Can erythromycin eye ointment be applied to angular cheilitis?

Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment can be used to treat angular cheilitis caused by bacterial infections, but the type of angular cheilitis should be clearly identified before use. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment has a strong inhibitory effect against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus, and therefore is suitable for angular cheilitis caused by these bacteria. However, angular cheilitis also includes other types such as malnutritional, fungal infection-related, contact, and traumatic types, and erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is generally not effective for these types. Specifically, malnutritional angular cheilitis requires supplementation with nutrients such as vitamin B6, iron, and protein; fungal infection-related angular cheilitis should be treated with medications such as nystatin and clotrimazole; contact angular cheilitis requires discontinuation of the allergenic substance and the use of glucocorticoids under a doctor's guidance; traumatic angular cheilitis is caused by acute trauma or severe physical irritation and requires appropriate trauma management. If in doubt, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified physician.