Sjogrens World Forums

Sjogrens Topics => Living With Sjogren's => Topic started by: ingy54 on August 13, 2011, 08:57:41 AM

Title: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: ingy54 on August 13, 2011, 08:57:41 AM
Hi everybody, I'm so grateful to all the tips I've been getting from this forum but now I have a problem with splits at the corners of my mouth, I sometimes use vaseline or Daktarin gel but as soon as I stop using them they split again can anyone give me a tip on what to use, please!!Nice weekend to all, Ciao..
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Jozee on August 13, 2011, 09:31:01 AM
I have the same problem. Like you I always have to have vasaline or chap stick on my mouth and corners of it. I just try to make sue I don't leave home without it. Maybe someone else will have a better idea. I've tried about everything!
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: lighthouse33 on August 13, 2011, 09:31:55 AM
Hi ingy54,

I use Blistex Lip Medex on my lips and for the splits at the corners of my mouth.  I do it before bed but if I forget, the splits will return.  Both my mom and I use it and love it!
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: waterbby100 on August 13, 2011, 09:43:15 AM
I keep a Burts Bees lip balm with me all the time. I put it on before bed every night. Lipstick was given up a few years ago for lip balm! I use a humidifier at night when the air is dry to help stop some of the dryness in nose and mouth. Try to make sure your vents for air or heat don't blow directly on you at night.

Kimber
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Meld256 on August 13, 2011, 10:09:25 AM
Hi ingy54,

Good ideas here...there's a few things to try to see what works best for you.  The Burts Bees products are good, as well as Blistex.  Biotene makes an oral gel I use a lot; it can usually be found in most Walgreen's or Walmart's. It's very soothing.  Those little cracks at the mouth corners can get really sore, can't they?  I get them from time to time, too.

Take care,
Melinda
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Linda196 on August 13, 2011, 11:29:50 AM
You may also want to try increasing your intake of Vitamin B, at least the Folic acid, and B12....one of the first symptoms of B deficiency is Cheilosis: Inflammation of the lips where there is scaling and fissures, usually first noted in the corners of the lips.
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Nancy60 on August 13, 2011, 12:04:30 PM
I asked my doctor about this once and he said it was chelitis (sp?) and had me start taking a multivitamin, it cleared up after a few weeks of taking the multivitamin (I had used carmex in the meantime but it always came back when I stopped the carmex).  I think Linda is right about the B vitamins, I remember reading somewhere it is a sign of vitamin deficiency.

Nancy
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Jellyb on August 13, 2011, 12:09:41 PM
Hi there, I agree with Linda about the B vitamins, I was just reading about that
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: ingy54 on August 14, 2011, 01:36:38 PM
Thanks for all your advice I don't live in the states so some products I can't find but I do use Biotene for my mouth so I shall try using it on my splits as well, best wishes to all. ;D
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Liz D. on August 16, 2011, 06:34:26 AM
I had Angular Chielitis as well and the only thing that cured it was a prescription of Lotrisone from my dentist.  It healed up in a few days.  If I don't use it regularly, my mouth will split again.

Liz D.
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Meld256 on August 16, 2011, 04:26:34 PM
Linda,

That's extremely good information. I haven't had the sore, split corners of my mouth for several months.  I wonder if it may be partially because I've recently been taking a multi-vitamin with folic acid and lots of B and B12.  Interesting...
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: season on August 17, 2011, 06:09:17 AM
Be very persistent with the lip balm until it clears up. Dab it on thru out the day and particularly at night.
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Patze on August 17, 2011, 10:49:07 AM
I too got that the first few years of this mess, and I sure feel for you.  The corners split so often it was becoming a joke with the family (blood rolling down from a crack in your lip sure got the attention of one of my bosses :-\).

Like several of the others, one of the causes was my vitamin B levels being too low, and a sensitivity to petroleum products found in some lip balms.  Thankfully I haven't had one in a while, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that your doctor will figure out what is causing yours.

Hang in there -

Patze
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Shade on August 17, 2011, 06:22:46 PM
Quote from: Linda196 on August 13, 2011, 11:29:50 AM
You may also want to try increasing your intake of Vitamin B, at least the Folic acid, and B12....one of the first symptoms of B deficiency is Cheilosis: Inflammation of the lips where there is scaling and fissures, usually first noted in the corners of the lips.

How funny...the tv show, The Doctors just covered this today.
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Meld256 on August 17, 2011, 06:46:25 PM
That IS interesting, Shade.   8)
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: CathyM on August 18, 2011, 10:53:45 AM
I use cortisone cream.
Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: newhorizons on August 18, 2011, 11:55:28 AM
Ingy, I also saw The Docs yesterday and their input about cracking lips...
Felt when I saw this that it probably applied to persons that did not normally have AI disease.

I have found throughout the years that a 'dab' of tea tree oil on a Q-tip does the trick...  it has cured the slit corners of my mouth with a couple treatments... even in wintertime, when it easily could be blamed on the coldness.

Tea tree oil in bottle form can be purchased at Wal-mart for around $5.

Also, in past used the tea tree oil Q-tip 'dab' treatment on ulcers inside the mouth...

My thinking is that the inside and outside of mouth are experiencing same health issue.
Knowing we all are different; I think mine is fungal and tea tree oil states it treats fungal issues.

My note of caution; ;D Careful where else you might be 'tempted' to use it!!! :o





Title: Re: Slit corners of mouth..
Post by: Nat on August 18, 2011, 10:22:32 PM
Linda, that was very interesting about Cheilosis. A vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to the sore mouth and tongue often associated with Sjogrens. It is periodically accompanied by a bitter or metallic taste. (Cigna, 2010) B12 deficiency impairs DNA synthesis, which affects all proliferating cells. Without B12, developing cells in the bone marrow cannot divide normally to form mature red blood cells. Instead, they become unusually large and misshapen and most never leave the bone marrow. A similar accumulation of large abnormal cells lining the digestive tract can cause a sore mouth and tongue.