whereas Erius (Desloratadine, 3rd generation) not only competitively binds to histamine receptors, but also inhibits the synthesis of histamine itself. And the side effects are much less pronounced. The “golden mean” is Loratadine - a 2nd generation drug that has almost no side effects, is almost as effective as Erius, but is several times cheaper.
In case of severe allergic inflammation, short-term use of hormonal ointments is permissible: Akriderm, Sinaflan, Advantan, Fenistil, etc. However, for children under 12 years of age, hormonal ointments are prescribed only as a last resort. As a softer analogue of hormonal ointments, you can use Vishnevsky's liniment. But not longer than 10 days, and care must be taken to ensure that the child does not accidentally lick off the applied drug. We must remember that there is always a risk of infection joining allergic inflammation. Considering that children often comb out bumps with unwashed hands.
Folk remedies for cracks in the corners of the mouth
I’ll say right away that we are talking specifically about auxiliary, additional methods of treating jams (angulitis - cracks in the corners of the lips), or in the case when this is a one-time phenomenon.
Because seizures are an infectious disease and are caused by opportunistic microorganisms. Sometimes a person’s resistance is simply weakened, and jams appear constantly. In this case, the affected corners of the lips must be treated with special medications and ointments. First of all, we consult a doctor, since a one-time occurrence of a seizure can later develop into a chronic form - the immune system will weaken slightly or a lack of vitamins will be detected. But in this case, and in the case of a one-time inflammation, traditional medicine can come to the rescue. Auxiliary means for the treatment of seizures. My son suffers from this disease in my family. Sometimes nothing appears for a year or two, then you have to resort to complex therapy. Therefore, all recipes are from the home, folk “first aid kit”.
Ads by
Sea buckthorn oil
Sea buckthorn oil can be bought at a pharmacy, or you can make it at home (if you have berries). It is advisable to buy virgin oil at the pharmacy. The oil is rich in vitamins A, E, a group of vitamins B, F. All these vitamins help skin regeneration and improve metabolic processes, and also moisturize the skin and prevent new cracks from forming. Seats should be lubricated with oil three times a day, especially carefully before going outside. Sea buckthorn oil
Aloe and fish oil
Take an aloe leaf and put it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Then mash the leaf thoroughly and squeeze out a few drops of juice, add 1-2 drops of fish oil and lubricate the jams. It is best to prepare a fresh portion each time. You can simply cut off a piece of aloe, drop oil on it and lubricate it. Carry out the procedure 3-4 times a day. Aloe has a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, healing effect. Fish oil is a source of vitamin A, necessary for the regeneration of mucous membranes and skin. Aloe and fish oil
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is one of the strongest antiseptics.
It has anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and wound healing effects. But it should be remembered that tea tree oil is essential, so it must be used very carefully so as not to burn the mucous membrane. Apply a drop of oil to a cotton swab and apply it to the seal for a few seconds. The effect is usually very good - on the second day the seizures disappear. With tea tree These are three of my family's tried and tested recipes. In general, there are a lot of traditional methods for treating seizures. There are grandmother’s ones (sulphur, hair, ashes), there are ones with honey, cucumber, Kalanchoe. But it should be remembered that sulfur may help, since it has an anti-inflammatory effect, but at the same time it contains particles of skin and hair, from which additional inflammation can occur. Or honey. An excellent healing agent, but it is contraindicated for seizures caused by fungi (the fungus begins to multiply very well on sweets!!!). Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor. In the meantime, you are waiting for a coupon to see a doctor or are thinking about it, try the suggested methods. And be healthy!
Treatment of infectious angulitis
When angulitis develops due to infection, then the appropriate remedy is needed. Fukortsin is often prescribed as the first line, which has both antibacterial and antifungal activity, and forms a long-term, protective film at the site of damage.
In eliminating bacterial infections, Metrogyl Denta gel, containing Metronidazole and Chlorhexidine as active ingredients, has gained great popularity. Older, but also effective combined broad-spectrum agents are ointments: Methyluracil ointment and Trimistin. Tetracycline ointment and Levomekol are excellent against streptococcal infections.
If the infection is of a fungal nature, then the main treatment is antifungal ointments: Levorin, Nystatin, sulfur-salicylic, and Clotrimazole. Acyclovir is most often prescribed against herpes lesions in the mouth.
Additional measures and prevention
In addition to therapy that eliminates the cause, auxiliary therapy is required to prevent relapses. Vitamin ointments Panthenol and Bepanten, providing the skin with additional pantothenic acid. Vitaon (one of Karavaev’s balms) is a complex complex based on plant substances (essential oils, calendula, fennel, rose hips, pine, chamomile, mint, St. John’s wort, etc.). Vitaon accelerates regeneration processes, inhibits the development of inflammation and has a slight antiseptic effect. Zinc paste creates good protection against excessive evaporation of moisture from the epidermis and protects against re-entry of microorganisms. And of course, you need proper, fortified nutrition. Skin health is primarily affected by a lack of vitamin B2 in food.
