Tips on Dealing With Canker Sores by Dermatologist Dr.Hanish Babu, MD

These are also known as Aphthous ulcer or recurrent aphthous stomatitis

It is a common disorder, characterized by recurrent, painful ulceration of the oral mucosa. It affects around 15-20% of the population.

Exact cause of canker sores are not known. Emotional stress has been found to precipitate attacks. Current opinion among dermatologists favours a autoimmune mechanism in the causation whereby autoantibodies formed against oral mucosa triggers the inflammation and ulceration

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There are three main types of aphthae, the minor, the herpetiform the major

Minor Aphthae: Small, around 5-6 mm in size, rarely number more than 5 and heals in a bout a week's time

Herpetiform Aphthae: Similar to the monor, but grouped as in herpetic lesions. Rare type.

Major Aphthae: Also known as Sutton's aphthae. Larger, deeper ulcers, more in number, last for 2-3 months and heal with scarring. Very painful.

The ulcers starts with mild burning or stinging sensation on the site and showing erythema or redness in a localized area.

This area soon becomes greyish and the overlying mucosal epithelium sloughs off leaving a painful ulcer.

The patient finds it difficult to tolerate hot and spicy foods.

Recurrent attacks may be really trouble some

Tips on dealing with the aphthae

Take one ounce of water and dissolve the contents of one capsule of 250 mg Tetracycline in it. Dip a wad of cotton in it and keep the cotton pressed against the ulcer for 5-10 minutes before and after food. (Caution: Brush your teeth well afterwards, as tertracycline can cause yellow discoloration of the teeth!)
Learn to manage stress if the recurrence is common and severe.
Avoid too much spicy, hot foods
Get good sleep.
Take a multivitamin mineral supplement regularly
In particularly resistant cases where patient get frequent recurrences, I also recommend an oral course of Doxycycline. Levamizole and metronidazole are also tried.
Though advised, I avoid using steroid oral gels to treat the aphthae, as I have seen patients coming with deepening of the ulcer after steroid application

About Your Online Dermatologist

Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a non resident Indian Dermatologist & Venereologist practicing in Ajman, UAE. He is the author of the well known Stress management package 10 Days to Stress Free Life and a net-entrepreneur. He is also a certified hypnotist, stress management trainer and personality development trainer. He is the web editor of half a dozen web sites on the above subjects.

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CANKER SORES (Aphthous Ulcers)