Perioral Dermatitis – About, Causes, Diagnosis, and More

About – Perioral Dermatitis

The Perioral dermatitis mainly affects children and women of childbearing age. The rash usually begins in the skin folds on the sides of the nose (nasolabial folds) and spreads around the mouth (perioral area). The rash spreads around the eyes and onto the forehead.

Many tell me that I am lucky to have excellent skin , without scars , blemishes , pimples or large pores .

I always answer that the only luck is genetics because my mother and my grandmother have wonderful skin. The rest has nothing to do with luck or glamor. Many people think that a good dermatologist and expensive creams will solve everything .

How do you know if you have this Type of Dermatitis?

The pustules spread rapidly; They appear in great concentration around the mouth, and sometimes they reach the area around the nose, hence the name ” perioral. ”

• They usually appear in people with atopic skin and with respiratory problems: asthma, rhinitis, etc.
• Pustules often hurt like an internal pimple, with the difference that they are already outside the skin.
• The stinging (very) often is a symptom
• The skin is usually dry in the affected area and with a very uncomfortable stretching sensation.

If you’ve seen the pictures and have many of these symptoms , see a dermatologist , as there are a dozen treatments – from topical or oral antifungals and antibiotics to low-dose retinoids .

Not all skin reacts in the same way to each treatment.

What works for one skin does not work for another.

The bad news here is that the treatment can be very long, taking up to 6 months or more to get rid of the problem completely and without guaranteeing that the problem will not return in a couple of years. If it has ever happened to you, the reappearance of the problem is quite likely.

What Causes Perioral Dermatitis?

Among other things, the abuse of corticosteroids , both topical and oral. When we use these types of drugs, the immune system is “depressed” to reduce inflammation . In this “waiting” state, the defenses are lowered and the body is less able to protect itself against other microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria that already exist on the skin. At this time these microorganisms multiply but, while you are using corticosteroids, you do not notice it .

When treatment with this type of drug is finally finished, perioral dermatitis appears as if by magic . I could almost call her “my friend” because I had her 4 times in 10 years. Last time, what caused my perioral dermatitis was using a cortisone nasal spray for a long time (for rhinitis).

It was recommend by an otolaryngologist who obviously had no idea of ​​my problem and I did not imagine, even my worst nightmare, that this drug could cause dermatitis . But he did. As I am not a first time and I already knew what it was, I called my dermatologist immediately and he prescribed the treatment for me, but he warned me:

The stress aggravates this condition and it is better not to look at the mirror for a couple of weeks. In all these ” dermatitis ” years of my life I read a lot of nonsense related to the subject on Dr. Google. Some websites say that cosmetics cause perioral dermatitis because the skin is dependent on the product and that the skin should not be moisturized during treatment.

The skin must be hydrated! First to reduce discomfort and second because hydrated skin is much healthier and more resistant .

I put photos of me so that no one has any doubt that I really had this problem and that I speak with knowledge of the facts. Many people have the same problem and do not even know what it is and as a result they spend years suffering with it. But here we are to help you!

Diagnosis

Perioral dermatitis is eminent from acne by the absence of black and white dots (comedones). Perioral dermatitis can be problematic to distinguish from rosacea .

However, rosacea does not cause a rash around the mouth and eyes. To diagnose rosacea instead of perioral dermatitis other symptoms of rosacea must be present. Other types of dermatitis as seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, are also rule out.

Treatment

• Avoid using fluoride toothpaste and topical corticosteroids
• Antibiotics
• Those affected by perioral dermatitis should stop using fluoride toothpaste and avoid topical corticosteroids. Some oily cosmetics, especially moisturizers, rather worsen the condition and should be discontinued.
• Antibiotic creams or gels are appling, or tetracyclines or other antibiotics are giving by mouth. Antibiotics can be stop after the rash is gone. If antibiotics do not cure the rash and the condition is especially severe, isotretinoin, an acne drug, is usually effective.
• Pimecrolimus cream (a medicine that suppresses the immune system) can be used in people older than 2 years of age.

Some Valuable Tips for dealing with Perioral Dermatitis

• Dodge touching the affected area so that the inflammation does not worsen.
• Keep the area hydrated according to the needs of your skin.
• Use sunscreen!
• Replace the toner with thermal water after cleansing your skin.
• Stop using foundation for a while.

I hope I have given you some useful advice because, as I said initially, many people suffer from this type of dermatitis and do not know what it is. They despair and get into treatments that often do not generate results.