There could be several reasons why one might get cracks on either corner of one’s mouth. Often this is caused by excessive saliva (most commonly seen in patients with dentures), sagging facial muscles, or habits such as habitual licking of the lips.
Other possible causes might be:
- Fungal infection or Thrush. This can be caused by yeast or Candida Albicans. This condition can be treated with anti-fungal creams and ointments, some of which are available over the counter and some by prescription. Ask your pharmacist or doctor. Additionally, to correctly diagnose this condition, your doctor might have to do a smear of the area and see under a microscope what organisms are present.
- Viral / Herpes Simplex. This is usually unilateral (on one side) and is recurrent. But don’t be fooled, it can also be on both sides. The area should be checked and a smear taken to see if viral particles are present. Many options including antiviral creams or oral anti-viral medications that can be given to treat this condition and prevent recurrence.
- If the lesions remain crusted, this could also be indicative of a bacterial infection such as staphylococcus aureus, which can be treated with antibiotic creams. We don’t want this type of bacteria to spread around the body. These lesions can also be spread between partners, sharing towels and the spread of bodily fluids.
The bottom line: Have the area around the corners of the mouth checked to see if this is a fungal, viral or bacterial infection. After a precise diagnosis is obtained, then the correct treatment can instituted rather than trying to guess randomly how to cure the cracks on the sides of the mouth.
