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Chronic Drying and Cracking of the Lips is the Start of Angular Cheilitis

By Bart Icles

Cracked lips get worse when not treated immediately and properly, and they are extremely painful, embarrassing, and irritating to say the least. What more when bacterial and fungal infections set in. If you suspect you have more than a simple case of cracked or dried lips that seem to get worse each day, then you may already have developed Angular Cheilitis. This is an extreme kind of lip condition that becomes harder and harder to treat and cure once it is full blown.

Anyone who has Angular Cheilitis will surely have a hard time opening and moving their mouths when eating and speaking, and doing other activities related with the use of the mouth. the may also become a social stigma that will prevent them from doing normal day to day activities without being stared at, avoided, and ridiculed. These cracks are deep and wide enough to easily bleed with any movement, so the sufferer may have a phobia of using their mouths, eat less, and become sleep deprived due to the stress on the body, as well as on the mind.

When bleeding occurs, there is always the great possibility of being infected with all types of pathogens. The dry scabs, which are on the verge of improving may worsen when it is disturbed by any slight movement, and thus may bleed again - and this time may be more painful than ever. If the sores have already been invaded by staph or the yeast fungus the condition will worsen.

Those most affected are the elderly, teenagers, and children. They tend to become reclusive and develop personality syndromes, harbor ill-feelings of themselves and to anyone who ridicules or teases them. Although Angular Cheilitis is not contagious, the mere sight of dried-up scabs, redness around the affected area, and blood and pus may frighten and repulse anyone. It's really just a case of mistaken identity, as Angular Cheilitis has similar appearances and symptoms of other contagious diseases such as Herpes and other threatening oral-venereal diseases.

The condition is primarily thought of to stem from a substantial lack of essential vitamins such as Folate, Vitamin B12, riboflavin, and iron. Symptoms of having chronic drying of the skin is usually prevalent in individuals who have an imbalanced immune system from a lack of a healthy diet. Thus, the lack of these proper nutrients which the body needs to maintaining a healthy skin, eyes, hair, and muscles should not be taken lightly as it could lead to other additional problems to arise and worsen the situation. A quick visit to a dermatologist should be made if there is a persistent drying of the skin to determine its cause and what treatmentsto undertake. - 26706

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