What does cracking at the corners of the mouth mean?
A. Cracking at the corners of the mouth might be anemia or yeast. Look at the tongue. If there is a magenta or purple color, or visible fungiform papillae (strawberry spots), order the serum homocysteine test or begin a therapeutic trial of sublingual vitamin B12, along with B6, folic acid, betaine (TMG or trimethyl glycine), and dimethyl glycine (DMG) balanced with the other B vitamins. In adults, excess homocysteine connotes disordered sulfur metabolism and compromised detoxification, enhancing risk not only to depression and pain, but also to heart disease, cancer, and stroke. If you suspect yeast, reduce sugar. To treat topically, try tea tree in olive oil, or one of the inexpensive over-the-counter athlete’s foot creams.
