If you would like to know how to treat perleche naturally, there are a few simple steps which might help bring some relief.
Perleche is a common condition affecting the corners of the mouth and lip edges and is characterised by painful, small splits and cracks which won't seem to heal.
The condition is also known as angular cheilitis.
It can be difficult to determine the precise cause in an individual as this can vary from person to person.
Common causes include nutritional deficiencies, ill-fitting dentures, pen biting, finger sucking and exposure to extreme elements.
What happens is that it is not as simple as keeping the area dry.
Once exposed to constant moisture, bacterial infection can take hold and eventually this becomes fungal in nature.
This then is extremely difficult to eradicate and various over the counter creams and remedies do little than offer some temporary relief.
For those wanting to learn how to treat perleche naturally, one of the first steps to take is to stop moisture from dampening the area.
If badly fitting dentures are an issue, then have them corrected.
If pen biting or finger sucking are the issue, then dip the offending objects in a harmless bitter tasting liquid, such as that sold to prevent nail biting.
Another easy step is to apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the lips and lip edges.
Although this will not heal it, it will give some temporary pain relief.
You can also protect the mouth area from extremes of temperature by wearing a cotton scarf over the lower part of the face.
The best way to treat perleche is to dry up the moist area as neither bacteria or fungal infections can survive without oxygen and moisture.
Once this is done, the cracks will heal extremely quickly and an improvement will be seen within hours.