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What Is Perioral Dermatitis And How Do You Get Rid Of It?

Your stubborn "pimples" could be something else. - by Lauren Williamson
  • 24 Apr 2020
What Is Perioral Dermatitis And How Do You Get Rid Of It?

Whether you heard Hailey Bieber discuss how she deals with it or you've noticed a weird red rash around your mouth that just won't budge – you've come to right place for all the answers on perioral dermatitis.

Perioral dermatitis is a common inflammatory rash that occurs around the mouth. It can also spread to the nose and eye area, in which case it's called periorificial dermatitis.

Dermatologist Dr Natasha Cook told Women's Health says its common complaint in her patients and it's often made worse by prior mistreatment. 

"It is an underestimated diagnosis," Dr Cook says. "Commonly confused in the general medical community as eczema and then treated with steroid creams, which end up making it worse."

What are the symptoms of perioral dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis usually appears as a red, dry, flaky or scaly patches and small bump-like lesions that look like pimples. The inflammation is sometimes sensitive or itchy but not always. 

"When around the mouth area there is usually no rash or irritation near the pink boundaries of the lip," Dr Cook says. "We call this a rim of sparing around the mouth. It’s quite classic of the condition."

riccialexis View Profile
253 likes - View Post on Instagram
Getting super REAL with y'all today!! I have been promising a #PerioralDermatitis update on the blog for FOREVER and I finally got around to writing one!! Today I shared my latest flare up, what meds my doctor prescribed that actually helped and the #SLSfree products that have helped me!! Link in bio...check it out!!! 💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️ #skincare #PerioralDermatitisTreatment #Dermatitis #DermatitisTreatment #BeforeAndAfter #LoveYourSkin #NoFilter #NakedFace #SkincareBlogger #BeautyBlogging

What causes perioral dermatitis?

The exact cause of perioral dermatatis is not understood but Dr Cook says there are a number of different triggers she's noticed in her decades of experience dealing with skin. 

1. Depleting the skin barrier

Your skin barrier is essentially a combination of skin cells and lipids (a fancy word for fats) that keeps your skin healthy and functioning to protect your insides. Sabotaging your skin barrier allows moisture from your skin to evaporate easier and lets irritants to enter your body. Basically, it ain't good. 

"Lack of an intact barrier function results in a loss of your skin being able to protect itself," Dr Cook says. The skin the gets chronically irritated, inflammation sets in and perioral dermatitis is one of the manifestations."

There are plenty of ways to damage your skin barrier including not drinking enough water, environmental exposure and, beauty lovers listen up, going too HAM on harsh products. Misusing chemical and physical exfoliators is a major culprit. 

"Using skin care and skin treatments that compromise the skins barrier function and therefore the skin starts “acting out” like a rebellious teenage," she explains.

2. Pregnancy

Hormonal changes from pregnancy can sometimes trigger perioral dermatatis. There's also evidence that hormonal birth control can play a role. 

3. Misdiagnosis and mistreatment of other conditions

Often the use of steroid cream can trigger perioral dermatatis.

"People may have a dermatitis type rash," Dr Cook says. "They are given a steroid ointment that then takes the rash away (but not treating the underlying cause and fixing the skin barrier). The patient gets codependent on using the steroid cream and keeps using it. At first things go ok. Then when they stop using the steroid, the skin rebounds with really bad perioral dermatitis."

dermalexandra View Profile
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Just 3 days after I threw away my topical steroid. I can't even begin to tell you how painful and itchy my face was. It's been 3 weeks since this photo was taken, and I'm excited to share my progress 🤍 TOPICAL STEROID WITHDRAWAL IS REAL❕#perioraldermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal

Is perioral dermatitis contagious?

No, perioral dermatitis is not contagious. 

How is perioral dermatatis diagnosed?

Your GP or dermatologist can diagnose perioral dematitis with a visual assessment and medical history. 

How do you treat perioral dermatatis?

1. Assess your skincare routine

"First, stop all potentially irritating products: No foaming or scrubbing cleansers," Dr Cook says. "No active ingredients." 

Yep, step away from the AHAs and take it back to basics.

"Instead replace with gentle cleansing," she says. "Gentle moisturising. Morning and night. Aiming to reduce any further irritation and restore and rebuild the barrier layer.

2. Stop using steroid cream

The Australian College of Dermatologists recommend stopping the use of steroid creams if they are the suspected trigger. You're likely to see a rebound or flare-up of perioral dermatitis after you stop using the cream but don't be tempted to start using it again!

ceekayperez View Profile
11 likes - View Post on Instagram
#perioraldermatitis Still no sign of slowing down. It's now heading up my cheek and down my neck at the same time. It keeps drying out and cracking. Smiling hurts. It has also wrapped up around into my nose ?!!? I have another #dermatology appt coming up with a new place, with a second opinion appt near the end of the month at my old place. No ovarian cysts and my thyroid looks fine. I'm not sure where else to look now. #perioraldermatitissucks

3. Prescribed medication

"The gold standard prescription is oral anti-inflammatory antibiotics," Dr Cook says. "The tetracycline family. The ones commonly prescribed are minomycin and doxycycline. If pregnant we prescribe Erythromycin."

She says a topical anti inflammatory, non steroid cream can also help.

How long does it take to get rid of perioral dermatitis?

Unfortunately perioral dermatitis won't clear over night. Expect gradual improvement over a few weeks or months. 

ampernaskin View Profile
92 likes - View Post on Instagram
Sarahjane suffered from Perioral Dermatitis #perioraldermatitis; we helped her with our Soothing Duo and our Holistic PD tips. Email us any time for help with your skin. @ampernaskin⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ www.amperna.com - link in bio!
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Lauren Williamson
Lauren Williamson
Lauren Williamson is the Digital Content Manager for Women's Health and Men's Health. She's an experienced journalist, editor and social media fiend who's well versed in reporting on everything from food trends to fitness, health news to haircare. She has a double degree in Journalism and Political Science.

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