Have you been dealing with redness and cracking at the corner of your mouth accompanied by soreness as well? If yes, then understand that your regular lip balm isn't going to cut the deal for you. Dry, patchy, and red skin around your lips and mouth can get quite frustrating and painful at times. Sometimes no matter how well you're trying to take care of your lips and keep them hydrated, problems like these can arise. It might be due to some underlying health issue or something entirely different.

Understanding what you're dealing with can help you plan well on how to heal the looming issue. Read on explore all about fungal infection of the lips and how to cure it.

Table Of Contents:

• What is Lips Fungal Infection
• Symptoms Of Fungal Lip Infection
• Causes Of Fungal Infection On Lips
• Treatment And Remedies For Lip Fungus 
• Treatment for Lip Fungus 
• Home Remedies For Lip Fungus

What is Lips Fungal Infection

Your cracked, red and inflamed lip that you've been dealing with for quite some time now might be a case of fungal overgrowth in your mouth. As per Dr. Michele Green, MD, a New York-based dermatologist, the warm moist saliva produced by constant licking of your lips can lead to the growth of yeast or fungus, mainly when saliva builds up in the corner o your mouth. Candida is the type of fungus that can cause infection on your lips, mouth, and throat as well.  

Any of us can get infected with this fungal infection known as thrush, but those with a weakened immune system are more prone to this infection. A clinical trial conducted on people infected with HIV-AIDS found one-third of the patients are suffering from oral candidiasis.

Symptoms Of Fungal Lip Infection

It's common to get muddled up with all the symptoms making it difficult to understand whether you're suffering from a fungal infection or something else. Your lips, tongue, throat, and linings of cheeks are common areas where this infection can strike. Here are a few common symptoms of a lip fungus:

• Cracked and red corners of the mouth
• White patches on the inside of your cheek or tongue
• Soreness at the intersection of your lips
• Cotton-like feeling in the mouth
  
  
• Pain while eating, chewing, and swallowing
• Loss of taste
• Itchiness and burning sensation at the corners of your mouth

Causes Of Fungal Infection On Lips

Candida is a harmless fungus that is most commonly found in all individuals' digestive systems and skin. However, in some situations and specific reasons, this fungus multiplies and leads to an infection. The most common causes of developing this fungal infection are:

• Excessive licking of your lips
• Health conditions that weaken your immune systems, such as diabetes or cancer
• A high-sugar components diet
• Smoking
• Consuming brad-spectrum antibiotics
• Use of a corticosteroid inhaler to treat asthma
• Constant sucking of your thumbs

Apart from those who suffer from a chronic health issue, infants and people with poor nutritional habits are susceptible to this lip fungus.

Treatment And Remedies For Lip Fungus

Getting terrified and anxious about this lip fungus won't do anything to cure the issue at hand. Instead, it could aggravate your problem, making it even more painful. There are several treatments and simple home remedies that can help you manage your symptoms with ease.  

Treatment for Lip Fungus

• Dietary changes: For infants suffering from a fungal lip infection, a lot of the time, this thrush resolves on its own without requiring any medical intervention. Still, consumption of lactobacillus food items such as yogurt can help in providing relief. Avoiding spicy food items is advisable as well.
• Antifungal medication: Bio-statin is one commonly used drug that works well against mild to moderate lip infection. This medication is available in different forms such as ointment, mouthwash, or tablets.
• Oral medication: Oral anti-yeast pills or an antifungal drug called fluconazole might be recommended by your dentist in case of severe infection.
• Beeswax balm: A soothing beeswax balm or vaseline is a great alternative as well. It can help prevent the build-up of excessive saliva that is the prime cause of a yeast infection developing.

Home Remedies For Lip Fungus

There certainly is no harm in trying a few known and tested at-home remedies to treat your lip fungus, as these safe methods can trigger the healing process and make it much quicker to get some solace from your pain and discomfort. Check these simple home remedies that can help alleviate your suffering:

• Maintain good oral hygiene: Using a soft bristles toothbrush, flossing regularly, and rinsing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash twice a day are some essential tips that can help you take care of your oral hygiene.
  
  
•  Also, it's vital to regularly clean your dentures with the cleaning solution recommended by your dentist.
• Baking soda: A study published in 2009 found baking soda to be quite effective in fighting against the overgrowth of yeast infection. Dissolve the ingredient in warm water and rinse your mouth with it just like your regular mouthwash.
• Apple cider vinegar: A study on this magical ingredient found that this rich ingredient infused with antifungal properties works exceptionally well against the overgrowth of lip fungus. Dilute ACV with water and rinse your mouth with this solution for effective results.
• Tea Tree essential oil: An all-natural essential oil infused with a soothing aroma can work well to provide relief from several physical and psychological ailments. Tea tree oil is one such oil that is quite effective in providing relief from lip infection and inflammation caused by it. Remember to always dilute it properly in a carrier oil when using it for topical applications. Make sure you find the 100% cold-pressed tea tree essential oil like WOW Skin Science's. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is fungal infection on lips contagious?

No, oral thrush or lip fungus is not contagious. 

Can I put antifungal cream on my lips? 

Yes, you can apply an over-the-counter antifungal cream to your lips.  

What does mouth fungus look like? 

Mouth fungus looks like creamy white lesions that appear on the corners of your mouth or inside your cheeks. Also, the corners of your mouth can appear red and swollen.  

Keeping your pouty lips healthy and moisturized all the time doesn't have to be that difficult. It just requires proper care and attention at the right time, identifying the symptoms of lip fungus on time, and taking immediate steps for healing it. The recommended tips can work exceptionally well to provide you with much-needed relief. Yet, if your pain persists for long, consult your dentist for proper analysis.  

Get those luscious lips back to their kissable self and let your silky smooth lips become a rage.