Is That Red Lip Bump a Cold Sore or Something Else?
How to Address Mental Health with Teens
Teen Felt the One Thing She Could Control during COVID was Food
Why Eating Disorders Have Skyrocketed during the Pandemic
Meet Teen Whose Eating Issues Spiraled during the Pandemic
How Teen Brothers are Helping Peers with Mental Health Issues
Teen Brothers Share Their Song about Mental Health
Mom and Daughter Share Immune-Boosting and Healing Soups
Eating Disorder Warning Signs for Parents
PX90 Creator Tony Horton’s 3 Tips for Staying Healthy
When to Talk to Your Kids about Adult Content
The Fight for a Tobacco-Free Generation!
Why Did Your Diet Fail?
Woman Returns with Her Brand-New Smile
Are You Working Out Too Much?
Woman Gets a Total Smile Makeover for Her Wedding
Could Laws Help Prevent the Next Generation from Smoking?
The Unwanted Lessons Your Child Could Learn from Adult Content
Practical Tips to Surviving a House Fire
Watch a Woman Undergo Mini Filler ‘Glow Up’
The Doctors share side-by-side photos of two very similar looking infections on the corners of the mouth. However, while you may assume both are cold sores, only the one on the left is. The one on the right is called angular cheilitis which is where the corners of the mouth start to crack, fissure and break down.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and two-thirds of the world population is infected by this virus. However, only a small percentage of people infected will actually see the blisters and vesicles on the mouth.
Angular cheilitis is completely different and caused by saliva pooling in the corners of the mouth resulting in a warm place for yeast and bacteria to overgrow. This perpetuates the infection. This condition is common in people who have dental appliances, braces or are more susceptible to infection and skin breakdown like diabetics.
Angular cheilitis is best treated by simply using an ointment, like petroleum jelly, to keep it hydrated. People can also use an antibacterial or anti-yeast agent. If it persists, a doctor should perform a culture.
For cold sore treatment there are antiviral over-the-counter products or for some, a pill-based antiviral may be needed. ER physician Dr. Travis Stork notes that cold sore treatment can actually still be effective if used on angular cheilitis and Dr. Batra agrees if it’s more of an ointment and not a gel-based product. However, if the cold sore product has a high alcohol content it will cause burning of the fissures in angular cheilitis.
Watch: Herpes from the Makeup Counter?!
Plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon points out that it is important to know what you have because cold sores can be highly contagious. Dr. Travis says there are blood tests you can take to check if you are exposed to the HSV-1 virus.
