What is angular cheilitis?

What is angular cheilitis?

Angular cheilitis is a common inflammatory skin condition. It affects one or both corners of your mouth and causes irritated, cracked sores. Although painful, angular cheilitis usually isn’t serious.

Other names for angular cheilitis include angular stomatitis and perleche. Sometimes people confuse angular cheilitis with cold sores. But cold sores are a separate condition caused by a herpes virus. Cold sores are contagious; angular cheilitis is not.