Need DIS medical advice - Rash on mouth

[LisaR]

My 13 y/o has had a red rash around the corners of her mouth for a month now. She has an appointment with her doctor on January 13th.

From what I have researched, it is called angular cheilitis.

I have had her try the following treatments for one week each and it improves for a few days only to return:

Hydro-cortisone cream

Antibiotic cream

Antifungal cream


Anyone have this and know of a cure? It doesn't itch, bleed or crack. Just a large, red rash that makes her look like the Joker! Poor kid.

 

[VickiVM]

My boss had something like this a while back and she was using some cream/ointment that her dr. gave her. It went away after a couple of weeks or so. She masked it so well with her makeup, I didn't even really notice. Obviously wasn't so bad that she couldn't still wear makeup.

 

[themarquis]

I think angular chelitis is when the skin starts splitting around the corners of the mouth. There can be cracks, raw spots, and ulcerations. I don't think it would be just a rash around the mouth.

 

[Green Tea]

Is this a daughter? If so, my DIS diagnosis is Perioral Dermatitis.

Goes away on its own after about a year, or an oral doxicyclin antibiotic for a couple of months combined with Metrogel. Just my non MD opinion, of course.

Don't use steroid cream. Only makes it worse! See a dermatologist.

 

[LisaR]

My boss had something like this a while back and she was using some cream/ointment that her dr. gave her. It went away after a couple of weeks or so. She masked it so well with her makeup, I didn't even really notice. Obviously wasn't so bad that she couldn't still wear makeup.

I told her she made this whole thing up just so I will allow her to start wearing makeup at 13!

I think angular chelitis is when the skin starts splitting around the corners of the mouth. There can be cracks, raw spots, and ulcerations. I don't think it would be just a rash around the mouth.

From the descriptions I have read, cracking can occur but not everyone has it. But I am just taking a stab in the dark at what it might be so I could be totally off base.

Is this a daughter? If so, my DIS diagnosis is Perioral Dermatitis.

Goes away on its own after about a year, or an oral doxicyclin antibiotic for a couple of months combined with Metrogel. Just my non MD opinion, of course.

Don't use steroid cream. Only makes it worse! See a dermatologist.

I just googled perioral dermatitis. The pictures don't look at all like what she has. It looks more like the pictures shown with the angular chelitis. However, she does use a ton of stuff on her face to treat acne and it looks like those products could lead to perioral dermatitis. Hmmm........

I am thinking I should cancel the appointment with her GP and take her to a dermatologist instead.

 

[coneeny4]

Does she stick her hair in her mouth?

My DD had the same thing from sucking on her hair.

 

[LisaR]

Does she stick her hair in her mouth?

My DD had the same thing from sucking on her hair.

YES! But, she has done it since she was little and this is the first time she has ever had a rash.

This started right after her orthodontist visit last month. Not that that means anything but it was the only thing *different* that we have been able to come up with. We haven't switched soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, face cleaning products, lotions, etc. and she hasn't been eating anything out of the ordinary.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[monkey68]

Does it hurt her? When I was in high school, I had this really bad rash around my lips. Bright red, itchy and very unsightly. I was already self concious, but add this honking red thing framing my lips, and I was a mess. I think they just called it eczema, and some ointment got rid fo it. Aquaphor also helped a lot, as well as, oddly enough, the stuff they use for diaper rash.

You could probably keep the GP appointment instead of seeing a derm right away. Most GP's will be able to treat the more common skin complaints. It's only if they can't that they will send them to a derm. Of course, it's your right if you want to see a dermatologist or not, but I don't think it's necessary, IMO.

 

[asta]

This sounds like the same problem my daughter had when she was around 12 years old. She had an angry,red rash on the skin around her mouth that would not go away. Ended up taking her to one of the top juvenile dermatologists in town. He walked in the examination room, took one look and asked, "How many Altoids are you eating?". It turns out that she was eating three or four at a time and had developed an skin reaction to the strong mint that Altoids contain. He said that these things had a very high concentration of mint as opposed to other mints and he was seeing a lot of cases that he blamed on them. He said that when you are getting a reaction on just the skin around the mouth it is almost always because of something that you are eating.

My daughter had to stop using all products that contained mint for a few months in order to reduce the sensitivity that she had developed. The only thing that was a problem was using a toothpaste without mint. The rash cleared up and she was able to use mint in a more moderate amount after a couple of months.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I had this awhile back. It was very painful. I went to a great dermatologist who gave me prescription meds.

It has been awhile but I do recall I was not allowed to chew gum, had to drink from straws for a long time, had to keep the area free from getting bacteria in there.

No whitening products in toothpaste, no mouthwashes, hard candy, anything that would leave food on the sores.

Basically IIFC it is a bacterial infection that can't heal due to soft tissue. Now you would be concerned about MRSA.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone!

There isn't any pain at all. No itching either. There also isn't any open cut or sore and no bleeding. It looks like someone took a magic marker and colored the corners of her mouth/skin red. It is slightly flaky now but I assume that from the ointment.

She does not chew gum and hates mints with a passion. She isn't taking any type of medication and doesn't use mouthwash or whitening products.

 

[DarthKTrava]

And just hope it isn't MRSA. My nephew got that, probably from school. And now it's gotta be reported to the health dept. He's got one sore on the side of his mouth and another on his cheek (not sure if that's part of the MRSA) so his mother put some of the ointment he got from his doc (along with some nasty liquid medicine) on that too. And she has to stick some of that ointment up her nose too since she's treating him...

 

[Alex&Evan'sMom]

I had this a few years back. The corners of my mouth cracked and bled and it was pretty painful.(not to mention very unattractive.) It took 3 doctors and 4 months to figure out the cause. Mine was caused by a vitamin and iron deficiency. The doctor gave me a prescription for a cream(antigungal?) My advice is to head straight to a dermatologist. He's the one who solved my mystery. 2 days later it was all better.... Talk about a relief!

 

[LisaR]

And just hope it isn't MRSA. My nephew got that, probably from school. And now it's gotta be reported to the health dept. He's got one sore on the side of his mouth and another on his cheek (not sure if that's part of the MRSA) so his mother put some of the ointment he got from his doc (along with some nasty liquid medicine) on that too. And she has to stick some of that ointment up her nose too since she's treating him...

I really don't think it is MRSA. It did not start out as a boil or pimple. It is not an open wound. It is not a sore of any type. It is a red rash. She doesn't have any other symptoms and has had this for a month so I assume other symptoms would have shown up by now. Of course, I am not a doctor but I really don't think that is what it is.

I am going to call the dermatologist tomorrow and see how soon I can get her in there. If it is within a day or two of the appointment with her GP, I will go with them instead.

 

[MsDisney23]

I went and googled it. It looks to be a yeast infection and can last for months. Try having her use Lamisil AT, it is a cream that is used to treat Athlete's Foot. You can buy it OTC, but do not buy the generic brand, I had a freind who had this problem for months, she tried everything, Her physician finally sent her to an Infectious Disease Dr. and that is what he used to treat her. She cleared up in a short time. She has this problem from time to time and is able to head it off now. I hope that helps...

Note: Since It is the Holiday Season, I shall forgo the $25.00 co-pay J/k. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks everyone!

There isn't any pain at all. No itching either. There also isn't any open cut or sore and no bleeding. It looks like someone took a magic marker and colored the corners of her mouth/skin red. It is slightly flaky now but I assume that from the ointment.

She does not chew gum and hates mints with a passion. She isn't taking any type of medication and doesn't use mouthwash or whitening products.

If there is no pain or open wound, I think that you are in the wrong direction with what you think it is. The condition you are listing is VERY painful.

I had it and it took a few doc's to get some help. I had to seek out a derm that specialized in infections. The other ones were useless.