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Initially, the corners of the mouth develop a gray-white thickening and adjacent erythema (redness). [2] Later, the usual appearance is a roughly triangular area of erythema, edema (swelling) and breakdown of skin at either corner of the mouth. [2] [4] The mucosa of the lip may become fissured (cracked), crusted, ulcerated or atrophied.
Angular cheilitis typically starts with a red dry patch on the corners of the mouth. It can be on one or both sides, with a dry, scaly appearance, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The inflammation may include the perioral skin (the skin around the mouth), the vermilion border, or the labial mucosa. [1] The skin and the vermilion border are more commonly involved, as the mucosa is less affected by inflammatory and allergic reactions. [1] Cheilitis is a general term, and there are many recognized types and different causes.
The appearance of the involved mucosa is erythematous (red) and edematous (swollen), [4] sometimes with petechial hemorrhage (pin-points of bleeding). [1] This usually occurs beneath an upper denture. Sometimes angular cheilitis can coexist, which is inflammation of the corners of the mouth, also often associated with Candida albicans.
Red, erosive or ulcerative lesions indicate atrophy, loss of epithelium and inflammation. [7] Early, acute lesions may be erythematous (red) and edematous (swollen). [ 2 ] With months and years of sun exposure, the lesion becomes chronic and may be grey-white in color and appear dry, scaly and wrinkled.
[1] [2] The resulting scaling, redness, chapping, and crusting makes a well-defined ring around the lips. The rash may extend as far as the tongue can reach and usually does not occur at the corners of the mouth. It commonly occurs during winter months but some people can have it year-round if lip licking is a chronic habit. [1]
Inflammation of the corners (angles) of the lips is termed angular stomatitis or angular cheilitis. In children a frequent cause is repeated lip-licking, and in adults it may be a sign of underlying iron deficiency anemia , or vitamin B deficiencies ( e.g. , B 2 - riboflavin , B 9 - folate , or B 12 - cobalamin , which in turn may be evidence ...
Perioral dermatitis is a rash typically around the mouth, that spares the vermilion border. [10] Cheilitis glandularis may present with a burning sensation over the vermilion border. This chronic progressive condition is associated with thinning of the skin of the lips and ulceration. [11] Infections may involve the vermilion border.