If you've been slathering on chapstick for weeks and those corner cracks keep coming back, you don't have dry lips.
You have an infection.
Angular cheilitis starts as a single crack at the corner of your mouth. But once that crack forms, bacteria and yeast (Candida and Staph) get trapped inside and turn it into a painful, bleeding wound that tears open every time you eat, yawn, or smile.
Why Lip Balm Makes It WORSE
Here's what nobody tells you: the more balm you use, the worse it gets.
Chapstick, Vaseline, and Aquaphor trap moisture and bacteria in the crack — creating a warm, sealed environment where yeast thrives. That's why you're stuck in this loop:
→ Apply balm → Feel better for 10 minutes → Crack tears open again → Back to square one
You're not treating the infection. You're feeding it.