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Angular Cheilitis: Sore, Cracked Corners of the Mouth

Angular cheilitis is inflammation at the corners of the mouth, causing redness, cracks and soreness. It is common, it is not contagious, and it usually clears once the cause is dealt with.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Angular cheilitis is inflammation at the corners of the mouth, with redness, painful cracks and sometimes crusting. DermNet says it is common and not contagious.
  • The most common cause is saliva keeping the corners of the mouth moist. A yeast (Candida) or bacterial infection can also be involved.
  • Dentures that fit poorly, licking your lips, low iron or B vitamins, and some health conditions make it more likely.
  • Mild cases often settle with a lip balm or ointment. A pharmacist can advise, and a doctor can prescribe an antifungal or antibiotic cream if it is infected.
  • See a doctor if it does not clear, keeps coming back, or comes with tiredness, white patches in your mouth or pain when swallowing. See a dentist if your dentures no longer fit.

Angular cheilitis (also called angular stomatitis or perlèche) is soreness at the corners of the mouth. DermNet, a skin health reference from New Zealand, describes it as a common, non-contagious inflammatory condition that can affect any child or adult. Depending on the cause, it may last a few days or carry on indefinitely. DermNet says it usually clears by itself or is curable, and it rarely leaves a scar.

What does it look like?

DermNet lists these signs at the corners of the mouth:

  • painful cracks, which are worse when you open your mouth
  • small blisters, raw areas, oozing or crusting
  • redness, and sometimes bleeding

It usually affects both corners. DermNet says that on darker skin the area may look pale rather than red, sometimes with a darker rim.

Angular cheilitis is not the same as a cold sore. The NHS says a small, fluid-filled blister on the lip may be a cold sore, and most people feel tingling, burning or itching before it appears. DermNet notes that a cold sore virus infection and impetigo (a bacterial skin infection) can look similar. See cold sores.

What causes it?

DermNet explains that the corners of the mouth work like a hinge every time you eat, drink and talk, which makes them easy to irritate.

Saliva

DermNet says the most common cause is the corners of the mouth being exposed to saliva for long periods, which irritates the skin and causes a form of dermatitis (skin inflammation). It says licking your lips makes it worse. An NHS leaflet from University Hospitals of Leicester, written for people whose saliva leaks from the mouth, says the corners can become inflamed, irritated and sore because of the leaking saliva.

Yeast or bacterial infection

The NHS and healthdirect Australia both list cracks or sores at the corners of the mouth as a symptom of oral thrush, a fungal infection caused by Candida. DermNet says swabs from the corners of the mouth may grow Candida, Staphylococcus aureus (a common skin bacterium) or the cold sore virus. It says a bacterial infection can spread to nearby skin.

healthdirect and the NHS say thrush is more likely with older age, diabetes, antibiotics, steroid inhalers, a dry mouth, smoking or vaping, and dentures.

Dentures

DermNet lists dentures as a risk factor, especially if they fit badly. The NHS says not to wear dentures at night and not to keep wearing dentures that do not fit properly, as advice to help prevent thrush. See dentures and looking after your mouth in older age.

Low iron or vitamins

DermNet lists poor nutrition, including low levels of iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2), zinc, vitamin B12 or folate, and coeliac disease. The other sources agree on parts of this:

  • The NHS lists painful open sores in the corners of the mouth as a less common symptom of iron deficiency anaemia (too few healthy red blood cells because of a lack of iron). Common symptoms are tiredness, shortness of breath and paler skin than usual.
  • healthdirect says cracks at the corners of the mouth are a symptom of riboflavin deficiency, along with a sore or smooth tongue. It says true riboflavin deficiency is uncommon in Australia, and that limited diets, especially those that avoid milk products, raise the risk.

Health conditions and medicines

DermNet lists inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), Sjögren's syndrome, sensitive skin such as atopic eczema, Down syndrome and smoking. It also says retinoid medicines taken by mouth, such as isotretinoin (used for severe acne), can dry the lips. The American Dental Association's clinical pages for dentists list angular cheilitis among the mouth problems seen with a dry mouth, with Sjögren disease (a condition that commonly causes a dry mouth), and in children with coeliac disease. See medicines that affect your mouth.

How is it treated?

DermNet says that in many cases no treatment is needed and it clears by itself. Its general advice is to drink enough fluids and apply a lip balm or thick moisturising ointment often, which it says is often enough on its own when saliva is the cause. It says an antiseptic may also be used.

When there is an infection or other cause, DermNet says treatment depends on it and may include:

  • an antifungal cream, or antifungal medicine by mouth, for a yeast infection
  • an antibiotic cream or tablets for a bacterial infection
  • a steroid ointment if the skin is very inflamed

Treating the cause matters too, such as replacing dentures that no longer fit, treating thrush, or correcting low iron or vitamins. DermNet says improvement is usually seen within the first few days of treatment and it typically clears by 2 weeks, but it often comes back, especially in people whose risk factors cannot be changed.

Where to get help

Who to see differs a little by country.

  • UK: the NHS says a pharmacist can advise on treatments for sore or dry lips and whether you need to see a GP. See a GP if your lips are hot, painful and swollen, which could be a sign of infection; the NHS says a GP may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal cream. For oral thrush, a pharmacist can sell an antifungal mouth gel, and the NHS says to see a GP if it has not improved after 1 week.
  • Australia: healthdirect says to see your doctor if you think you have oral thrush, but if you have had it before and know what it feels like, you can talk to your pharmacist about an over-the-counter treatment. If you might be low in B vitamins, it says to speak with your doctor or an accredited dietitian; your doctor may arrange blood tests.
  • US: the American sources we used for this page are written for dental professionals and do not set out a self-care route, so see your doctor or dentist.

If you take warfarin, tell the pharmacist or doctor before using any antifungal. The UK's medicines regulator (MHRA) says people taking warfarin should not use miconazole oral gel bought over the counter, because it can increase the effect of warfarin and cause bleeding.

Can you prevent it?

DermNet suggests:

  • trying not to lick your lips
  • using a lip balm or moisturising ointment to stop your lips getting too dry
  • stopping smoking
  • replacing dentures that no longer fit, and keeping your mouth and dentures clean
  • rinsing your mouth after using a steroid inhaler
  • keeping blood glucose under control if you have diabetes

For sore lips, the NHS adds: do not keep licking them, do not share lip balms, and drink plenty of water.

If saliva leaks from your mouth, the Leicester leaflet suggests gently patting your mouth dry rather than wiping hard from side to side, and using a barrier cream on your lips. It says not to use petroleum-based products if you are on oxygen therapy. This differs from the NHS's general advice on sore lips, which suggests a lip balm containing petroleum jelly or beeswax, so if you use oxygen, ask your care team which product to use.

When to see a pharmacist, doctor or dentist
  • The corners of your mouth are not improving: DermNet says treated angular cheilitis usually starts to improve within a few days and typically clears by 2 weeks.
  • Your lips are hot, painful and swollen (NHS: see a GP).
  • It keeps coming back. A doctor can look for a cause such as thrush, diabetes or low iron or vitamins.
  • You also have white patches in your mouth, or pain or difficulty swallowing (NHS: see a GP).
  • You are tired, short of breath or paler than usual, which the NHS says can be signs of iron deficiency anaemia.
  • A baby under 4 months has signs of oral thrush (NHS: see a GP).
  • Your dentures slip, no longer fit properly or cause pain (NHS: see a dentist).

Frequently asked questions

Is angular cheilitis contagious?

DermNet describes angular cheilitis itself as non-contagious. A cold sore, which can look similar at first, is contagious: NHS inform (Scotland) says cold sores stay contagious until they have completely healed.

How long does it last?

DermNet says it may last a few days or carry on indefinitely, depending on the cause. With treatment, it says improvement is usually seen within a few days and it typically clears by 2 weeks.

Can a lack of vitamins cause cracked corners of the mouth?

It can be one cause. healthdirect links cracks at the corners of the mouth with a lack of riboflavin (vitamin B2), and the NHS lists sores in the corners of the mouth as a less common symptom of iron deficiency anaemia. A doctor can check with a blood test, so ask before taking supplements.

Sources

  1. Angular cheilitis, DermNet (dermnetnz.org), accessed September 2026
  2. Sore or dry lips, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Oral thrush (mouth thrush), NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Iron deficiency anaemia, NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Dentures (false teeth), NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Cold sore, NHS inform (Scotland), accessed September 2026
  7. Managing excessive drooling caused by your medical condition and/or medication (PDF), University Hospitals of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trusts, leaflet 1359, reviewed January 2026, accessed September 2026
  8. Miconazole: over-the-counter oral gel contraindicated in patients taking warfarin, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (Drug Safety Update), accessed September 2026
  9. Oral thrush, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  10. Vitamin B deficiency, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  11. Xerostomia (dry mouth), American Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  12. Sjögren disease, American Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  13. Celiac disease, American Dental Association, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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