Angular Cheilitis: Cracked Mouth Corners Explained — Causes, Treatment, and How Long It Lasts
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
TL;DR
Angular cheilitis (also called angular stomatitis or perleche) is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes painful, cracked sores at one or both corners of the mouth. It is not contagious — unlike cold sores, which are caused by a herpes virus. Saliva pooling at the mouth corners dries the skin, it cracks, and bacteria or fungi can then enter and cause inflammation or infection. Treatment targets the cause: antibiotics, antifungal creams, dental adjustments, or dietary changes, and the condition often clears up about two weeks after treatment begins.
Quick Answer
Angular cheilitis causes cracked, red, bleeding sores at one or both mouth corners and is most common in the very old and the very young.
It is not contagious; cold sores look similar but are caused by a herpes virus and can spread.
Causes include saliva pooling, ill-fitting dentures, thrush, eczema, face masks, and low B vitamins, iron, or protein.
Treatment usually clears it in about two weeks, though some people develop a chronic form that needs lifelong management.
What Is Angular Cheilitis?
Angular cheilitis is a common inflammatory skin condition. It affects one or both corners of your mouth and causes irritated, cracked sores. Although painful, angular cheilitis usually isn't serious.
The condition is also known by two other medical names: angular stomatitis and perleche. People of any age, sex, or ethnicity can develop it, but it tends to be most common in the very old and the very young.
| Fact | Detail | | --- | --- | | Other names | Angular stomatitis, perleche | | What it affects | One or both corners of the mouth | | Severity | Usually not serious | | Contagious? | No | | Typical healing time | About two weeks after treatment starts | | Most common in | The elderly and infants |
Why do the elderly and infants get it most? Elderly people may wear dentures or have sagging skin at the corners of their mouth that contributes to dry mouth corners. Pacifiers, thumb-sucking, and drooling can irritate infants' mouths.
What Causes Angular Cheilitis?
Saliva collects at the corners of the mouth and causes dryness. Very dry skin in this area can lead to angular cheilitis. Over time, the dry skin may crack open. Sometimes bacteria or fungi get into the cracks, which can cause inflammation or an infection.
This four-step chain — saliva pools, skin dries, skin cracks, germs enter — explains why the corners of the mouth are such a vulnerable spot. Anything that increases moisture pooling or skin dryness in that area raises the odds of a flare-up.
Eight specific causes of dry, cracked lip corners can trigger angular cheilitis, according to clinical reference sources:
| # | Cause | How It Contributes | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Atopic dermatitis or eczema | Inflames and weakens skin at the mouth corners | | 2 | Dentures that don't fit | Creates folds and friction that trap saliva | | 3 | Drooling during sleep | Pools saliva at the mouth corners | | 4 | Thrush (fungal/yeast infection in the mouth) | Fungi enter cracked skin and cause infection | | 5 | Misaligned teeth | Changes how the lips and corners of the mouth rest | | 6 | Skin allergies | Irritates the skin around the mouth | | 7 | Sucking on a thumb or a pacifier | Constant moisture irritates infants' mouth corners | | 8 | Wearing a face mask | Traps warmth and moisture near the mouth |
What Are the Risk Factors?
People of any age, sex, or ethnicity can develop angular cheilitis. Some factors increase your risk by making the mouth corners drier, by lowering nutrient levels, or by weakening the skin's ability to defend itself.
| Risk Factor | Why It Raises Risk | | --- | --- | | Chronic health conditions (diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease) | Alter immunity, healing, and nutrition | | Down syndrome | Can cause dry, drooping skin on the face | | Immune system disorders (such as HIV) | Weaken defenses against fungal and bacterial entry | | Low levels of B vitamins, iron, or protein | Impair skin health and repair | | Rapid weight loss | Often accompanies nutrient depletion | | Skin wrinkles due to aging | Deepen the corner folds where saliva collects | | Smoking | Irritates and dries the skin around the mouth | | Stress | Adds strain on skin health and healing |
What Does Angular Cheilitis Look Like?
Angular cheilitis can cause the following symptoms at the corners of your mouth:
| Symptom | What You Notice | | --- | --- | | Bleeding | The cracked sores may ooze blood | | Blisters | Small fluid-filled bumps near the corner | | Cracking | Splits or fissures in the skin | | Crusting | Dried, scab-like patches | | Maceration | Soggy, lighter-colored skin from trapped moisture | | Redness | Inflamed, irritated appearance | | Swelling | Puffiness around the affected corner |
The maceration symptom — soggy, lighter-colored skin — is a useful self-check, because it points to trapped moisture rather than a viral blister. That distinction matters for choosing treatment.
Is It a Cold Sore or Angular Cheilitis?
Angular cheilitis is frequently mistaken for a cold sore. The two conditions are easy to confuse because both produce sores near the mouth, but they are entirely separate conditions:
| Feature | Angular Cheilitis | Cold Sores | | --- | --- | --- | | Location | Corners of the mouth | Anywhere on or near the lips | | Cause | Saliva pooling, dryness, fungal or bacterial entry | Herpes simplex virus | | Contagious? | No | Yes | | Pattern | Often on both corners | Often a recurring blister on the lip edge |
How Is Angular Cheilitis Diagnosed?
Your primary healthcare provider or a dermatologist (a provider specializing in skin conditions) can diagnose angular cheilitis. They will check your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and review your medical history.
They may do a mouth swab to test for viruses like herpes or fungal infections. Blood tests check for illnesses or nutritional deficiencies, which matter because low B vitamins, iron, or protein are established risk factors.
| Diagnostic Step | What It Checks | | --- | --- | | Symptom check | Appearance and location of the sores | | Physical exam | The mouth corners, skin, and oral cavity | | Medical history review | Dentures, diet, habits, chronic conditions | | Mouth swab | Viruses like herpes or fungal infections such as thrush | | Blood tests | Illnesses or nutritional deficiencies (B vitamins, iron, protein) |
Could the Sores Be Something Else?
Cracked lip corners aren't always the result of angular cheilitis. There are many conditions that can cause lip or mouth sores, and some require prompt attention:
| Condition | Key Feature | | --- | --- | | Actinic keratosis | Rough skin patches that can be precancerous | | Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) | Fever blisters or cold sores | | Leukoplakia | White patches in the mouth that can be precancerous | | Oral cancer | Cancer in any part of the mouth | | Oral lichen planus | A disease of the lining of the mouth | | Syphilis | A sexually transmitted infection that can cause red sores on the mouth or genitals |
This list is why a provider exam matters: a mouth swab separates a harmless fungal or bacterial crack from conditions such as HSV-1, leukoplakia, or oral cancer that need different care.
What Is the Treatment for Angular Cheilitis?
Your treatment plan depends on the cause of the angular cheilitis. Because the condition has many different triggers, there is no single fix — the effective approach is the one that matches what caused your flare-up.
| Treatment | Used For | | --- | --- | | Antibiotics (oral or topical) | Treat bacterial infections | | Dental work | Fit dentures and mouth hardware correctly; braces, retainers, or headgear can correct misaligned teeth or bite | | Dietary changes | Clear up problems caused by poor diet or lack of protein, iron, and B vitamins | | Ointments or creams | Antifungal creams or topical steroids relieve swelling and pain; lip balm or petroleum jelly keeps the mouth moisturized and protected |
If your dentures don't fit, keeping them in place without a dental adjustment means the cause never goes away, and the sores keep returning. The same logic applies to a diet low in B vitamins, iron, or protein — creams alone won't outpace the underlying deficiency.
Soothing Self-Care at Home
As you treat the cause of angular cheilitis, you can reduce pain and swelling by:
Applying ice or a cool compress to the corners of your mouth.
Avoiding skin irritants like harsh toothpastes, mouthwashes, and spicy foods.
Staying out of the sun and extreme cold or wind.
Using ointments or lip balm to keep the corners of your mouth moisturized.
How Long Does Angular Cheilitis Last?
Angular cheilitis usually isn't serious. The condition often goes away about two weeks after starting treatment. Severe angular cheilitis can result in scarring or weak, thin skin if it isn't treated.
| Scenario | Outcome | | --- | --- | | Treated early | Often gone in about two weeks | | Untreated and severe | Can cause scarring or weak, thin skin | | Recurring | Can come back after treatment | | Chronic form | Some people manage the condition for the rest of their lives |
Angular cheilitis can come back after treatment. For some people, the condition is chronic (ongoing). They may need to manage the condition for the rest of their lives.
How Can I Prevent Angular Cheilitis?
Some causes of angular cheilitis are unavoidable. But you can reduce your risk by:
Avoiding contact with skin allergens and irritants.
Eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water.
Keeping your lips moisturized.
Not smoking or using tobacco products.
Not licking your lips.
Not using expired cosmetics.
| Prevention Habit | What It Protects Against | | --- | --- | | Keep lips moisturized | Dryness that leads to cracking | | Don't lick your lips | Saliva pooling that dries the corners | | Avoid allergens and irritants | Skin inflammation around the mouth | | Don't smoke | Tobacco irritation of mouth-corner skin | | Eat well and hydrate | Low B vitamins, iron, and protein | | Skip expired cosmetics | Irritant exposure |
Conclusion
Angular cheilitis is a common but usually minor skin condition that cracks the corners of the mouth. It follows a simple chain — saliva pools, skin dries, skin cracks, and germs enter — and it is most common in the elderly and in infants. The most important practical fact is that it is not contagious, unlike the cold sores it is often mistaken for. Because treatment works best when it targets the cause, an accurate diagnosis comes first: a mouth swab can confirm whether a fungus, a bacterium, or something else entirely is behind your sore.
If you develop irritation or cracking at the corners of your mouth, book an appointment with your healthcare provider. An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment — and most cases clear up in about two weeks once the right cause is addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is angular cheilitis?
Angular cheilitis (also called angular stomatitis or perleche) is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects one or both corners of the mouth and causes irritated, cracked, painful sores. Although painful, it usually isn't serious.
Is angular cheilitis contagious?
No. Angular cheilitis is not contagious. It is often confused with cold sores, but cold sores are a separate condition caused by a herpes virus, and cold sores are contagious while angular cheilitis is not.
What causes angular cheilitis?
Saliva collects at the corners of the mouth and causes dryness. Very dry skin can crack open, and bacteria or fungi can get into the cracks, causing inflammation or infection. Common triggers include eczema, ill-fitting dentures, thrush, drooling during sleep, misaligned teeth, skin allergies, thumb-sucking or pacifier use, and wearing a face mask.
Who is most likely to get angular cheilitis?
It tends to be most common in the very old and very young. Elderly people may wear dentures or have sagging skin at the mouth corners that dries them out, while pacifiers, thumb-sucking, and drooling can irritate infants' mouths. That said, people of any age, sex, or ethnicity can develop it.
How is angular cheilitis diagnosed?
A primary care provider or dermatologist checks your symptoms, performs a physical exam, and reviews your medical history. They may take a mouth swab to test for viruses like herpes or fungal infections, and blood tests can check for illnesses or nutritional deficiencies such as low B vitamins, iron, or protein.
What is the treatment for angular cheilitis?
Treatment depends on the cause and may include oral or topical antibiotics, properly fitted dentures or bite correction, dietary changes rich in protein, iron, and B vitamins, and antifungal creams or topical steroids. Lip balm or petroleum jelly keeps the area moisturized and protected.
How long does it take for angular cheilitis to heal?
The condition often goes away about two weeks after starting treatment. Severe cases can result in scarring or weak, thin skin if they are not treated, and the condition can return or become chronic in some people.
How do I stop angular cheilitis from coming back?
Reduce your risk by keeping your lips moisturized, not licking your lips, avoiding skin allergens and irritants, not smoking, eating a healthy diet with plenty of water, and not using expired cosmetics. If dentures cause your flare-ups, having them refitted is the key long-term fix.
Related Reading
References
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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