Perioral Dermatitis was one of my biggest wellness foes for over a decade.
If you’ve read my book The Wellness Project or SIBO Made Simple, then you also know that getting fed up with the bumpy pixilated rash around my nose and mouth was the biggest catalyzing event that got me to turn my life upside down.
And yet, if I’d known how quickly and easily my skin could change for good with just a few changes to my diet and routine, I would have gone on this makeover journey so many years before.
I am constantly getting questions from people asking for advice on how to heal Perioral Dermititis naturally and what I did to finally move the needle. So I thought I’d take the time to put my biggest tips into one post.
Of course, if you want the full story, I’d recommend picking up a copy of the book, since I’d assume that the habits I put into place over the course of my year of health—balancing my hormones, fixing my gut, overhauling my product pantry, etc.—were a big part of the long-term solution.
In other words, some of these recommendations below were what cleared up my PD immediately and quickly, but likely it was a more diverse toolkit that kept it away for good. Especially if you have an autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism or are prone to IBS symptoms, SIBO can be a big underlying cause of chronic skin issues like perioral dermatitis. Click here to learn more.
After annual relapses that took me from middle school through college and into early adulthood, and the revolving door of the dermatologist’s office that blasted my gut with every antibiotic under the sun, I can proudly say that I’ve been more or less perioral dermatitis-free for 6 years.
Below is what I looked like at the beginning of January 2014; what I looked like two weeks later thanks to my lifestyle and diet changes; and finally, what I looked like at the end of my first month of the new protocol. I took a selfie every morning to check my progress, and you can really see the inflammation slowly going down and my skin smoothing. By the end, there’s just a little subtle scarring above the lip and a faint shadow where the rash used to be around the mouth. All the other pictures in this post are of my skin as it stands today, albeit with a little bit of makeup.
Every once in a while when my body is run down or there’s extreme changes in the weather (mostly the East Coast wintery mix) I see faint Perioral bumps creeping back into their old habitat. But for the most part, referring to the list of practices below helps me nip it in the bud before true havoc can fully take hold on my face.
When I look at “before” pics like the ones above, it feels like a distant memory. And I’m so grateful for that, since my reflection in the mirror caused me so much undue frustration and pain and dollars spent on foundation over the years.
If you’re in the weeds dealing with Perioral Dermatitis and all your dermatologist has offered you is a prescription pad of antibiotics, I can offer you a little bit of hope. There is so much you can do on your own to uncover your root causes and ease into your own perioral dermatitis healing stages. Sadly most doctors in charge are not going to navigate this journey for you, so let the tips below be your guide.
With health and hedonism,
Phoebe
WHAT IS PERIORAL DERMATITIS
Perioral dermatitis is a facial rash, most commonly occurring in women. It usually sticks to the areas around the mouth and sides of the nose, and presents as small raised pink bumps.
Both the color and the texture of the rash, in addition to the great amount of real estate it can take up, can make it particularly annoying to cover up with creams and powders. Meaning, it can be a real source of self-consciousness and misery.
It’s also known as a recurring condition, and many dermatologists will offer the same treatment over and over again.
Though one common precursor is overuse of steroid creams and nasal sprays, the cause of recurring perioral dermatitis is unknown. As my dermatologist put it: it means there’s something out of balance in the body. She just had no interest in helping me discover what that was.
PERIORAL DERMATITIS HEALING STAGES, TREATMENTS, MEDICATIONS AND CURES
When traditional dermatology is faced with a case of perioral dermatitis, it usually turns to a bevy of oral antibiotics and antibiotic creams. These treatments can be very effective in getting the rash to go away. But as I learned the hard way through countless rounds of them, it is only a temporary relief and the rash will eventually come back.
Meanwhile, the broad spectrum antibiotics prescribed do untold damage to the health of your underlying bacterial ecosystem.
Each course of one such medication can wipe out 1/3 of your beneficial gut bacteria. These medications can also make you prone to gut conditions like SIBO.
When you consider that perioral dermatitis is being caused by some sort of imbalance in the body (most likely associated with a thyroid or a gut issue), you can see how these short term benefits can only feed the fire of your underlying condition long-term.
My podcast interview with Dr. Amy Bader on the subject of the skin-gut connection does a great job of explaining why antibiotics can show results, and also why they are so damaging to the health of your skin and the body it covers in the long run.
If you’re here reading this post and dealing with these skin issues, I’d recommend giving the episode a listen for more information on the underlying narrative in your body.
Luckily, there are plenty of simple changes you can make to your lifestyle, over the counter products, and natural remedies that can help you manage your perioral dermatitis and kick it to the curb for good.
MY TIPS AND NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR CURING PERIORAL DERMATITIS
Give your liver a rest: go caffeine, sugar and alcohol-free for a few weeks.
When I began my wellness project in 2015, the first thing I did was give up alcohol, caffeine and sugar for 1 month. This came after advice that the easiest way to clear my skin from PD was to give my liver a rest. If you think about the connection between perioral dermatitis and women with hormonal imbalances and autoimmune conditions, it’s only logical that the liver would be the best one stop shop to get things running smoothly again. It’s responsible for clearing excess hormones, antibodies, and other toxins. If it’s not doing an efficient job in this realm, inflammation is inevitable. Though there are also common correlations to fungal or bacterial imbalances in the gut, starting with giving your liver a rest can also have a positive downwind effect for other digestive organs.
I’m not saying that this will be the case for everyone, but when I gave up these three vices I noticed a remarkable difference in my PD within a few weeks. At the end of the month, it was almost healed entirely. And though I did reintegrate these substances back into my diet in moderation, my PD never fully came back. I attribute this to the big boost I gave my liver and microbiome with this month of detox, and also implementing the changes below thereafter.
Your liver is also chiefly responsible for the health of your thyroid. Even if you’re on thyroid medication, your liver might not be able to convert your medication (usually, T4) into the bioavailable form T3. If you’re unsure where you stand, it’s important to get a full thyroid panel.
Rule out food intolerances.
Though I had done an elimination diet prior to getting my perioral dermatitis under control, I can definitely say that being more diligent about fully giving up my problem foods was one thing that contributed to my long-term healing. We all have different sources of inflammation, and the foods we eat three times a day tend to be common culprits. For me, it was gluten (as it is for many Hashimoto’s folks). For you, it could be soy, dairy or corn. If you’ve never done a basic elimination diet, it’s worthwhile knowledge to have. I have a few meal plans that can help you cook for one.
Switch to natural skincare products.
Harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens inflame already sensitive skin even more. If the ingredient list alone of many of your products—and the association to cancers, autoimmune conditions, and the like—doesn’t inspire you to switch to naturals, then the potential for clearing your PD should. Though some essential oils can be irritating, generally speaking, green beauty products tend to be much gentler on inflamed skin.
Definitely start by getting rid of anything with microbeads or exfoliants and creams or toners that burn. Here are some of my favorite products. You can also simply start at one of the fabulous retailers like Follain that curate the best of the naturals aisle for you.
Making sure that your laundry detergent is also free of these chemicals, is equally important, especially given the amount of time our face spends in contact with towels and pillowcases (see below). I like these plastic-free fragrance-free pods.
Change your toothpaste: try fluoride-free.
Even traditional dermatologists admit that toothpaste can be a big trigger for perioral dermatitis. Just think about where on the face PD tends to crop up—right around your mouth where foamy excess toothpaste can often infiltrate. If you’ve never experimented with switching toothpastes, this is an easy place to start. In addition to fluoride-free options, you also want to make sure that there are no surfactants like sulfates that contribute to the foamy consistency. Some people also might be sensitive to mint varieties. Here is my guide to the best natural brands and what to avoid on the ingredient list. Experiment to see if this moves the needle for you.
Do a 24 hour product detox.
If it’s not toothpaste or chemicals in your skincare routine, there’s always a chance that one particular ingredient is irritating your face. Plants and herbs are strong substances and it’s totally possible despite their origin being the earth that you can react to one or another. The easiest way to uncover the culprit is to do a 24 hour detox where you use zero products. Add them back in one by one and take notes on if you notice any changes. If it’s an external trigger, the effects should become apparently fairly quickly. Interior inflammation and dietary triggers can be harder to pinpoint as their effects often occur days or even weeks after an exposure.
The fewer ingredients, the better.
For skincare, the fewer ingredients in your routine, the less your face will have to deal with, and the easier it will be for you to get to the bottom of any problem products. I love the brand SW basics because all of their products are 5 ingredients or less. You can also use honey as a cleanser and other singular ingredients from your kitchen to replace common items in your skincare routine.
Avoid face oils.
All that said about natural products, many moisturizers in the green beauty isle are oil-based. Contrary to popular belief, this does not cause more oil build-up in the skin and is completely suitable for those prone to acne or breakouts. However, face oils can tend to be too heavy for some people dealing with perioral dermatitis. Stick with a light cream moisturizer that includes calming ingredients. This blue chamomile moisturizer was the first one I tried, and I definitely owe my skin’s on-going happiness to it.
Choose a gentle, milky cleanser—not one that foams.
When my skin was at its worst, I’d revert to the Clean & Clear (and under control!) commercials of my adolescence and fiercely wash my face as often as possible. But by removing all the moisture, I had apparently just been causing more oil to appear as my skin desperately attempted to hydrate and protect itself. As someone with sensitive skin, I was told that I should use a gentle cleanser without foaming surfactants. I switched to this lavender cleansing milk and have since also tried this wonderful ocean milk cleanser—both are effective at getting off dirt without stripping your skin of its natural defenses or irritating it further. This black clay cleansing bar was formulated specifically for people with perioral dermatitis. Since it gets sudsy, if you have very dry skin, I would go with one of the milks instead.
Only wash your face once a day.
Per the above advice, it’s really not necessary to cleanse multiple times a day. At night before you get into bed, making sure you get all that dirt and grime off your face is obligatory. But in the morning? All you’ve been doing is laying under the covers. Just a few splashes of water will suffice to freshen up for the day ahead. After I made this small change, my skin ironically seemed a lot less oily and more balanced.
Wash (or change) your pillowcase weekly.
Of course, the only reason your skin might get dirty at night is if you’re sleeping on a pillowcase that’s been collecting dust and dead skin cells for weeks on end. If there’s one item in your bedding that could stand to be washed or rotated every week, it’s your pillowcases, or at least just the one you put your face on. And again, wash them with a fragrance-free all natural detergent like this one.
Use a clean face towel.
Especially if you share a bathroom with a roommate or significant other, make sure you have a dedicated face towel that is just yours. Otherwise, you’ll be washing your face and then immediately putting it into contact with remnants of your partner’s hand soap, deodorant, or other harsh products. This is also an item that should be washed as often as possible.
Take your makeup off at night and sanitize your makeup brushes.
When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? A month ago? Two? Ever…? That’s what I thought. It is often the last thing on our hygiene list, and yet, we use the same pads and brushes every day to put on our face, and they can get just as grody as your face towel and pillowcase. Wash them once a week in unscented castile soap and lay them on a towel to air dry.
Give your skin time to breathe.
The irony of makeup is that the skin we feel most self-conscious about is often the same skin that benefits most from not being spackled with heavy powders and concealer. If you can allow yourself some make-up free days during PD flare-ups, it will help expedite things calming down and returning to normal.
Have you had any other success stories with natural perioral dermatitis treatments or lifestyle changes? Any inflammation-based condition is so individual. Some people might have food triggers, others environmental ones. I would love to hear any of your own experiences or advice in the comments.
I found your website and book through searching for perioral dermatitis a few years ago. Mine was/is caused my using steroid nasal sprays, which sucks because I also have bad allergies! I still learned a bunch from your book!
I just developed this myself because of nasal spray use for allergies. I have never had skin issues other than an occasional blemish now this! I didn’t develop allergies until I was in my 30s and they have gotten worse the last 5 years. I’m 52 this week.
Evan Healy’s Blue Chamomile line is THE BEST for calming down angry skin! I started there, cleared by PD, then I’ve since grown on to love Alpyn and Tata Harper (it’s funny, my skin is happier than ever before). But I’m never without my rose hydrosol from Evan Healy and the Shea Butter/Olive Balm for winter! Ps. Osmia makes AMAZING products for sensitive/PD skin (i’m a huge fan of lip repair and lip doctor for my stress-upperlip rubbing habit when work goes nuts).
Can you post links for any of these products? I’ve never heard of any of these companies.
I looked up the Evan Healy Blue Chamomile moisturizer – Is that what you used to clear your PD? How long did it take?
I have been using the Osmia Black Clay soap and the Purely Simple moisturizer and initially I saw improvement but then my PD started getting worse again. I sure wish I knew what caused mine bcz I’ve never used steroids.
I too have been suffering with it. how has yours been? I was thinking of getting the blue chamomile moisterizer. Have you gotten it?
In my PD journey I discovered that nothing but a dilution of oregano oil and olive oil helped my PD to almost entirely disappear in just 3 days of continuous use. I’ve struggled for over a year with it and tried all kind of creams and ointments prescribed by my dermatologist. Nothing helped until I experimented on myself this oil combination. It might help someone out there, too.
How often an show dis you apply
What is the dilution you mix???
It would be helpful if u would provide the amounts of each oil and how often u applied. When u say oregano oil, are u referring to oil of oregano? That really strong stuff that is taken orally for a cold/flu?
My daughter suffered through this when she was about 10 years old. We tried the food and other items we were told to avoid like fluoride free toothpaste, and some creams from the dermatologist. These made no change for her. What healed it, super quickly, was straight up zinc oxide. It was pretty amazing to watch. We found one that rubbed in easily, and didn’t leave her with a white streaks all over her face.
Do you remember what brand did she used?
Which one did she use? I’d like to buy that one!
After applying the cream what else did you do?
Beautiful and super helpful comment.
Thank you.
I myself am Vegan, I cook everything from scratch, do not consume processed foods, nothing from tin, no fizzy drinks, no sugar(refined or other), no alcohol.
I dont use fluoride toothpaste either and I’ve been living this same lifestyle for many years. I eat spelt bread and not much, gluten isn’t my issue either.
So nothing of what’s mentioned is making any difference. I’ve never in my life have had acne or spots over my face, unless allergic. Even in my teens my face was super clear.
I’m now 43 years old(no teen at all, even though I look like one with the PD)
I’m severely allergic to dairy (being Vegan means I DO NOT consume dairy at all).
My opinion is that there isnt one method that fits all and I understand that this isn’t the implication of this blog. What I found works for me is the oil cleansing method, only natural, no preservatives or aditives homemade paste of sulphur cream 10%, plus cocoa butter, shea butter, neem oil, coconut oil, lemongrass and tea tree.
It really calms the skin and makes the inflammation of PD dry out. However it would not help on its own. It is to help keep one’s skin moisturised and soft.
I also use zink(as a no aditives vegan supplement- clean & sometimes sink cream, yet have not tried the Zink as a solution neat). Thus far zink+ antibiotic(topical) helps only against the itch and I use it rarely and if nessesery.
I’ve been battling this PD condition for almost a year, drom nagging to my GP, to being referred 3 months later , to finding out what I have and yet to find out what actually works for me in the long run…
May I mention the connection between VIT. B deficiency (any of the B’s) as a posible underlying issue.
I have thoroughly researched and thus far have not seen anyone mention the possibility of VIT B deficiency, along Iron. I’m currently adding Vit B Complex and after only a week and a half of that my inflamed zone has dryied out and my skin looks way better. I’d like to see if by next circle my skin will clear completely and whether the PD will vanish. Will update, as i think it may be beneficial to others who alike me have not discovered what works for them in the long run.
I’d like to also stress the hormonal side to the appearance of PD, as well as internal heat(STRESS).
I get inflammation before my cycle, then my skin heals gradually, following my regime above. However I am still to discover what will free me from its monthly appearances.
I will now attempt the zink solution suggested above and hope for the best.❤
Any updates?
My skin is healing pretty fast after a couple of weeks ot using Vit B Complex, however I’ll need to wait for my blood tests, then results and meanwhile observe.
I’m super positive, so lets see.
Will update in at least couple more weeks.
Hi Priya,
My test results have arrived and I am deficient in Vit D.
Which explains my continued skin issues (first time in my life).
My Dermatologist is the absolute best and I am so grateful.
So I am not deficient on Vit B, but Vit D, which is strongly linked with Exzema, Psoriasis and Perioficial & Perioral Dermatisis.
I am starting supplements tomorrow and will update within a month or so.
I am so grateful to have found out.
When you guys use supplements , please look for clean supplements, without additives and binders. I swear by Time’s Health and highly recommend all their products. They are Vegan and absolutely clean. The price is reflecting the quality.
I hope my discovery helps others who are struggling with skin issues for the first time in their life, yet live green and healthy and wonder what the cause might be.❤
Any update after taking the Vit D? I’m having my second flare up. I’m 20 weeks pregnant so I’m really limited on what I can take do…
Unfortunately stress and hormonal changes are factors that have impact on PD.
Do check your Vit D, Vitamin B12 and Iron levels.
Do not self supplement.
Only if advised by a Medical professional.
Eliminate Sugar and Dairy(if you can).
I hope I was able to help.
Best wishes,
Silviya
I so appreciate all you have written!!! I too am vegan, and 44 years old, and have had wonderful skin until last year when this PD came. it has been a struggle, and not sure what i am doing wrong, since everything I eat, and topicals are all clean and natural… I wonder if I too am deficient in Vit D and that is why.please let me know how you are doing, The last time you posted was on the 9th of Feb. all my best to you. It is nice to read a conscious comment such as yours…
Hi Dana,
Firstly, thank you so much for the lovely words.
Since last time I posted on this blog my skin has 99.9% recovered.
I healed myself almost completely (scars free also) in 7 months by following a strict Elimination food plan created on a base of a Food Alergy- Food Sensitivity report done privately by
UK based:
https://checkmybodyhealth.com/
Must I stress that I was already aware of some of my severe allergies, however I was not aware that my gut can’t process countless of other foods(vegetables, some pulses, nuts ext). This report was 55 pages long and included a full disclosure of vitamin deficiency, gut bacteria report ext ext.
Very very detailed and super helpful.
The advise of this report was to get rid of all high allergens (marked Red), then continue on to the (Amber marked), instead I eliminated ALL RED & AMBER AT ONCE. For now 8 months I’ve been on a very strict plan, I am super determined and strict, and it is why I’ve successfully achieved this amazing results in only 7 months.
Meanwhile this report exposed deficit of some minerals, which I’ve added to my plan, as I have added Probiotics, Iron, Vit D(I stopped Vit B12, as my body didn’t lack it, I added Manganese for a short period too. Please note that my plan is only relevant to ME AND MY BODY and in no way will be helpful to another unless they test their body for food allergies , vitamin deficiency ext.
I began to suffer with mild Periorificial Dermatitis in May 2020, that was after I had gone through Covid(I had it VERY MILD, yet it had hit my immune system (MY GUT) badly.
Hence the skin issue settled on my entire face end of June/July and that was sore, horrific and uncomfortable.
All that my Doctord advised was wrong(antibiotics and topical solutions ) and I am grateful I followed my intuition, created my own regimen and followed it strictly.
I have since also qualified as a Vegan Nutritionist and can now help others who struggle with skin issues, beginning with advising appropriate health check before hand, on the base of which I’d create a plan for them to follow and succeed.
I’ve passed my last exam with Distinction-(to Diploma qualify) with my own case and my own results.
Please feel free to contact me direct on [email protected]
I hope others find my messages helpful.
Remember- everything starts with and within Oneself. Our immune system is out gut. Healing this – heals everything.
Endless blessings and love to us all ❤✨
Silviya
PS. Vitamin D and Iron deficiencies are strongly linked to PD and its worsening.
Do check for them.
Do not self supplement.
If deficiency of Vit D is discovered, use liposomal products that contain both Vit D(3000IU) and Calcium, like this product: Vitablossom
Liposome Vitamin D3+K2 Liquid Supplement-D3 4000 IU K2 100ug-(Sublingual Vitamin D3 and K2 Offer Immune Support)
If deficiency of Iron is discovered, do use clean liquid Iron supplement, like the one by Spatone (they have it in daily sashets).
I hope this helps ✨❤
My daughter had it for 2 years we tried everything with no luck. After reading all over web md we decided to cut from her diet cinnamon, we stopped using toothpaste with fluoride, no creams, lotions etc etc. The only thing she used on her face at night was Dove bar soap for sensitive skin, nothing else. Within 3 weeks her skin was healed. It took 2 years of failed prescriptions and trying different creams to figure out Dove soap is all she needed.
Hi, both my fighters suffer with this, can u please tell us what zinc oxide u used and how u used it . Please. Derm keeps giving them antibiotics and I’m not using them anymore. I have an over abundance of creams and pills etc. they both have bad allergies and I feel this was brought on by nasal sprays 🙁
Amy please can you share the zinc oxide product you used for ur daughter? Was it a prescription ?
AHHHHH I had this at the beginning of Quarantine! It made me so sad I had to cut my ten-step face cleaning routine down to two steps. But now I’m so lazy I don’t see how I could ever go back…
Mine started after a straight 7 hours of wearing mask while traveling. Few days later what i thought was a little pimple appeared under nose and then spread. I am an esthetician so have quite the skin care regimen. Stopped all products except for calming cleanser and moisturizer. Didn’t wear a mask for some time and it started to calm but did not go away. Couple months later had to wear a mask agian for many hours and it flared back up. I find if i dont use any additional products and avoid having to wear mask it stays calm but doesn not completely go away.
My issue began with the first lockdown in UK. One of the two reasons why I am a medical exempt from wearing a mask.
I travel with two batches and no mask.
I work within the care/childcare sector which means that I still work and have done throughout the lockdowns(×3 ).
Currently I must wear a mask for 10- 15 min just so I give a shower to an elderly person I look after, I feel like I am trying alive and my skin is cooking only for this short time. So yes there is a massive connection to wearing masks and PD.
The lesser products used, the better. I use 2( one to cleanse my skin, only in the evening, in the morning only warm water wash, then cream (tinted moisturiser by Origins 40SPF).
The less products, the better.
And yes, no mask and no stress. Where possible.
Mine also started with wearing a mask.
Hey Pinar,
So I also had a food, drinks & supplements Sensitivity & extensive Allergy testing.
Much came to light and I was little shocked to be honest.
I am allergic to mushrooms(all mushrooms), many proteins (animal & vegetable proteins).
Luckily I’m vegan, so I’ve emilimated all that I should not consume.
I’ve got allergy to soy, medium reactivity to coconut(all coconut made), almonds, hazelnuts, apples and several other things.
So since I’ve completely eliminated all, my skin has improved a lot (the PD side of it),I am NO GLUTEN allergic, nor intolerant, so I continue to consume bread. However what is left to battle is the Foliculitis, which naturally is a bacterial infection and requires medication (NOT AN ANTIBIOTICS).
Finally after a year battle for a face to face appointment with my Dermatologist, he himself was sick of these video calls and silly photographs and booked me for a face to face himself.
My appointment is tomorrow at noon and I expect to receive Fluconazole medication, to take for at least couple of weeks.
This is my presumption after rigorously researching.
Foliculitis is caused by bacteria (and it is an yeast infection). Unless properly treated it exacerbates the PD also.
My PD is way better, I’ve got mild behind my ear and suspect it could be from a shampoo I’m using to lighten my hair. The other reason will definitely remain firmly HORMONAL, as the serious flare ups are right before my periods(a week prior), then it all dies down for 2 weeks (not going, but sleeping).
This sh…t sucks, but I’ll cure it at all cost.
Will keep everyone updated.
Please excuse my typos within all my above comments.
My advice is to see what is wrong within your body (allergies, food intolerance ect.
Also check the bacterial side of the issue and look for your Dermatologist’s advise and be honest. Someone mentioned Avene creams, yes they are amazing, I’ve been using them for years and they are absolutely great clean skincare products. However, the issue lays within and not outside of our body and no matter what we slap topically, it wouldn’t work on its own.
Love to all
Hi, I was wondering if by curing the candida with the medication you took (fluconazole) if it helped your PD?
I’ve unfortunately tried all of these things It’s been a really long 5 months and nothing is working. I’m trying to be patient because I know there is something still off in my body but 5 months of this very strict type of life change has been so difficult, especially when it’s only getting worse.
Yes wearing a mask makes mine worse
yes unfortunately lots of people are saying this 🙁
Hi. After using steroid cream i got this pd:(
I did zero therapy and now the inflemention is gone but i have little pimples with ‘white heads’ again in my chin…dont take medication/ cream/ moisture.. just water and gentle soap. So why again i have this little bumps? What else can i do ?? Thank u!!
At my worst i had this condition for 18 months as i did not have a diagnosis and the creams, oils, make up etc just prolonged the agony (like many on here i ended up self diagnosing as doctors threw more steroid creams at me which made it worse)! I came across a blog and read about sugar masks, (sadly i cannot find it now) but a little bit of fine sugar and olive oil (or any carrier oil) and make a thick paste and put it onto the areas affected area daily and after a week i started noticing a difference, this is also cutting out make up, facial oils, soap & cleansers, alcohol, harsh moisturizers, i have insanely dry skin so need the heavy duty stuff – and resisting the urge to soften up those scale like patching is insane!!!! water only to wash my face, the gentlest ingredient free creams, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOUNDATIONS! and within 3 weeks all i had was some light red shadowing and all those nasty little bumps and scale like flakes gone 🙂 I hope this helps as i tried EVERYTHING!!! I’ve got a new bout of it now due to masks, but being the festive season am drinking too much as is taking a while longer to disappear, but is much less angry looking!
How long do you leave the sugar mask on?
Did you also eliminate sugar, alchohol, and dairy from your diet?
Hi Lori,
Leave it on for about 10mins or as long as you can until it dries up, like i said this helped for me and is not a guarenteed win, but certainly worth a try and is free.
I cut alcohol and dairy, couldn’t do caffine and sugar unfortunately.
Good luck
Hi Shannon,
You are absolutely right about the sugar masks, they do indeed work and help the external part heal, but it will all reappear if the inside isn’t looked after.
It is very challenging to have to exist on elimination diet, like in my case on severely elimination, however it is all the way worth it.
For external help I would strongly suggest salicylic acid(2% neat spirit).
It is very hard to actually find that, at least in UK.
I stock up from my native country- Bulgaria, that and if you can find salicylic acid and zink(in combination).
But as I already mentioned the flare ups will keep recurring if the inside of our body is left un- healed.
It took me 8 months to become free of marks (my case was bad, it covered my entire face).
I now don’t get flare ups on my face.
I do rarely get very mild, tiny bumps around my neck- hairline, generally due to stress, I’ve noticed.
As I have slowly began re- introducing some of my medium allergens, I get one or two blisters appear (again around facial hairline) and only if I consume small amounts of two mild allergens at the same time.
It will be a very slow reintroduction on my end, but I’ll get there.
And yes, SUGAR is an absolute no no for PD(i mean consumption of sugar, even dry sweet fruits), so sugar in the diet must be totally eliminateted.
I myself don’t consume sugar at all(never had a sweet tooth), but I like dry fruits and only stock up organic (0 sugar and additives).
All I’d like to say is that we are battling this together, neither of us is alone and this on its own is beautiful.
Sharing our experience on this platform feel amazing.
Thank you Phoebe for creating it.
Together A Force.
Love,
Silviya
Same.
Do request a B Vitamin deficiency blood test and see how that might benefit. I’m currently trying it and thus far, only after a week and a half it works.
I’m still to see it the positive change remains throughout the months to follow. Fingers and toes well crossed
Will update for sure, as I am also about to see my Dermatologist for a follow up and request bloods.
I know your comment was over a year ago, but I too, was fighting PD for almost 2 months to no avail and this is what worked wonders for me.
Every morning I drank coriander seed tea (after about a week my skin started to clear, I also use this to help with my thyroid issues) Crush coriander seeds with a pestle and mortar. Then take 2 tsps.of the crushed coriander and soak in 1 1/4 C. filtered water for 7 hours or over night. Then in the morning boil on low/med for 7 minutes seeds and water. Then strain and drink on empty stomach. Wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
I also made a second batch of “tea” and put it in a spray bottle (be sure to store in the fridge when not in use) I used this with a cotton roundie and dabbed it on my PD three times daily.
I also used colloidal oatmeal water on my PD 3 times daily (you can mix the oat water with the coriander seed water and put in one spray bottle if you’d like, though I used mine separately.) Just put a cup of oats in a mason jar and fill just about an inch past the oats with filtered water, put lid on shake and then put in fridge over night. In the morning strain the oats from the water and you will have oat water, store that in a spray bottle and keep in fridge when not in use.
Then after each time I used the above concoctions on my PD I would then use my NuDerma Portable Handheld High Frequency Skin Therapy Wand (with a purple light wand, you’ll have to this buy this separate from the kit) it kills bacteria and heals acne and skin quick. I would use this all over where the PD was. https://www.amazon.com/NuDerma-Skin-Therapy-Wand-Tightening/dp/B06W5PD1KY
After all of the above I would cover each pustule and any scaly super dry skin patches with hydrocolloid patches for acne. I used the CORSX brand. Since my papules would “weep” these would soak up the ick.
I would change my patches 3 times a day with fresh ones but before I would I would repeat the aforementioned (colloidal oat water, coriander seed water on my face).
I washed my face with a mild cleanser containing CBD oil and colloidal silver. But any gentle cleanser will do or just water.
It took me about a week (after being miserable for almost 2 months) when I started to see healing. The scaly skin began to peel off showing new fresh skin. I was sure to gently remove this skin daily, especially before applying a clean hydrocolloid patch.
I’m so happy and excited to now be able to leave my house and be seen in public lol. This worked for me and I wanted to share in hopes it works for others. I know your struggle and I know the itchy and pain associated is not fun. Good luck to you!
Thank you for sharing this. I wonder if you could make the Coriander tea with a drop of 2 of Coriander Essential oil in warm water? Super easy.
*Eliminate all dairy.
*Eliminate coffee.
*Never touch the area.
*Do not put anything on the area: no prescriptions, creams, cleansers, soap, make up, etc. …..nothing but water!
*Take Zinc 2x a week.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I have had this for about 2months (self diagnosed) and I’ve been miserable. I know its a liver overload because after my fiance died this year i began drinking alot and eating terribly. Im starting a full liver and spiritual detox tomorrow!!!! THANK YOU
I’m sorry to hear that Porscha. You’re completely entitled to a little extra stress on the liver. Good luck getting things back in check xo
My perioral dermatitis appeared 2 weeks ago now, it stuck around for a week after wearing a mask for a long period of time. It was gone for a day and my skin was admirable for 1 day and travelled for 3 hours on train with mask and it reappeared. I then wore a mask at work for 6 hours on saturday and it has been raging since. Wishing for that clear skin back 🙁 I tried e45 on it and it made it worse.
I am in desperate need of help! My Perioral dermatitis is not only recurring but is the most severe case I have seen! I am getting rid of it after months of different protocols but it never really leaves because I end up scarred terribly from it!
I was surprised that you say to avoid Oil based moisture, bcz I’ve had several people recommend Rose Hips oil. My skin is dry and my PD is red and scaly-flaky. Shea butter with Helichrysm and Rose was bringing relief but my dermatologist said not to use it, and she gave me an Rx for Elidel. At the same time she gave me an Rx for Hydrocortisone 2.5% for an itchy place on my forehead. That’s so confusing to me, bcz everything I read about PD says to avoid steroids. Can you give me guidance?
Avoid steroids !! You’ll get steroids described to you but it only makes it worst and when you use it it’ll make it okay for less than an hr and once you stop it’ll become way worst then it become. DO NO USE ANY CREAM OR ANYTHING ON YOUR FACE!! Limit waging your pd. And try only using tearful baby soap.
Yes I didn’t use the steroid. I haven’t used steroids for over 12 years. I have no idea what is causing this PD. What do you mean “limit waging your PD?” Have you dealt with PD?
My son is Steven years old and has perioral dermatitis on he face for the Las four year has been using a cream from the skin Doctor but still not going protopic please need help with it
Many people online say clotrimazole 1% over counter (thrush cream) works wonders. For the past month I have used this in the morning and antibiotic gel from my doctor in the night, and alcohol free pure aloe jel as my only moisturiser. I use either sulphur soap, gentle face wash with glycolic acid (by pixi) and Nizorel antil fungal skin wash. I use floride and sulphate free toothpaste and non bio unscented laundry detergent. In the first week the redness around my nose improved and the bumpy patches on my chin went, but I now have two new scaly patches above my lip. They’re red and shedding dead skin. I wish I knew why they occurred…
After the festive holidays I will do an elimination diet, cutting out caffeine sugar gluten and alcohol 🙁
What else can i do?
*re-posting this comment here as i specifically responded to Melissa’s comment. useful for a lot of comments, questions above.
At my worst i had this condition for 18 months as i did not have a diagnosis and the creams, oils, make up etc just prolonged the agony (like many on here i ended up self diagnosing as doctors threw more steroid creams at me which made it worse)! I came across a blog and read about sugar masks, (sadly i cannot find it now) but a little bit of fine sugar and olive oil (or any carrier oil) and make a thick paste and put it onto the areas affected area daily and after a week i started noticing a difference, this is also cutting out make up, facial oils, soap & cleansers, alcohol, harsh moisturizers, i have insanely dry skin so need the heavy duty stuff – and resisting the urge to soften up those scale like patching is insane!!!! water only to wash my face, the gentlest ingredient free creams, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOUNDATIONS! and within 3 weeks all i had was some light red shadowing and all those nasty little bumps and scale like flakes gone I hope this helps as i tried EVERYTHING!!! I’ve got a new bout of it now due to masks, but being the festive season am drinking too much as is taking a while longer to disappear, but is much less angry looking!
I have been struggling with PD. For a while now it is awful it hurts like sunburn and it continues to get worse NOTHING has worked we have tried EVERYTHING It went away with my prescribed steroid cream but I quickly learned that wouldn’t help now it has flared back up and it’s a huge spot around my mouth and nose…. if there is any advice plsssss let me know
I wanted to give some suggestions and advice as I have finally found a regimen for my perioral dermatitis and want to help others. I am a licensed esthetician and registered nurse, so I have done extensive research on the subject. I will leave my personal regimen after my tips and tricks.
1. Cut out all sulfate ingredients in skincare and hair products. Use natural products when possible and limit ingredients and extra additives.
2. Fluoride free toothpaste/natural like Jason Brand-love their body washes too.
3. Cut out petroleum products. I also avoid anything mineral oil or -glycol ingredient product. I don’t use anything around my lips besides occasionally a hyaluronic acid serum.
4. Gluten free/dairy free and anti-inflammatory diet
5. Antibiotics like Doxycycline or Minocycline when flaring up. I know most people don’t want to take medicine-but these are prescribed in low doses that just fight inflammation.
6. LightStim blue and red light device for acne-this helps kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. It works for me, as I feel perioral dermatitis is similar to acne and rosacea.
7. Use disposable paper towels to dry tour face. I know it seems wasteful, but towels do get really yucky after washing-mites can remain so why put it on your sensitive skin?
The regimen I use tried and true for me. All these product can be found on Lovelyskin.com or Dermstore.com. Both are trusted online skincare retailers.
Cleanser: La Roche Posay Toleraine Cream Foaming Cleanser-make sure it’s the cream foaming formula-that is the only one that works and has few ingredients. I use the Foreo Luna 3 mini cleansing device every other day to do a deep cleanse. This is not essential for all but I like it and it makes my skin glow. It is made of medical silicon so it is hygienic.
Toner: Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray with organic cotton pad. I also use this spray many times during the day (they sell mini bottles) to calm and refresh my skin.
Treatment/exfoliate: I have acne too so I use Replenix acne glycolic/salicylic acid pads 2/2. If allergic or sensitive to these can skip.
Night: Replenix hyaluronic acid serum. Very light and amazing. Has anti aging peptides too.
Day: Replenix Ultra Sheer SPF50.
Wash your face twice a day and keep the area around your mouth clean. Be consistent. Wash pillow cases at least weekly. Don’t wear makeup when possible. If you have to, use Clinique or mineral. Use disposable makeup applicators. If you want to add things, start slow to see what is helping/hurting. Try to follow an anti-inflammation diet and drink lots of water. Good luck everyone! I hope my story and advice helps someone.
Thank you, Brittany! Very helpful advice. Just wondering… besides the red scaly patches under my nose and chin. I also have them on my temples, over my eyebrows, and a bit in my hair line. Could those still be PD? Or do you think they are something different? It’s perplexing to me – I saw a dermatologist and she diagnosed the me with PD for my nose, upper lip and chin, but thought maybe the other stuff was Psoriasis. Everything showed up at the same time so it seems to me it would all be the same thing.
Sounds like it could be dermatitis/reaction. It could be something in your haircare or skincare regimen. My advice: cut out any new product you have been using. Don’t use makeup until it clears. Stick with sulfate free hair and skin products and don’t use any extra oils, creams gels, dry shampoo, etc on your skin or hair until it clears. Best of luck to you in your skin clearing journey!
I was diagnosed with PD 3 weeks ago (after self diagnosing first really), I also suffer from acne and am at a total loss of how to treat the two at the same time. I feel awful and am suffering from quite a bit of social withdrawal, its nice to see people who relate. I was prescribed doxycycline and a topical gel antibiotic that my insurance wont cover anyway. I am so tempted to take the antibiotic but was hesitant due to thinking the cause of my PD is from a steroid cream I was prescribed for my acne in the first place.
I have cut out any dairy, processed sugars, gluten. I started drinking a tea that’s for clear skin that has good reviews- I’m starting without caffeine today.
Looking back I notice a start of a steroid gel wash for my face, using make up again for the first in a long while, maybe older makeup (like a year) but who isn’t guilty.. but that’s really it.
Ive been using coconut oil for dryness because i mean- its so dry it’s impossible not to use something- and in my mind i figured simple ingredients, and that seems to help it actually but I don’t think its a cure unfortunately. Ive tried and stoped my other regular moisturizers (mostly SPF, retinol or hyrolonic acid) and my skin isn’t a fan anymore (yay aging). This quest for clear skin has already become rather costly. Financially, mentally and I’m so scared to try so many different things that could cause it to flare up.
My advice would be try the antibiotic and skip the topical-it probably has pore clogging ingredients anyway. I would stay away from any oils, including coconut as it is comedogenic, and use a light hyaluronic acid serum instead. Try using blue light therapy to treat your pimples if you are sensitive to acne products.
Thank you for the advice, i will try that. I have definitely stoped while i was ahead on the coconut oil and would advise anyone else to too. Short term relief is all it is, definitely pore clogging. I have been on the antibiotic for 4 days now and have seen improvement. My dermatologist wants me to be on it for far too long so I will keep the topical for later in case. I ended up being able to pick it up- it is a Sulfacetamide sodium 10% lotion. For acne vulgaris and PD (both my diagnosis) Ive done some light research but if anyone has any input I’m happy to hear it 🙂
kiwi seed extract worked for me. Mine has returned recently (I just moved houses and think that might be why) – so I have ordered some through my naturopath. Last time I had it I cut out alcohol and reduced sugar and caffeine, cream cleanser and no dairy and it went away within a few months so back to doing that agin.
I’ve changed to a completely clean diet, I’m previously vegan. So I’ve just cut out alcohol, processed sugars, gluten, and caffeine. In place of I’ve increased my intake of zinc, vitamin C, antioxidants, good fats, and tons of water. That has definitely helped overall a lot. Ive read that hot drinks can irritate it, so I’ve stopped drinking anything hot. Ive heard nothing about kiwi extract, will definitely try it out.
I had perioral dermatitis REALLY bad in 2016. Like everyone else I headed to the dermatologist and recieved a topical steroid plus oral antibiotics. It went away as long as I used it but as soon as I stopped it came back with a vengeance. I then looked into and tried more natural remedies. Here is what helped clear my PD:
Step 1- Absolute life saver is apple cider vinegar by Braggs (has to be the cloudy one with the mother in it) The smell of this is terrible so I would put it on before bed.
(Can purchase on Amazon or most grocery stores 32oz bottle $5.39)
Step 2-Once that dried I would put a thick layer of Dermocreme
on the spots and sleep with it on overnight (can purchase on Amazon $23.99) ***this is just a zinc oxide cream
Step 3- the next morning I would wash off the Dermocreme with water and then use California baby calendula cream to moisturize. It was the only thing I found that works for me as a moisturizer, everything else causes me to have flare ups.
(Also on Amazon)
I had to change all my make-up to products that have less ingredients in them. Once I come home I take my make-up off and wash my face. I still use the apple cider vinegar because I will get one or two bumps here and there but it is NOTHING like what happened in 2016. I still can only use the California baby calendula cream as moisturizer and always put it on after the apple cider vinegar.
I hope this helps someone.
Did you eliminate anything from your diet as well?
What make up products did you switch to?
What makeup did you switch to?
Hello,
what makeup do you use? (Specifically lipstick and blush). I tried using 100%Pure lipstick but it still flared me up
Hi Pheobe, Fellow hedonist here 🙂 Love your blog! I agree with much of what you say and a detox can definitely help though my PD goes through a healing crisis wheh I do this and flares up. You mention natural skincare and I have switched to the regime below.
1. Cleanser – I mix some Himalayan or Organic sea salt with hot water and wash my face with this. Some people might find this too drying but it seems to work well for me.
2. Moisturiser – Mama Nature’s proskin eczema has worked wonders for my perioral dermatitis. Initially it worsened and thr redness flared and the bumps became more pronounced but after around a week it calmed down and now my skin super soft and almost blemish free.
I keep my routine basic and don’t apply anything else. I manage my stress levels, do yoga and read plenty of cracking books.
Interesting with the water and sea salt I’m going to try this
I commented here recently and wanted to give an update- its been about a month since combating my PD and I’m beyond blessed to say i have seen improvements so far. I am using treatments from a dermatologist.. but i have also changed all of my skincare completely. I have been on antibiotics-doxy for a month (which i know can subside the issue but wasn’t doing the trick for me alone for three weeks) once i finally started using the topical by dermatologist gave me (Sulfacetamide sod 10% lotion-recommended twice a day but i just use at night.) my face changed and was immediately relieved over night.
I started using recommended products after a lot of research on PD anywhere i looked. Moisturizer-Avene. It’s pricey but worth it. Boudreauxs butt paste for spot treatments. I couldn’t get my hands on Spectro wash so I’m using vanicream gentle face wash I’ve seen its a second best..and it feels just that. Leaves me feeling soft and moisturized. FOR MAKE UP which everyone swears off-but i just cant, i use Cicapair tiger grass concealing cream- its a color corrector and has zinc. Minimal ingredients. I still don’t use it on my PD area for the time being because I’m not ready yet but its nice to have. My lotions (shea moisturizer baby) and shampoo(New wash) everything are all SLS free. Toothpaste fluoride free (Hello brand). Pillow cases are washed with friendly detergent and air dried weekly to keep extra chemicals off as well.
I also take a Zinc supplement still in the morning and I’ve noticed a difference in my acne on my chest since then as well- so there has to be something to it because the antibiotics just wasn’t doing it for my acne. Who knows, but the products haven’t irritated me at all.
I do hope my ramblings help someone out there.
P.s. the topical cream isn’t a steroid cream i triple checked 🙂
Thank you for all these product recommendations! I have seen a big improvement by using them. And that Cicapair! Amazing.
This is so helpful! I’ve been looking for a skin care routine to keep it away as I’ve just been using water. I was battling it for about 6 months. I noticed no one mentioned birth control! So I thought I put it out there for those still finding the trigger. Mine was caused by my birth Control, my trusty pill was discontinued because of the pandemic and I had to try a new one. So I started it and 4 months later I started to get acne at first on my jawline (I’ve never suffered from acne in my life) then a week later I saw the rash start forming on my chin moving to my smile lines and then my nose. Assuming it was from my mask I washed my face 2x daily and wore a clean mask every day. my doctor was prescribing steroids which only made it worse! I read up as much as I could and threw out all my skin care. I used a cleanser for awhile but realized it was only making it worse. So now I just wash my face with water And coconut oil as a moisturizer for it, it was very calming but never got rid of it. (Side note: this was actually a tip from my dr. He said the fat in coconut oil created a barrier between your skin and the mask. To stop more bacteria from laying waste to my skin. Worked for me because my rash never got worse/spread any farther after that) I also tried tree oil just made it worse as well, I was desperate.
I should mention I have multiple allergies my diet is already very clean(no gluten, alcohol, sugar, or red meat), I do not wear make up and hardly put anything on my face. So I knew it wasn’t food.
Back to the birth control and cleanser, so I finally made the connection after reading a blog(which I can’t find anymore) where the lady also developed perioral dermatitis after starting a (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol) birth control. Now I’m not a fan of birth control because of the side effects but without it my period is unbearable. I mean miss work for a week and cry unbearable. So I took it.
I quit the birth control after asking my doctor. I figured I could bear a few periods considering I’m home from work in lock down anyways.
This is around the time I realized the cleanser I started after the rash started to appear might be making it worse. So like I said I quit that too and used just water.
Low and behold 3 months (took some time for hormones to realign) later and it’s gone! The acne actually disappeared the first week off the pill. The dermatitis stuck around because I was using the cleanser but as soon as I quit that it started to go away. For about the last month they were just very light pink marks and now they are gone!
So for anyone who is desperate for a trigger, check your birth control and other medications that might mess with your hormones!
Thank you for this post, I have been suffering from Perioral dermatitis for the better part of my life – high school and still now at 33 , I’ve had times where it was better or worse etc but right now and since beginning my motherhood journey 5 years ago it has been at an all time worse. I have done it all 🙁 I’m at my wits end it’s so upsetting to look in the mirror and see the redness, sometimes it gets better but nothing seems to help. I’ve eliminated sls, fluoride, coffee, alcohol, wheat, eggs, dairy… wash my face once in the evening with just water and use la roche posay ciclablast b5 as a cream and that is all. I love a very natural chemical free life. I do have IBS tho and just in the last year have begun exploring leaky gut, I eat lots of fermented foods, bone broth, and collagen every day. Exercise every day and drink plenty of h2o . Nothing seems to help. I think it’s time to see the doctor 🙁 reading that you healed your gives me a bit of hope as I’m feeling rather hopeless about it all.
Hi Amanda,
How awful this PD is indeed.
From experience, I’d suggest you do a food Sensitivity Test (or an Allergy blood test) before eliminating foods from your diet.
There is no one method that fits all, hence unless you find what works for you, you’ll not know whether what’s you’ve eliminated isn’t what you in fact need the most
I am also a Nutritionist and would strongly advise that you check your Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Iron levels, as well as full blood count to assess (white/red blood ratios ext).
I would suggest you eliminate Sugar and Dairy at once. Sugar is poison and PD feeds from it.
One more thing to check on health wise is your gut health, check for Helicobacter Pylori bacteria and if you’ve got it get treatment asap and make sure you’ve eradicated it completely by testing once again post treatment.
Add probiotics and enzymes to your diet, for first see what your body needs to eliminate and what needs introduction.
In regards to external calming lotions and potions, I’d suggest Salycic Acid 2% neat spirit(liquid), hylioronic acid and Avene 30SPF light face cream. I personally use 50SPF by Avene with Zink(mildly tinted).
Also Zinerit Lotion(Zink and Eritromicin) topical does calm the liaisons and helps stops them from flaring up.
Vit D deficiency is very high amongst entire world population, hence having that checked and determined is vital, as once you begin supplementing you’ll see a difference. If you are deficient in Vit D you must take higher doze of 3000iu in combination with Calcium- ideally LIPOSOMAL Liquid ; I use a brand called YourZooki at the moment, that’s a Vegan product and quite a good one.
I will change with the one mentioned bellow shortly, because my current product contains coconut derived glycerin, and I should not consume coconut on a regular basis yet, as it is a medium allergen(for me).
Your diet must also be adjusted according to test results.
Stress and hormonal changes have some impact on the PD, yet once the major source has been tacked things are manageable.
I hope you’ll find my experience and suggesuggestions useful and helpful.
Best wishes,
Silviya
I wish I could reply individually to everyone about masks! There is an article in the New York Times that was just published April 2, 2021 about PD diagnoses increasing during the pandemic due to mask wearing! Definitely don’t stop wearing a mask yet (I know, my skin is hating it so much too) but try using cotton masks with a spot for filters instead of surgical masks. I notice the surgical ones bother my PD more. Wash them after every use as well. I’m a PhD student in immunology and microbiology and my speculation is that masks are disrupting the microbiota of the skin on our face because of the warm, humid environment. For now I would definitely switch masks and keep the skin routine minimalist. I’m just realizing this now with my routine. I’ll try to update in a few weeks after keeping my routine simple!
Thanks for sharing this amazing article!
I was recently diagnosed with PD. I was prescribed antibiotic (Doxycycline) and a cream. I am terrified to use both rx’s due to the possible side effects. I am 56 years old and I’ve never had an issued with my complexion until now. Earlier in the year, I noticed some scaly bumps around arm pit and thighs. I was prescribed an ointment for dermatitis. I am not sure if these ointments caused the PD. I have always used DOVE soap. I have also used JERGENS moisturizer since my teenage years.
Hey all!
I’m so sorry everyone has to deal with this!! I just wanted to let you all know what causes mine in case it helps someone. I first had it appear when I was a teenager. I went to see my PCP and he did a skin culture on it n expected the results to show it was in the same family as a cold sore. He was so sure of it that he even gave me an RX for cold sores! A couple days later he called n told me to discontinue use bc the results were negative. I was a teen so I just moved on n let it clear up on it’s own…eventually. But when it happened the next time, a few years later, I realized that I was doing the same thing right before the PD appeared on both outbreaks—crying. Not just sniffles, but full fledge breakdown bawling. The 1st time my best friend suddenly passed away but I cant rem why the 2nd time!! Ever since then tho, it happens anytime I cry like that. It’s crazy. It seems as if my tears are actually battery acid n they leave a burn under my nose n upper lip. I’ve had a million colds n stuffy noses throughout the years but they never caused this. It literally only happens when I cry. Ahhhhhh. It’s so embarrassing and I dread being around people when I have it. : – ( It was impossible to research bc I never knew what it was called. So, thank u all for the tips!! I hope everyone figures this out n never has to live w PD again. Happy summer!
I think I have this around my eyes. Anyone else have suggestions for this area?
Perioral Dermatitis is almost aways around the nose, mouth and chin area. The skin is red and flakey and itchy. Often starts as little pimples and then spreads. If it’s around your eyes I doubt if its this.
Just want to share how I’ve treated my PD in a couple of weeks. I battled it last year for 7 months and my stress levels were through the roof .. it was around my mouth, took to my eyes (peri ocular dermatitis) and down my neck. When I saw it flare a year later the cortisol started pumping which does you no good fighting this issue! So I had a word with myself, calmed down using kundalini breathing, every day…
No alcohol, caffeine or sugar
Red light mask therapy every day
Celery juice every morning first thing
Reishi and chaga Mushrooms
Loads of water
Wash face gently with Cerave cleanser
La Roche Posay Ciclafate cream on the areas affected