ᐅ Crack in the External Insulation – Potential Issue with Water or Moisture?

Good evening dear experts,

I have a crack in the external insulation, which was obviously caused by the attachment of the rain gutter – the crack is about 30-40 cm long (12-16 inches).

I have a few questions:

- Is this purely a cosmetic issue, or can water or moisture penetrate the crack, potentially causing mold or further damage to the external insulation? Opinions online seem to vary quite a bit.

- If I want to fix it – what would be the best method? Filling it with filler (which type?)? I am concerned that the crack might be too narrow to properly press filler in. If this is done – should it be done now in winter or would it be better to wait until spring or summer?

- Or would it be easiest to simply apply exterior paint over it repeatedly until the crack is no longer visible?

While we’re at it – are there general recommendations for how often the exterior paint should be renewed (10, 15, 20 years, etc.)?

Thank you in advance and

Best regards.