Symptoms

The most common complaints associated with inflammation at the corner of the mouth are In many cases, the inflammation is caused by tears in the corner of the mouth. In addition, there may be superficial or even deeper-reaching tissue damage in the corner of the mouth. The cracked corners of the mouth often show scaling or crust formation.

An inflammation at the corner of the mouth usually heals only very slowly and often recedes after a period without symptoms. Depending on the cause of the inflammation, further symptoms may occur.

Skin redness
Swelling of the skin and
Pain, especially when touching the affected area or during mouth movements.

Diagnosis

The examination of the corners of the mouth as well as the recording of the individual patient’s history (anamnesis) are of primary importance for the correct diagnosis of the disease.
A smear of the affected region can also help to determine the pathogens responsible for the inflammation. By specifically detecting the pathogen, therapy can provide a much more effective and rapid remedy for the painful symptom of inflammation.
If the inflamed areas do not disappear by taking care of the affected skin, it may be necessary to perform a blood test. By analyzing the blood, systemic diseases can be detected, which then need to be treated.

Prognosis

In most cases, there is no serious disease behind the inflammation of the corners of the mouth. Thus, the painful inflammation can usually be quickly brought under control by appropriate care of the affected skin. However, if there is no improvement after a few days, a visit to a doctor is recommended.

By establishing an individual diagnosis of the causative disease, the problem is usually solved quickly. As a general rule, in case of doubt a doctor should always be consulted. The faster the diagnosis is made and the underlying cause is treated, the better the prognosis of recovery.