Jamming in the corners of the lips is a problem that almost every person periodically encounters. Sores, painful cracks deliver a lot of discomfort. By the way, their appearance is often associated with the progression of various chronic diseases, so you should not ignore the problem.
So why do jams appear in the corners of the lips? Is this condition dangerous? Do I need to see a doctor? What symptoms should I look for? What treatment methods does medicine offer? What can be done at home? The answers to these questions are worth exploring.
What symptoms should I look for?
Everyone knows about how jamming looks in the corners of the lips in adults and children. Cracks and redness are unlikely to add convenience and comfort to a person. But sometimes the clinical picture may take a different form.
To begin with, it is worth noting that the process of jam formation in the corners of the lips (in a child or adult) has its own name - in modern medicine, the term “angulitis” is used to describe the problem. Sometimes such a disease is primary, but in most cases it is only a symptom of another and, as a rule, more serious pathology.
Before considering the causes and treatment of jamming in the corners of the lips, it is worth considering the main symptoms of angulitis.
- As a rule, first the skin in the corners of the mouth, as well as the mucous membrane of the lips, reddens and slightly swells.
- Around this period, such unpleasant sensations as itching, burning and even soreness appear in the area of the corners of the lips. Sometimes the discomfort intensifies during meals (especially when it comes to sharp, salty and acidic foods that irritate the mucous membranes), when talking or laughing.
- Small wounds form in the corners of the lips, which are often covered with a crust - its color is an important diagnostic criterion, since it depends on the nature of the pathogen.
- In the absence of therapy, deeper cracks form in the corners of the lips, which slowly tighten, since the tissues here are constantly injured.
What causes jamming in the corners of the lips?
Angulitis is rightfully considered one of the most common problems. But what causes jams in the corners of the lips? The reasons may actually be different. Often, wounds, cracks and inflammation of the tissues are associated with the activity of the infection - bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci), fungi and viruses can play the role of the pathogen.
Infection can get on the skin from the outside, for example, when sharing dishes, toothbrushes, lipsticks, and also if personal hygiene is not followed.
Various damage to the skin and mucous membrane of the lips can provoke the appearance of a jam. The risk factors in this case include:
- physical injuries (for example, combing the skin, cuts during shaving);
- increased salivation (the skin in the corners of the lips is constantly in contact with saliva, which increases the likelihood of inflammation);
- chapping of the skin (tissues become thin, brittle, too sensitive);
- dry skin
- dental problems, in particular, wearing poor-quality prostheses, malocclusion.
Potentially dangerous is the weakening of the immune system. If the body is not able to resist the effects of infection and other adverse factors, then the likelihood of jamming increases. Potentially dangerous are:
- the presence in the body of foci of inflammation, including chronic;
- flu, colds;
- fever;
- general hypothermia of the body;
- long-term use of certain drugs, including antibiotics, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, cytostatics;
- overheating of the body.
During the diagnosis, it is very important to determine what exactly caused the formation of wounds and inflammation in the corners of the mouth - the choice of therapy depends on this.
Seizures - a manifestation of other diseases
As already mentioned, there are secondary forms of angulitis that develop against the background of other diseases. If jams appear constantly, then this may be due to the following pathologies:
- various forms of anemia (including iron deficiency);
- diabetes mellitus (immunity against the background of this pathology is greatly weakened);
- hypovitaminosis (lack of vitamins in the body);
- liver disease
- carious teeth;
- immunodeficiency diseases.
That is why such a condition requires careful diagnosis, especially if lesions in the corners of the lips appear often and for no apparent reason.
Child's seizures
Why do jams appear in the corners of the lips of a child? The reasons may be different. According to statistics, children are more prone to such problems, because they pay less attention to personal hygiene, exchange toys, are in close contact with other children, etc.
Nevertheless, the formation of a jam in a child may indicate the presence of very serious problems:
- digestive tract diseases;
- malocclusion;
- allergic reactions;
- vitamin deficiency;
- iron deficiency anemia.
That is why it is worthwhile to see a doctor if the baby constantly has redness and wounds in the corners of the mouth.
Forms and varieties of the disease
We have already examined the question of why jams appear in the corners of the lips. By the way, this is a very important diagnostic criterion, because, depending on the cause, angulitis is divided into different types.
If we are talking about the primary form of the disease, then the cause most often is infections. This form of angulitis develops as an independent pathology. Depending on the type of pathogen, several types of disease are distinguished.
- Bacterial seizure is usually covered with a yellowish or reddish crust. Most often, the culprit is a streptococcal infection, although other bacteria can also act as pathogens.
- Candidamycotic angulitis develops against the background of activity of yeast species of the genus Candida. In most cases, a crust does not form on the surface of the wounds, but there is a white, sometimes grayish coating. By the way, candida angulitis most often becomes chronic.
- A viral form of the disease is also possible. In most cases, seizures are the result of the activity of the herpes virus. Patients complain of severe, persistent itching and burning.
As for the secondary form of angulitis, it is only a consequence of another disease. In this situation, attention is paid primarily to what causes jamming in the corners of the lips (for example, vitamin deficiency, tuberculosis, syphilis).
Diagnostic measures
With a similar problem, it is better to consult a doctor. And during the diagnosis, the question of what caused the seizures in the corners of the lips comes to the fore. After all, the methods of its treatment directly depend on the causes of the development of pathology.
After a general examination, the patient is sent for additional procedures. Mandatory is a general and biochemical blood test. Such studies can determine the presence of a systemic inflammatory process.
Scraping of damaged tissues is also carried out - their samples are then sent to the laboratory. Microscopic examination and bacteriological culture allow you to accurately determine the type of pathogen, as well as check its sensitivity to a particular drug.
If chronic diseases are suspected, additional examinations are also carried out. For example, sometimes patients are recommended to be tested for syphilis, etc.
Treat infection
How to treat jamming in the corners of the lips? It all depends on the causes of the development of pathology.
- If we are talking about a bacterial infection, then the use of antibiotics is necessary, mainly in the form of ointments. Such drugs as Cetylpyridine, Metrogil, and tetracycline ointment are considered effective. By the way, before applying the medicine, I’ll pick it up, as well as the skin around it, treat it with an antiseptic solution, for example, “Chlorhexidine”.
- Treatment of jamming in the corners of the lips in children and adults can be carried out with the help of drugs such as Clotrimazole, Hexoral, if the disease is associated with the activity of fungal microflora. If the wounds do not heal for a long time, the antifungal fluconazole tablets are included in the treatment regimen.
- In case of viral lesions, antiviral ointments, in particular, Herpevir, Acyclovir, will be effective.
- Combined agents can also be used, for example, Stomatidin, Metrogil Dent, Fukortsin, Miramistin.
How to speed up the healing process of wounds?
How to get rid of jam in the corners of the lips? Of course, first you need to eliminate the cause of their appearance. But the treatment regimen necessarily includes funds that accelerate skin regeneration and promote rapid healing.
- Between treatments with anti-infective drugs, the skin should also be lubricated with agents that soften the crusts and accelerate the healing process of wounds. Medicines such as D-panthenol and Bepanten are considered effective.
- It is very important to strengthen the immune system. The body needs to be saturated with B vitamins, as well as ascorbic acid. Necessary is tocopherol and vitamin A. Doctors recommend taking vitamin complexes. Effective are such funds as Vitrum, Multi-Tabs, Avit, Duovit.
- In the most severe cases (if the above funds do not give the desired effect), doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory ointments to patients, which contain glucocorticoids, in particular, Trimistin, Triderm, Gyoksizon.
Of course, it is worth adjusting the nutrition. In the diet you need to add fresh vegetables and fruits. On the other hand, it is worthwhile to understand that some products (citrus fruits, as well as salt, hot spices, spices) irritate the delicate skin and mucous membranes of the lips, which can only aggravate the situation. Food should be simple, but satisfying and high-calorie. By the way, experts recommend that you include in the diet decoctions and infusions of berries of viburnum, rosehip and raspberry, as they saturate the body with ascorbic acid.
Eliminate the physical causes of damage
Sometimes the frequent formation of wounds and cracks is associated with exposure to physical factors. As already mentioned, inappropriate or improperly installed dentures, dental fillings can be blamed. Risk factors include malocclusion. The impact of these factors must be eliminated - the only way to prevent further exacerbation of angulitis.
How to treat jamming in the corners of the lips? Traditional medicine
Of course, you should not neglect the help of a doctor. Only after examination and thorough diagnosis can a specialist choose the right medication. Nevertheless, many people ask whether alternative treatment of jamming in the corners of the lips in adults is possible. Of course, healers and healers know many recipes that can speed up the healing process of tissues and remove the inflammatory process.
- Tea tree oil, which can be purchased at a pharmacy or cosmetics store, is very effective. This tool acts as a natural antiseptic, and also relieves inflammation and accelerates the healing process of tissues. You need only twice a day to treat the affected corners of the lips with a small amount of oil. By the way, it causes slight numbness, so it copes well with pain, burning and other symptoms.
- Fish oil is another affordable medicine that significantly speeds up the healing process of wounds. It can be purchased at the pharmacy both in pure form or in the form of capsules (in this case, the capsule must be opened). Mix 10 drops of fish oil with a tablespoon of honey (of course, it is advisable to take a natural product). In the resulting mixture, moisten a cotton swab or disk and apply to the affected tissues for 15-20 minutes. Compress should be done twice a day - in the morning and before bedtime.
- It's no secret that with various skin diseases aloe is widely used, or rather, juice from its leaves. This plant is also useful for angulitis. Several large aloe leaves should be left in the refrigerator for five hours. After that, cut the leaves, place in a container and fill with two glasses of boiling water. We cover the product with a lid and leave it to cool completely. The resulting infusion needs to lubricate the wounds and cracks 2 to 3 times a day. The medicine is best stored in a dark, cool place.
- Plantain is a plant that significantly accelerates skin regeneration processes. Collect a few large leaves of plantain, pass through a meat grinder. The resulting slurry is then used to process the jam. By the way, the procedure is recommended to be repeated 2-3 times a day until the tissues are completely healed.
- Wounds can also be lubricated with oily solutions of vitamins E and A, which have a beneficial effect on the skin.
- To treat damage in the corners of the lips, decoctions and / or infusions of sage, string, chamomile flowers are widely used. These plants have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, soften the skin, relieve soreness and discomfort.
Of course, the above means can only be used as auxiliary. Refuse traditional therapy is not worth it, especially when it comes to an infectious form of the disease.
Preventive measures: how to prevent damage?
You already know under the influence of what factors jams appear in the corners of the lips in adults. Causes, symptoms, effective treatments are important information. But is it possible to somehow prevent the development of the disease?
Specific prophylactic drugs do not exist. But, following some simple rules, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of wounds and cracks in the corners of the mouth.
- It is very important to observe the rules of hygiene. For example, do not touch your lips with dirty hands, eat unwashed vegetables and fruits. It is important to brush your teeth regularly and use mouthwashes.
- Remember that you can not use someone else's toothbrush, lipstick, personal hygiene items.
- We have already examined the question of why jams appear in the corners of the mouth of a child. Causes may be due to malocclusion. That is why the baby should be shown to the dentist as soon as possible.
- In the spring and autumn periods it is recommended to take vitamins - this will help strengthen the immune system.
- It is important to eat right, regularly including in the diet fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and other foods rich in vitamins.
- In windy, cold weather, do not lick your lips - you can moisturize the skin with hygienic lipstick.
- It is recommended to give up alcohol, cigarettes and other bad habits.
- Try to avoid stress, get enough sleep, do not overwork.
Remember that if alarming symptoms appear, it is best to consult a specialist as soon as possible. Only the doctor knows for sure why the jams appear in the corners of the lips and how to cope with them.