Chapped lips are one of the things that people hate most. Dry, cracked lips are so very painful and truly enough to drive a person crazy. Chapped lips are something that almost every person has at one point or another during their life, however there are some people who have a severe form of chapped lips that is called Angular Cheilitis. Angular Cheilitis can either be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection and is curable.

There are some ways that you can diagnose yourself with Angular Cheilitis. The first sign is if you have cracks or fissures in the corners on your mouth, if you see this, you could possibly have the illness. You should also notice considerable redness and possible swelling around the craked area. You might also notice that those areas are tender and sore. Sometimes, sores or ulcers start to develop in the area and they might bleed or fill with puss.

There are good chances that you will experience other problems like pain while eating, talking, or smiling. The hard thing is, when you open your mouth to eat or talk to another person, you will most likely re-open the sores causing further pain and infection. If your sores crust over and scab, it may cause the areas of your mouth to itch as they crack and heal many times over.

Once you think you have diagnosed yourself with Angular Cheilitis, it can be officially diagnosed by either your doctor or your dentist. You should know that depending on what causes the disease, there are different ways to diagnose it. Sometimes this is caused by a dental problem in which your dentist can diagnose and correct the problem. Some times this is caused by a medical problem in which your doctor will need to test you and help you find the solution to fix the problem.

Cheilitis can either be caused by a bacteria or a fungus. If you have the fungal form, it is caused by the exact fungus that causes a yeast infection. Your doctor can test the area to see if it is a fungus or a bacteria that is causing it. He can also do a blood text to see if there is something wrong with your immune system which can sometimes trigger cheilitis. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions about habits you have with your mouth and your eating habits.

Remember, you do not have to deal with the irritation and pain that comes with Angular Cheilitis. As soon as you think you have developed this disease, you need to go see your doctor or dentist immediately.