I (male, age 75) always get a broken, inflamed corner of my mouth on the right side in the fall and winter. How come and is there anything that can be done about it? Do I have a vitamin deficiency?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
No, I suspect that you sleep on the right side and that, when it gets a bit colder, a little saliva remains in the corner of your mouth. This moisture softens the skin and often leads to a fungal infection. After all, a person’s mouth contains bacteria and fungi. The problem is more likely to arise as you get older and get more wrinkles around your mouth, especially if you have dentures that you take off at night. It often helps to lubricate the corners of the mouth with a greasy ointment (such as Vaseline) before going to sleep. If there is an infection, zinc oil or an antifungal cream can help. In principle, you can use the same as for athlete’s foot. Once it has recovered, keep the corners of your mouth as fat as possible. A regular lip balm is also good greasy.
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