Why is there yellow crust or ooze at the corner of my mouth?

Yellow or honey-colored crust at the corner of your mouth is most commonly caused by a condition called angular cheilitis. This happens when the skin at the corner of the mouth becomes cracked, irritated or infected. Common causes include saliva collecting in the area, lip licking, yeast, bacteria, dry mouth or dentures that do not fit well. It is a common condition and, in most cases, can be treated once the cause is identified.

What you'll learn in this article:

• Angular cheilitis is caused by saliva trapping in the corner of the mouth — not by a virus like cold sores, which means it is treated differently.

• Yeast (Candida) is found in the vast majority of cases, but bacteria like Staph or Strep can also cause or worsen the infection.

• Dentures that do not fit well, dry mouth, frequent lip licking, and nutritional deficiencies in iron, zinc, or B vitamins are the most common triggers.

• At-home care like applying petroleum jelly to keep the area protected can help while you wait to be seen, but prescription treatment is often needed if yeast or bacteria are involved.

• If symptoms last more than 1–2 weeks, keep coming back or spread beyond the corner of the mouth, that is a sign the cause needs to be identified and treated professionally.

If the area is not healing, keeps coming back or is becoming more uncomfortable, schedule an appointment with your dental provider. They can examine the area, find the cause and recommend the right treatment.

What is angular cheilitis?

Angular cheilitis — sometimes called perlèche or angular stomatitis — is a sore, cracked spot that forms at one or both corners of the mouth.

The skin may look:

• Red

• Dry

• Cracked

• Crusty

• Swollen

Sometimes yellow fluid or a yellow crust form on top of the broken skin. This can happen when germs grow in the area.

Many people think they just have chapped lips. The difference is that angular cheilitis usually stays at the corners of the mouth and often keeps coming back.

Why is there yellow crust at the corner of my mouth?

Yellow crust usually forms when cracked skin becomes irritated or infected. The corners of the mouth stay moist because of saliva. When saliva sits on the skin for a long time, it can damage the skin and make it easier for germs to grow.

Can a yeast infection cause yellow crust?

A yeast called Candida is one of the most common causes of angular cheilitis. According to the National Institutes of Health, Candida is present in the vast majority of angular cheilitis cases, often alongside bacterial co-infection ¹. Candida normally lives in the mouth, but it can grow too much when the skin stays wet.

Signs to look out for may include:

• Cracks at the corners of the mouth

• Burning or tenderness

• White or yellow crust

• Skin that keeps reopening after it heals

Can bacteria cause yellow ooze?

Yes, bacteria — particularly Staphylococcus (Staph) and Streptococcus (Strep) — can enter small cracks in the skin and cause a secondary infection that worsens the yellow crust and drainage.

You might notice:

• Yellow crust

• Mild drainage

• Redness

• Swelling

• Increased soreness

Why does saliva cause cracking?

Saliva may seem harmless, but it can irritate the skin when it stays in one spot for too long.

This often happens because of:

• Lip licking

• Drooling during sleep

• Mouth breathing

• Dentures that do not fit well

• Deep folds around the mouth

Over time, the skin becomes weak and starts to crack.

Could it be something other than angular cheilitis?

Is it a cold sore or angular cheilitis?

Cold sores and angular cheilitis are different problems.

Cold sores usually:

• Start as small blisters

• Can appear anywhere on the lips

• Are caused by a virus

Angular cheilitis usually:

• Forms at the corners of the mouth

• Causes cracks more than blisters

• Is linked to saliva, yeast or bacteria

• May affect one or both sides

Could it be impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that can also cause yellowish or honey-colored crusting around the mouth. Unlike angular cheilitis, impetigo is highly contagious and can spread to other parts of the face.

Key differences:

• Impetigo can appear anywhere on the face, not just at the mouth corners

• It is caused by Staph or Strep bacteria spreading on the skin surface

• It spreads easily through touch or sharing items

If the crusting is spreading beyond the corners of your mouth or affecting other areas of your face, your dental provider may refer you to a physician for further evaluation.

Can skin irritation cause crusting?

It can. Some people react to products that touch the skin around the mouth.

Possible triggers include:

• Toothpaste

• Lip products

• Face creams

• Skin conditions such as eczema

If the problem keeps coming back, your dental provider may recommend further evaluation.

Who is more likely to get angular cheilitis?

Anyone can develop angular cheilitis, but some people have a higher risk.

Common risk factors include:

• Dentures that do not fit properly

• Dry mouth

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• Low iron levels / low zinc levels

• Low vitamin B levels

• Frequent lip licking

• A weakened immune system

According to Cleveland Clinic, dentures are a common risk factor because they can create folds where saliva collects around the mouth corners.²

How is angular cheilitis treated?

The right treatment depends on whether yeast, bacteria, or another factor is causing the irritation. Your Aspen Dental provider will examine your mouth and may recommend:

• Prescription antifungal creams (such as clotrimazole or nystatin) if a yeast infection is present

• Prescription antibiotic ointments if bacteria (like Staph or Strep) have entered the cracked skin

• Barrier ointments (such as petroleum jelly or zinc oxide cream) to protect the healing skin from moisture and saliva

• Denture adjustments to improve how your teeth fit together and prevent saliva from pooling in the corners of your mouth

• Dry mouth treatments, including hydrating rinses or saliva substitutes, to keep your mouth comfortably moist

• Nutritional testing to check for low iron, zinc, or B vitamin levels, which can be corrected with supplements

Most cases of angular cheilitis begin to clear up within a few days once the correct treatment starts and the skin has time to heal.

What can I do at home while waiting to be seen?

While scheduling an appointment, a few steps can help protect the area and slow the irritation:

• Stop licking your lips: Saliva will continue to break down the skin and make the condition worse.

• Apply a thick barrier ointment: Petroleum jelly or a zinc oxide cream can protect the cracked skin from moisture and reduce further irritation.

• Keep the area as dry as possible: Pat gently with a soft cloth after eating or drinking.

• Do not pick at the crust: This can reopen the skin and increase the risk of infection.

These steps can provide some relief, but they are not a substitute for treatment. If yeast or bacteria are causing the problem, a prescription antifungal or antibiotic is usually needed.

When should you see your dental provider?

Schedule an appointment with your dental provider if:

• Symptoms last longer than 1–2 weeks

• The area keeps cracking open

• Yellow drainage keeps returning

• Redness spreads beyond the corner of the mouth

• Eating or speaking becomes uncomfortable

• The problem keeps coming back

These symptoms may mean the area needs professional treatment.

What to do next

Yellow crust or ooze at the corner of your mouth is often caused by angular cheilitis. The problem usually starts when the skin becomes cracked and stays wet from saliva. Yeast, bacteria and irritation can then make the area worse.

The good news is that most cases can be treated once the cause is found. If symptoms are not improving or continue to return, visit an Aspen Dental office near you. Your dental provider can examine the area and help determine the best treatment.

Why is there yellow crust or ooze at the corner of my mouth? FAQs

Does angular cheilitis go away on its own?

In mild cases, angular cheilitis may improve on its own if the irritant — such as lip licking or poorly fitting dentures — is removed. However, if yeast or bacteria are involved, the infection usually will not clear up without treatment. Most cases respond well to prescription antifungal or antibiotic medication once the cause is identified. Symptoms that do not improve within 1–2 weeks should be evaluated by your dental provider.

Can stress cause angular cheilitis?

Stress does not directly cause angular cheilitis. However, stress can affect overall health and may make some people more likely to develop mouth problems.

Can angular cheilitis happen on only one side of the mouth?

Yes. Some people develop it on one side, while others develop it on both sides.

Will lip balm cure angular cheilitis?

Lip balm may help with dryness, but it usually will not fix the underlying cause if yeast, bacteria or another problem is present.

How long does angular cheilitis take to heal?

With the right treatment, mild cases of angular cheilitis often begin to improve within a few days and heal completely within 1–2 weeks. Cases caused by a yeast or bacterial infection may take longer if prescription medication is needed. Without treating the underlying cause — such as ill-fitting dentures or a nutritional deficiency — symptoms are likely to return even after the skin heals.

Sources

¹National Institutes of Health (StatPearls) – Angular Cheilitis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536929/

²Cleveland Clinic – Angular Cheilitis: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21470-angular-cheilitis