Risk factors
Angular cheilitis can be observed in anybody, regardless of age and gender. However, several factors make you more susceptible to having the condition. These factors include:
- Poor-fitting dentures
- Losing a substantial amount of weight
- Regularly licking your lips
- Being a smoker
- Having down syndrome
- Having nutritional conditions, especially vitamin B group.
- Frequent intake of antibiotics [2]
- Using retinoid substances
- Having an unstable immune system
- Being over the age of 75
- Having dry mouth
- Having inflammatory conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome
- Severe health diseases, which include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or diabetes)
Studies show that some health conditions can make you more susceptible to angular cheilitis. The conditions include:
- Anemia [3]
- Down syndrome
- Blood cancer
- Diabetes
- Immune diseases, such as HIV
- Kidney, liver, lung, or pancreatic cancer