In most cases, many skin conditions don’t merit a visit to the doctor. Many people don’t give skin conditions too much attention, and they typically go away on their own after a while. For example, people experience cracked skin or even sores on the corners of their mouths during the winter months, and they don’t pay it any mind as it tends to go away in time. However, there are some situations where these sores keep coming back, even when the weather doesn’t call for it. In such cases, the culprit could be angular cheilitis. Angular cheilitis is usually associated with either a bacterial or fungal infection, and they have a tendency to be persistent and even grow to be quite painful.
Fortunately, despite the discomfort from angular cheilitis, it’s a condition that can easily be treated. Home remedies are available for those who would prefer not to go for the more conventional treatment options. Any inflammatory skin condition can be annoying and frustrating, but angular cheilitis, like most types of skin conditions, isn’t severe. All it does is frustrate and sometimes embarrass due to the sores around the corners of the mouth. Here are some of the most popular treatments.
Antibiotics
Angular cheilitis can be frustrating, but the treatment isn’t a big deal once you figure out the primary cause. Angular cheilitis can either come from a bacterial or fungal infection. If it happens to be the latter, a round of antibiotics is one of the most popular (and practical) ways to combat angular cheilitis. However, it’s crucial never to use antibiotics without your doctor’s advice. Antibiotics are not to be taken lightly, and those who decide to self-medicate with antibiotics can cause many more problems than they solve.
First and foremost, there is such a thing as antibiotic resistance, where the body no longer responds correctly to bacterial infections. Parents can make the mistake of overmedicating their child with antibiotics, even for the most minor thing, resulting in antibiotic resistance. While antibiotics can be highly effective, it’s not a good idea to depend on this treatment too much. Otherwise, it could end up failing when you need it. The good news is if you take antibiotics to fight off bacterial angular cheilitis, it will disappear within the week.