Why angular cheilitis may not be healing

The mouth corners move whenever you speak, eat, or yawn, so fragile new skin can split again. Lip licking, drooling during sleep, deep skin folds, or poorly fitting dentures can maintain moisture. Yeast and bacteria may coexist, while eczema or contact allergy can resemble infection. Continued exposure to a triggering toothpaste, cosmetic, balm, or topical medicine can also prevent recovery. Repeated treatment without checking the cause may therefore miss the main driver.

Stop picking and licking, gently dry the corners after eating or drinking, and apply only the barrier or medicine recommended for that location. Review every product touching the lips, including toothpaste, mouthwash, cosmetics, shaving products, and denture adhesive. Do not extend a steroid, antifungal, or antibiotic course on your own; the wrong product can mask the appearance or allow another problem to continue. A clinician may examine the skin, check dentures, take a swab, or order blood tests based on the history.

Arrange a clinical review when correct care has not produced steady improvement, episodes recur, only one side remains persistently affected, or the area becomes thickened, ulcerated, crusted, or increasingly painful. Prompt assessment is appropriate for pus, rapidly spreading redness, facial swelling, fever, swollen glands, or difficulty eating and drinking. Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty or sudden major swelling of the lips, tongue, or face.

Explain which treatments you tried, where you applied them, and whether the cracks briefly improved or became worse. Ask if the diagnosis should be reconsidered, whether yeast and bacteria could both be present, and whether dental fit, allergy, eczema, diabetes, or a nutritional problem warrants checking. Request clear instructions for treatment order and barrier use.