Angular Cheilitis
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Natural Remedies for Angular Cheilitis Relief

| Modified on Jan 26, 2024
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B Complex

Angular Cheilitis, a common skin condition characterized by painful inflammation and cracking at the corners of the mouth, can be caused by various factors such as nutritional deficiencies, fungal or bacterial infections, and environmental elements. Natural remedies offer a gentle yet effective approach to treating and preventing Angular Cheilitis.

Understanding Angular Cheilitis: Symptoms and Causes

Angular Cheilitis manifests as red, swollen patches in the corners of the mouth, often accompanied by pain, bleeding, and sometimes infection. Contributing factors include vitamin deficiencies (especially B vitamins, iron, and zinc), moisture accumulation due to saliva, fungal or bacterial overgrowth, ill-fitting dentures, and allergic reactions.

Natural Solutions for Treating Angular Cheilitis

1. Vitamin B Complex: Vital Nutrient for Angular Cheilitis

Vitamin B Complex, particularly B2, B3, B6, and B12, is crucial in managing Angular Cheilitis. These vitamins support skin health and immune function, aiding healing. Earth Clinic readers report healing in hours when they start to take a B complex supplement for angular cheilitis.

Key Benefits:

  • Skin Repair: B vitamins promote cell regeneration, aiding in the healing of Angular Cheilitis.
  • Immune Strength: They help strengthen the immune system to combat infections related to Angular Cheilitis.
  • Oral Health Maintenance: B vitamins maintain the health of oral mucosa, preventing Angular Cheilitis recurrence.

2. Coconut Oil: Natural Antifungal and Moisturizer

Coconut oil, with its antifungal properties and moisturizing benefits, is an excellent remedy for Angular Cheilitis. Applying coconut oil to the affected areas several times a day can reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and keep the skin hydrated.

3. Honey: Antimicrobial and Healing

Honey, known for its antimicrobial and healing properties, can be applied directly to the inflamed areas. Its natural enzymes help fight infection and promote skin repair, making it beneficial for treating Angular Cheilitis.

4. Aloe Vera: Soothing and Anti-Inflammatory

Aloe Vera gel, with its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, can relieve the discomfort associated with Angular Cheilitis. Applying pure Aloe Vera gel to the affected area can reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process.

5. Bee Propolis: Antimicrobial and Healing

Bee Propolis, a resinous mixture produced by bees, is known for its antimicrobial properties. It can be applied to the affected areas to help reduce infection and inflammation. Propolis also promotes healing and regeneration of the skin, making it an effective remedy for Angular Cheilitis.

6. Castor Oil: Moisturizing and Anti-Inflammatory

Castor Oil, with its rich moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, can be beneficial in treating Angular Cheilitis. Applying castor oil to the corners of the mouth can soothe the inflamed skin and provide a protective barrier, preventing further irritation and aiding in the healing process.

7. Dietary Changes: Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies

Ensuring a balanced diet rich in B vitamins, iron, and zinc is crucial in preventing and treating Angular Cheilitis. Foods such as leafy greens, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, and seeds are excellent sources of these nutrients.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar: Antifungal Rinse

Diluted apple cider vinegar can be used as an antifungal rinse to treat Angular Cheilitis. Mix apple cider vinegar with water and apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball to combat fungal infections.

9. Yogurt: Probiotic Benefits

Consuming yogurt, especially those containing live probiotics, can help restore the natural balance of bacteria and fungi in the body, aiding in the treatment and prevention of Angular Cheilitis.

Conclusion

Managing Angular Cheilitis naturally involves addressing the condition's root cause and providing relief through remedies like coconut oil, honey, Aloe Vera, dietary changes, apple cider vinegar, and yogurt. These natural treatments not only alleviate symptoms but also promote overall oral health. Consistency in applying these remedies and maintaining a balanced diet can lead to significant improvements in Angular Cheilitis. Share your experiences with natural remedies for Angular Cheilitis and continue to explore holistic approaches for healthy skin and oral care.

Continue reading below for many more remedies from our readers and let us know what worked for you!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Artificial Sweetener Link

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Posted by Jack (Boston, Ma) on 09/13/2010
 ★★★★★

The Answer - This took some digging as to the cause, but first I will tell you the cure:

Rinse & topical: For morning before work routine rinse with 1 cup water 3 tblsp white vinegar 1 tsp salt, then take cue tip wetted with hydrogen peroxide and dab infected area & then spread antibiotic ointment that is in a petroleum base over lips and affected area.

For night do same rinse, dab with peroxide and then pat infected area with baking soda and allow to dry - leaving it on over night. The baking soda more than anything I believe to help keep area dry. Don't go picking at the area or rubbing it with the cue tip or your fingers. Actually, just try to leave it alone.

By morning 2 you will be on road to recovery. Now along with this take a multi vitamin, a b-complex, folic acid, b-12, iron, vitamin C and acidophilus supplements. Take one acidophilus with each meal.

Now the cause: sucralose (artificial sweetener). A Duke U study whose results were disqualified (squashed) found that in tests with rats that Sucrlose taken in acceptable quantities proportional to their size decreased good intestinal bacteria by 50% by day 10. So, so much for the immune system; let the canker sores and angular chelitis begin! Let the Candida run wild! I was having 2 glasses of wine a day that kept the bad bacteria at bay but I stopped drinking and within two weeks things went out of control. For the 3 months prior to that I had been religiously eating Activia Lite which contains sucralose. The cracks in the corners of my mouth on a few occasion during that time tried to get a foothold but the wine stopped that from happening. I have now switched over to that Greek yogurt (plain). I take my vitamins. I still do not drink but I will soon now that the cankers & angular chelitis are behind me. Oh, and I should point out that the sucralose had other effects on me. I was having bad insomnia and couldn't figure what the heck was going on. I would say within 48 hours of stopping the Activia my sleep returned and the Chilitis started to improved. I guarantee also the sleep had a big effect on helping me get cured of the chelitis. I also had an odd rash on my torso. All this crazy stuff. I really thought it was from alcohol dependence though I really hadn't been drinking enough or for that long to have any problems.

In the end I think in an odd way the alcohol was keeping this thing at bay. It was crazy, I hadn't had a canker in a couple of years and I had never had angular chelitis before - and who knows what that rash on my torso was all about. I thought it was from my tried & true laundry detergent that suddenly decided to turn on me. I have vowed never to consume any artificial sweeteners again. I have almost cut sweets of any kind out of my diet. I have switched to whole grains, lightly steamed vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit, and healthy protein sources. No more simple carbs. I was always kind of healthy but now I'm a little over-the-top but why not.

Replied by Jmiller46656
(Troy, Al)
05/01/2011

Jack from Boston, thank you so much for your post. I've suffered from this condition for four years. I research angular chelitis daily, and have read almost every and any blog about it. Your comments are among the few I've found of people who are actually trying to help others altruistically. From my personal experience one of the worst scammers on the net is Katherine Sage. She used to charge from 70-90 dollars for her "so called" cure, but now is charging around 30$. This cure I paid 70 dollars for about two years ago was to clean the affected area with anti-bacterial soap then apply vaseline. What a scam! Enough of my ranting. Your post was a breath of fresh air compared to the many out there. They all say the same thing. Appreciate it.

Replied by glori
(FL)
01/06/2022
★★★★★

Thank you, Jack! you hit the nail on the head!!!! The artificial sweetener sucrlose (slimfast meal replacement) definitely has something to do with it! I always thought it was just a b vitamin deficiency.

I healed it within a few hours using antibacterial wipes that contain benzalkonium chloride in them which is a miracle cure in itself!!!

Replied by Amy
(Orlando, FL)
03/13/2023
★★★★★

I think erythritol gives me angular chelitis. Went to a dermatologist. She prescribed nystatin ointment and gave me a sample tube of Eucrisa. The Eucrisa reduced the swelling, redness, and cracks, but it came back. So I've started the Nystatin. Anybody else react to erythritol?

Replied by Madelyn
(Idaho)
03/14/2023

No reaction to erythritol that I know of. However, I did have what I believe was angular chelitis on two separate occasions after eating cheap, non organic soy sauce. Once I switched back to organic Tamari sauce I haven't had it come back. However, I recently saw in the news erythritol has been linked to an increase in adverse heart effects. I would use it sparingly regardless.

Athlete's Foot Cream

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Posted by Maria (New Jersey) on 01/29/2021
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Yes, Athletes foot cream works for angular chelitis! I use generic lamisil and it goes away fast. It's the same bacteria. Yeast. I highly recommend.

Athlete's Foot Cream
Posted by Sharon (Saugerties, NY) on 01/03/2009
 ★★★★★

I have been dealing with cracked lips for about two months and have been seaching for a way to treat them to no avail until I tried a generic brand of CVS CLOTRIMAZOLE 1% (this is a cream that is used to treat athlete's foot.) After using it for only two days, my lips are no longer cracked and finally feel normal.

Avoid Fish Oil

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Posted by K. In La (Los Angeles, Ca) on 11/27/2014
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NO FISH OIL - To treat another condition I had been taking Cod Liver Oil (CLO 1500mg) and occasionally coconut oil (1000mg). Reading about Krill Oil I then added that (2000mg) and took the other two more regularly. My skin became a bit dryer but I thought it was from my heater being on overnight due to fall/winter weather. Then I developed the cracked corner lips and thinking I was just dehydrated expected them to heal with extra water over a day or two. A week later it hadn't healed and I knew something was wrong.

Thinking it was an infection, I tried tea tree oil or grapeseed oil, along with castor oil and then Listerine before bed. It would help overnight but return by the end of the next day.

I then thought about my diet. The only significant change I had to my diet was the addition of the Krill oil, and increase in CLO and Coconut oil. Doing research on Angular Cheilitis I found this:

"In general, dietary intake of natural, vitamin A rich sources like fish oils and cod liver oil increases the risk of developing angular cheilitis."

I immediately stopped all the other oils and started a Primrose Oil (1000mg to reduce inflammation) along with a B-50 complex twice a day. I would also poke a Vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents onto my lips like a lip gloss. In the morning and evenings I'd drink a great Detox tea with dandelion root, licorice root, burdock, and other great liver supporting elements.

The condition began healing overnight. It took 3-4 days to completely exfoliate and renew the skin, but it's healed completely.

If your diet or location has changed in the past few months your system may be out of balance from changes in food and/or water sources. If you're taking supplements, optional medications, or beverages you may want to stop, detox and go vegan/green for a few weeks. And be patient. Healing from the outside in takes time; and the more out of balance your system, the longer the wait.

Replied by K In La
(Los Angels, Ca)
03/28/2015

After about two weeks, the infection came back, worse than before. I tried everything I could but could not find a completely natural remedy. I had to buy an over the counter miconazole yeast infection cream and put it on at night. Then I'd wake up and put a glob of medicated lip ointment which was mostly allantoin, camphor and menthol until I got to work, when I'd wipe it down. As soon as I left work, I'd glob it on again until I went to bed with the cream.

I also started taking vitamin E and drinking more water to help hydrate my lips and skin.

Within a week or so it healed. For another week I would sometimes feel it starting again and it reminded me to keep going for one more week even if it appeared healed. Once that round was done it ended. After three months it hasn't returned.

Avoid Peppermint Products

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Posted by Lorayne (Napa, Ca) on 09/04/2018
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I just started having cracks in the corner of my mouth 6 months ago. First time was in February and just thought it was the cold weather and dry because of having the heat on etc. Next time was in July, suffered for a week and then it got better, came right back, cleared up when I started using OTC Hydrocortisone cream. It came back again a week later and I was just ready to go see a dermatologist. I thought about what was I doing differently and remembered that I bought new toothpaste, A&H Peroxicare. I looked it up on line and a LOT of people were having trouble with this toothpaste and mouth cracks, dry lips, dry mouth, tongue irritation. Stopped using it right away and within 24 hours the difference is almost 100% healed. I used the hydrocortisone cream for about 12 more hours since I was having an allergic reaction. 24 hours later, I don't even need that now. I never would have dreamed that I would ever be allergic to toothpaste but there is some ingredient in it that is causing a lot of irritation to a lot of people. I think back in February, I was using the same toothpaste but I couldn't swear to it. Good Luck finding your cure, the mouth cracks are painful.

Avoid Peppermint Products
Posted by Maya (Treasure Coast Florida) on 11/08/2017
 ★★★★★

I'm so glad you mentioned toothpaste! I just got a new brand.. from a health food store.. what I noticed is it's super foamy (unlike other natural brands) this may very well be the cause of my AC which is extremely rare for me to get.. in fact I don't remember last time I had it and was so surprised when it developed just the other day!

Avoid Peppermint Products
Posted by Healthy Girl (Mesa, Az) on 07/13/2017
 ★★★★★

I battled angular cheilitis for over two years. I tried anti-fungal creams, B-complex vitamins, turmeric, different essential oils, yogurt, ointments - you name it, I probably tried it! It came on so suddenly that it had me stumped. At times it would get better and then flair up again, although not as bad as the first time I came down with it. I think I have finally solved my problem:

I believe I have developed an allergy to the peppermint oil in my toothpaste and lip balm. I also think that Xylitol makes it come back. Recently, I started brushing my teeth with straight baking soda and salt and then I gargle with peroxide. When my lips start getting chapped, I put Vaseline on them, although I still wear lipstick just about every day. It has now been two months and no peeling or cracking at the corners of my mouth. I think cheilitis can be caused by many different things whether it is an allergy, fungal or a deficiency.

I hope found my cure - the real test will be when I go to the dentist the end of this month. Hopefully, I won't have a flair-up.

Replied by Diana
(Fl)
01/13/2018
★★★★★

Thank you! I have actually had this since a teenager and I'm now in my 60's. My dentist never knew how to help me. It's not constant but it does flare up. I take a live liquid probiotic which really helps. Lately it has been terrible, hurts like crazy, and the probiotic isn't helping. You just solved my problem I think! I've been drinking lots of Peppermint chocolate coffee's from Starbucks! No more peppermint!

Avoid Peppermint Products
Posted by Terry (Westport, Connecticut) on 12/22/2008
 ★★★★★

I have had angular cheilitis many times in my life. I believe it to be an allergic reaction to some preservative in foods, but I haven't yet pinpointed which preservative it is. Some brands of hot sauce cause this to happen. I also just bought a new brand of toothpaste last week at the grocery store from Arm & Hammer and within an hour the right corner of my mouth started to peel. The toothpaste had touched my lips when I was brushing. It's happened before with toothpaste so I need to use natural brands - I just forgot until it happened yet again! The fluoride isn't causing it because the natural brands I use like Tom's of Maine have fluoride in them (ha, not so natural!). I am guessing you are also having an allergic reaction to either food or toothpaste and it's something you keep using! One more trigger for me is certain brands of lipstick. I don't know what they put in them but it causes the cracking and dryness at the corners.

Bee Propolis

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Posted by Gc (Belgium) on 12/08/2014
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Propolis Balm for lips (5% of Propolis, 20% of Butter shea) cured my angular cheilitis in 2 days.

The problem was due to drooling during sleep, so if you happen to have the same problem, just put some balm for lips at night and you're done :-)

Anyway, I also have seborrheic dermatitis on the face for which current evidence demonstrates that it results from a nonspecific immune response to Malassezia yeasts.

***Complete paper --> Malassezia Yeasts Implicated in Atopic Dermatitis

Research on Propolis already shown results on Malassezia for dogs who had dermatitis.

*** Complete paper --> The Antimycotic Effectt of Some Bee Products and Vegetal Extracts on Genus Malassezia Fungi

I'm actually testing Propolis' supplements (3 caps / day), I'll let you know if I have results.

I hope this will help you, Feel free to let me know if you have any question.

Best regards,

Bee Propolis
Posted by Catscradle123 (New York, NY) on 07/31/2010
 ★★★★★

Bee Propolis cured my Angular Cheilitis. I had a painful rip at the corner of my mouth that would not go away for a week. Last night, I added three drops of Bee Propolis tincture and slept on it. The next morning (today) the rip healed significantly. Will keep adding drops today!

Borax

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Posted by Art (California ) on 03/30/2018 2325 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Recently my niece had angular cheilitis around her mouth which appears as a rash around the lips that causes painful cracking at the sides of the mouth that can bleed. She applied a saturated solution of borax water to the affected area 3 times per day and it was all gone in less than a week! Another win for borax!

Art

Castor Oil and Baking Soda

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Posted by Tamara (Des Plaines, Il) on 05/12/2010
 ★☆☆☆☆

Castor Oil and Baking Soda didn't help me heal my mouth cracks. I think it just made it worse. May be I wrong. I started taking multivitamin and the cracks started to heal.

Replied by Lkslive
(Vancouver, Bc /canada)
10/30/2011

Try marigold cream - this helps with healing and with bacteria etc. You may also be in a vitamin b or e deficiency- take a good multi along with vit e and b complex-b12 and folic acid this regime daily will help.

Castor Oil and Baking Soda
Posted by Bryan Martin (Dayton, Ohio) on 01/15/2010
 ★★★★★

I have suffered with angular cheilitis for many years. I have tried many things including, antibacterial cream, cortisone cream, fungal cream, tea tree oil, oregano oil, hydrogen peroxide and more. I had some success with tea tree at keeping the sores from getting larger but nothing has helped to diminish them until now. My angular cheilitis was a pretty severe case with a raise "sore" at the corner of my lips that was at least the size of a dime, and then raised up somewhere between 5-7 millimeters. The condition has really hurt my self esteem. Thankfully I finally found a way to rid myself of angular cheilitis. I made a paste of castor oil and baking soda and applied it over night. After just one application my angular cheilitis was reduced by half, several more and it now almost completely gone! This remedy has been easy, cheap, and it's the only thing I have ever found to be effective. Just mix some castor oil and baking soda until it makes a thick heavy paste and leave on over night. It will burn some but it really really really helps!

Replied by Soremouth
(Vancouver, Bc)
01/20/2010

Has anyone else tried this? I bought Oil of Oregano for my angular chelitis and it's now really bad. Before I had a sore, red rash in the corners of my mouth. Today, my skin is completely split and open on both sides of my mouth. I want to try the castor oil & baking soda but I don't want to make things even WORSE.

Replied by She
(Virginia, United States)
01/23/2014

Oregano oil is very very strong!! It is a good anti fungal, but it needs to be diluted with a carrier oil. You could use coconut oil or castor oil. I think that's what I'm going to try. I'm pretty sure I have the angular chelitis. Bad sores on both sides of my mouth and now little bumps forming around the lip line. Ughhhhhh!! Thank you for all your advice Earth Clinic!!

Castor Oil and Boric Acid

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Posted by Grammie4u (British Columbia, Canada) on 06/04/2015
 ★★★★★

I have had Angular Cheilitis off and on for several yrs. Finally I have found something that really works. You must use Castor Oil which is Food Safe and not used for medicinal purposes but for topical use. You can buy a large bottle in Canada for $12.00. Put a 1/8 tsp. of Boric Acid....not Borax and a few drops of Castor Oil in the palm of your hand and make a paste out it, apply before bed and in the morning you will see results.

Cortisone Cream

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Posted by C.S.M (Vero, FL) on 12/22/2008
 ★★★★★

Angular Chelitis. I have found that using topical Cortisone cream 1% (over the counter strength) overnight caused immediate relief and healing of my chelitis. I think mine was caused by dental floss cutting into the angle of my mouth. Hope you feel better!


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