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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
angular cheilitis or cold sore?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, child skin problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
angular cheilitis or cold sore?
by asim1, May 14, 2005 12:00AM
I'm currently 40 weeks pregnant and very concerned about a red irritation at the corner of my mouth. I know that if it is a cold sore, it is very contagious and dangerous for a newborn baby. I've had it for almost a month. It has blistered a little and gotten very dry and when I wiped away the dry skin it bled a little. My OB has no idea what it is and I've been to 2 dermatologists, one saying that it was probably a yeast infection or irritation related to the pregnancy. He gave me an antifungal cream Ertaczo but when I used it for 3 days, it got more red and irritated. I went to another derm and he gave me Desonide, which I have been using for 3 days and it seems to be getting rid of the red. When I ask if it is contagious to my baby, they both say "I'd be very surprised if it was" which doesn't make me feel a whole lot better, especially if it is something like oral herpes. I don't know if I should just keep my face away from the baby when she's born just in case, herpes can be devastating on a newborn. Also, the desonide seems to be working but I don't know if that when the redness is gone, whether I should stop using it and if I do, will it come back since it is just treating the symptoms, not the actual cause? Please let me know what you think because I feel like the docs are kind of brushing me off, nobody seems to tell me for sure if I can infect my baby and it's really stressing me out. Is this a condition that you've heard of in pregnancy before? Thanks in advance for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 15, 2005 12:00AM
, May 15, 2005 12:00AM
1. The herpes that poses the most risk to a newborn is genital herpes, not oral herpes.
2. Oral herpes usually affects the skin near the middle of the lip, not the corners of the mouth. Also, herpes lasts 7-10 days, not a month.
3. The most common rash at the corner of the mouth is called angular stomatitis. This can be caused by yeast, bit most often is just irritation. That fits with desonide helping. The redness may take time to fade.
Your doctors are steering you correctly. Good luck with your new baby.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
2. Oral herpes usually affects the skin near the middle of the lip, not the corners of the mouth. Also, herpes lasts 7-10 days, not a month.
3. The most common rash at the corner of the mouth is called angular stomatitis. This can be caused by yeast, bit most often is just irritation. That fits with desonide helping. The redness may take time to fade.
Your doctors are steering you correctly. Good luck with your new baby.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (3)
by jillmh, May 14, 2005 12:00AM
not a doc, but can relate. I have a healthy 18month old, but when i was 6 mo preg i got my 1st cold sore, an urgent care doc can scrape to confirm. my ob was concerned but assured me it could do no harm to my baby, and if i had one at the time of delivery , just try not to have contact when sore is present (around babys mouth)but they prescribed valtrex after scrape and blood work came back, and it was totally gone in a few days!! But symptoms your haveing are VERY similar to mine, so try not to worry!!
by HopefulWishing, Jul 10, 2005 12:00AM
To: Dr. Rokoff
My name is Marie and I am 18 years old. I was wondering the same thing about the sore on the corner of the mouth. It was not puss filled or bleeding. It was just dry like almost when you lick your lips alot and they get raw a little bit.When it went away it got flakey but i never remember it pussing or oozing anything or bleeding just dry craked and red right on the left corner of my mouth where the bottom and top lips meet. Is that herpes?It wasnt painful but like when you go to open your mouth wide it would feel funny because you are streching out the dry skin. Should i go get tested for Herpes. Thank You