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Diseases

Angular cheilitis

OVERVIEW

  • Highlights & Basics
  • Images

DIAGNOSIS

  • Diagnostic Approach
  • Risk Factors
  • History & Exam
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Criteria
  • Screening

TREATMENT

  • Tx Approach
  • Tx Options
  • Emerging Tx
  • Prevention

FOLLOW-UP

  • Overview
  • Complications

REFERENCES

  • Citations
  • Guidelines
  • Credits

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Patient Instructions

Highlights & Basics

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Key Highlights
  • Angular cheilitis is inflammation of the angles of the mouth, characterized by fissures, scaling, erythema, and crusting.

  • Etiology is multifactorial and includes mechanical factors, infectious agents, nutritional deficiencies, or inflammatory dermatologic conditions.

  • Diagnosis is made clinically; however, laboratory tests help identify etiology.

  • Successful therapy is based on identifying and correcting each and all factors of this multifactorial condition.

Angular cheilitis
Angular cheilitis
From the collection of Dr Wanda C. Gonsalves; patient consent obtained

Quick Reference

  • History & Exam

    • Key Factors

      • Other Factors

        More information...
      • Diagnostics Tests

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        • Treatment Options

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          Definition

          Epidemiology

          Etiology

          Pathophysiology

          content by BMJ Group
          Last updated

          Images

          • Angular cheilitis

            Angular cheilitis

          • Angular cheilitis

            Angular cheilitis

          Citations

            Key Articles

            • Rogers RS III, Bekic M. Diseases of the lips. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1997 Dec;16(4):328-36.[Abstract]

            • Scully C, Bagan J-V, Eisen D, et al, eds. Angular cheilitis. Dermatology of the lips. Oxford, UK: Isis Medical; 2000:68-73.

            • The Primary Care Dermatology Society. Angular cheilitis (syn. angular stomatitis). Nov 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]

            • Schoenfeld RJ, Schoenfeld FI. Angular cheilitis. Cutis. 1977 Feb;19(2):213-6.[Abstract]

            Referenced Articles

            • 1. Skinner N, Junker JA, Flake D, et al. Clinical inquiries: what is angular cheilitis and how is it treated? J Fam Pract. 2005 May;54(5):470-1.[Abstract]

            • 2. Rogers RS III, Bekic M. Diseases of the lips. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1997 Dec;16(4):328-36.[Abstract]

            • 3. Ohman SC, Dahlen G, Moller A, et al. Angular cheilitis: a clinical and microbiologic study. J Oral Pathol. 1986 Apr;15(4):213-7.[Abstract]

            • 4. Shulman JD, Beach MM, Rivera-Hildago F. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in U.S. adults: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004 Sep;135(9):1279-86.[Abstract]

            • 5. MacEntee MI, Glick N, Stolar E. Age, gender, dentures and oral mucosal disorders. Oral Dis. 1998 Mar;4(1):32-6.[Abstract]

            • 6. Park KK, Brodell RT, Helms SE. Angular cheilitis, part 2: nutritional, systemic, and drug-related causes and treatment. Cutis. 2011 Jul;88(1):27-32.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 7. Lourenço AG, Figueiredo LT. Oral lesions in HIV infected individuals from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2008 May 1;13(5):E281-6.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 8. Samaranayake LP. Oral mycoses in HIV infection. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992 Feb;73(2):171-80.[Abstract]

            • 9. Lisciandrano D, Ranzi T, Carrassi A, et al. Prevalence of oral lesions in inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1996 Jan;91(1):7-10.[Abstract]

            • 10. Lamey PJ, Lewis MA. Oral medicine in practice: angular cheilitis. Br Dent J. 1989 Jul 8;167(1):15-8.[Abstract]

            • 11. Konstantinidis AB, Hatziotis JH. Angular cheilosis: an analysis of 156 cases. J Oral Med. 1984 Oct-Dec;39(4):199-206.[Abstract]

            • 12. MacFarlane TW, McGill JC, Samaranayake LP. Antibiotic testing and phage typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from non-hospitalized patients with angular cheilitis. J Hosp Infect. 1984 Dec;5(4):444-6.[Abstract]

            • 13. Scully C, Bagan J-V, Eisen D, et al, eds. Angular cheilitis. Dermatology of the lips. Oxford, UK: Isis Medical; 2000:68-73.

            • 14. The Primary Care Dermatology Society. Angular cheilitis (syn. angular stomatitis). Nov 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]

            • 15. Scully C, van Bruggen W, Diz Dios P, et al. Down syndrome: lip lesions (angular stomatitis and fissures) and Candida albicans. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):37-40.[Abstract]

            • 16. Strumia R. Dermatologic signs in patients with eating disorders. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2005;6(3):165-73.[Abstract]

            • 17. Muhvić-Urek M, Tomac-Stojmenović M, Mijandrušić-Sinčić B. Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jul 7;22(25):5655-67.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 18. Yesudian PD, Memon A. Nickel-induced angular cheilitis due to orthodontic braces. Contact Derm. 2003 May;48(5):287-8.[Abstract]

            • 19. Guggenheimer J, Moore PA, Rossie K, et al. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and oral soft tissue pathologies: II. Prevalence and characteristics of Candida and Candidal lesions. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2000 May;89(5):570-6.[Abstract]

            • 20. Simons D, Brailsford SR, Kidd EA, et al. The effects of medicated chewing gums on oral health in frail older people; a 1-year clinical trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002 Aug;50(8):1348-53.[Abstract]

            • 21. Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, et al, eds. Cheilitis. Treatment of skin disease: comprehensive therapeutic strategies. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2006:122-123.

            • 22. Schoenfeld RJ, Schoenfeld FI. Angular cheilitis. Cutis. 1977 Feb;19(2):213-6.[Abstract]

            • 23. Fotos PG, Lilly JP. Clinical management of oral and perioral candidiasis. Dermatol Clin. 1996 Apr;14(2):273-80.[Abstract]

            • 24. Ohman SC, Jontell M. Treatment of angular cheilitis. The significance of microbial analysis, antimicrobial treatment and interfering factors. Acta Odontol Scand. 1988 Oct;46(5):267-72.[Abstract]

            • 25. Garber GE. Treatment of oral Candida mucositis infections. Drugs. 1994 May;47(5):734-40.[Abstract]

            • 26. Pinski KS, Coleman WP III. Microlipoinjection and autologous collagen. Dermatol Clin. 1995 Apr;13(2):339-51.[Abstract]

            • 27. Lorenzo-Pouso AI, García-García A, Pérez-Sayáns M. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers in the management of recurrent angular cheilitis: A case report. Gerodontology. 2018 Jun;35(2):151-154.[Abstract]

            • 28. Lu DP. Prosthodontic management of angular cheilitis and persistent drooling: a case report. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2007 Oct;28(10):572-7;[Abstract]

            • 29. Crone AM, James MP. Acquired linear anetoderma following angular cheilitis. Br J Dermatol. 1998 May;138(5):923-4.[Abstract]

            • 30. Federico JR, Basehore BM, Zito PM. Angular Chelitis. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 25, 2022.[Full Text]

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