Angular Cheiilosis, Cheilitis, Stomatitis, or Perlche is a chronic problem that affects thousands of people all over the world. It appears at the corners of the mouth as small slits or cracks which rapidly progress to becoming painful sores with blood and pus if not treated quickly. Although there is a vital link between vitamin deficiency and the healing of angular cheilitis, much more research still has to be done to clearly pinpoint its main cause/s.

Vitamin Deficiency

In this light, vitamin deficiency may not in itself cause the condition to happen. But when the body's vitamin B and iron reserves are compromised, its ability to heal itself normally is greatly affected. Infections become harder to address, and wounds take more time to heal, or in some cases, may not heal at all.

B Vitamins and Iron

B vitamins are made up of the essential vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), and/or B12 (cyanocobalamin), folic acid, and thiamine, which provides energy for the body and aids the normal functioning of the nervous system. The B vitamins keeps the body's skin, eyes, hair, mouth, and liver healthy.

Lack of iron causes general weakness, inability to concentrate and to fight off infections. Iron is a vital part of hemoglobin which is needed throughout the body as it supplies oxygen to the muscles.

These vitamins are responsible for the body's ability to heal itself while keeping all bodily functions at peak capacity, thereby allowing it to thwart all possible skin irritations and infections.

Vitamin deficiency can be corrected by taking vitamin B and iron supplements, and by eating vitamin-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish, lean red meat, dairy, and cheeses, to name a few. It's also advisable to be well-rested, to keep a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, to cut down smoking, and to limit the intake of alcoholic beverages.