People easily make mistakes in cheilitis for a cold sore. These two conditions are different because it is important to be able to distinguish them from each other. The purpose of this article is to allow people to have the opportunity to do this.
What is a cold sore?
Cold sore is known in the medical world as herpes labialis. As the name implies, it is caused by the herpes virus. A cold sore appears on the lips, like a blister or sore, which is located on or around the mouth area. A cold sore can be quite painful and quite noticeable on the face. This bubble usually breaks and a scab occurs. The cold sore usually disappears in about ten days.
What is cheilitis?
Cheilitis refers to inflammation of the lips (many people call it chapped lips), and angular cheilitis is the most common form of this condition. This is inflammation in the corner of the mouth, which usually manifests as pain or splitting. Experts are not quite sure how this condition is caused, but it is believed that too much saliva is associated with this area or with such mechanical reasons as poorly fitting dentures. This is a fairly common condition, and in most cases it will last only a few days. It is believed that this is the link between these diseases and vitamin deficiencies. More than half of these irritating holes will have a bacterial or fungal infection, and sometimes this can also lead to the development of oral thrush.
When cracked lips appear far from the corner of the mouth, the usual cause is cold weather, dehydration, high fever, or a side effect of certain medications. This can also be caused by people licking their lips too often.
How to treat a cold
The common cold usually heals on its own, but there are also creams that people use to speed up the process. Acyclovir or acyclovir is an antiviral cream that is often used to treat herpes and, as has been proven, increases healing time. Cold sores are very contagious, so people should avoid touching them or kissing other people until they have a problem.
How to treat cheilitis
The method used to treat angular cheilitis will depend very much on its cause. It is usually recommended to consult a doctor, because if the patient is infected, not taking the proper medicine can slow down the healing process. Most doctors prescribe a steroid cream or antifungal topical cream. One thing that may concern the doctor is that the person has a problem with these types of ulcers, as this can be a sign of bad eating habits. They may question the patient and make recommendations for possible improvements in nutrition. The condition may also be associated with other conditions, such as diabetes and HIV.
