Perioral dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes the skin around your mouth to become red, sore, and often scaly. It can present as raised bumps (papules) which can become pus-filled (pustules). Anyone can develop the rash, but it usually affects women aged between the ages of 20-45.
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Perioral (sometimes written as peri-oral) dermatitis is a skin condition that causes small bumps, redness and inflamed skin to appear around your mouth. The affected skin often appears as scaly patches, which can burn and be itchy.
The skin where the rash forms is often dry, and can become flakey. It’s not contagious, but can be uncomfortable for anyone that has it. Unlike other dermatological conditions that can appear anywhere on your body, perioral dermatitis typically appears on the skin surrounding your mouth. The word peri means “around” while “oral” relates to the mouth, which is where the name for the condition comes from.
Who gets perioral dermatitis?
Anyone can get perioral dermatitis, but women are more at risk of developing the condition. Specifically, women aged between 20-45 are the most likely to be affected by it.
It can also affect children aged between 7 months and 13 years old.
How common is perioral dermatitis?
Although it’s hard to say just how common perioral dermatitis is, it’s clear that it tends to affect young to middle-aged women more than it does anyone else. The reason behind this isn’t known.
It’s also more likely to affect women who are light-skinned.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Perioral Dermatitis
What causes perioral dermatitis?
It’s not clear why people develop perioral dermatitis. The use of steroid creams is thought to be behind a lot of cases. Although the rash initially responds well to topical corticosteroids, it tends to come back once treatment has stopped. There have also been reports of perioral dermatitis breakouts after using inhaled corticosteroids and nasal sprays.
The rash could also be caused by something irritating your skin. This might be a skincare product you use often, a toothpaste, or something you’re allergic to that often comes into contact with the skin around your mouth.
It might be helpful to find out if you have any triggers. If you establish what’s causing your skin irritation, avoiding it can speed up the healing process.
What are the symptoms of perioral dermatitis?
The most common sign of perioral dermatitis is a red rash around your mouth and surrounding your nose. The rash can be scaly in appearance, and it typically forms red bumps that are sometimes filled with pus (known as pustules).
The rash often looks like acne, but if the irritated skin is mostly around your mouth then it could be perioral dermatitis. The affected area might also itch, burn, and feel sensitive to touch. You should avoid scratching the irritated skin as it can make the rash worse and could cause an infection.
Can perioral dermatitis lead to other problems?
Perioral dermatitis won’t develop into any life-threatening illnesses or long-term health problems, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously. The rash around your mouth might not heal properly if left untreated, and the inflamed skin can be constantly sore and itchy if you don’t manage the condition in the right way.
Having a rash on your face also has the potential to impact your mental health. Skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis have been linked to depression, anxiety and other psychological problems. If you feel like perioral dermatitis is affecting how you feel about your appearance, then getting the right help will mean you can avoid any unnecessary stress.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Perioral Dermatitis
What medications are there for perioral dermatitis?
There are a few different ways of managing perioral dermatitis. A clinician will decide which treatment they think will work best for you based on your medical history and any factors that might make certain medications seem like a better fit than others.
If you’re using a corticosteroid cream, you’ll more than likely be told to stop it while trying to clear your rash. You might also be told to change your skincare routine by using non-perfumed products that aren’t likely to aggravate the skin around your mouth.
Tetracycline antibiotics like lymecycline and doxycycline might be prescribed to help clear your rash. Sometimes they’re prescribed alongside topical treatments, such as metronidazole, which is frequently used to treat rosacea.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are another type of treatment used for perioral dermatitis. TCIs work by changing your immune response, and are often recommended for people with atopic dermatitis. They can be helpful for treating sensitive skin areas above the neck.
Are perioral dermatitis treatments available over the counter?
Managing perioral dermatitis can often involve a number of different approaches. You might be able to get some helpful products over the counter, like cleansers and skincare products that are perfume-free, which might be less likely to cause further irritation while you treat your rash.
It’s worth checking with a clinician to make sure the products you use as part of your normal skincare routine aren’t contributing to your perioral dermatitis.
Antibiotics, whether they’re topical creams and ointments or oral capsules, need to be prescribed. This ensures they're a safe, suitable option for you.
Does perioral dermatitis always need treatment?
It’s possible that your rash will heal on its own, but using the right medication can help your perioral dermatitis clear up completely. People usually respond well to treatments, and the rashes sometimes clear in a matter of weeks.
There are several ways of managing the condition, but one thing that’s usually recommended is stopping any creams or nasal sprays that contain steroids. Steroids can exacerbate perioral dermatitis symptoms, and can sometimes cause the rash in the first place.
Whichever treatment you use, self-care can help improve your inflamed skin. Avoid squeezing or picking your spots, or scratching the affected skin around your mouth. If you use face creams or cosmetics that make your skin itch, avoid them (especially topical steroids) while you’re managing your condition. You might be advised to wash your face using only water until the redness and irritation settles down.
A clinician can advise you about using soap substitutes or moisturisers that aren’t likely to make your perioral dermatitis worse.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Perioral Dermatitis
FAQ: Perioral Dermatitis
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Why should I buy perioral dermatitis treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
Perioral dermatitis causes redness and irritation that can leave you feeling uncomfortable throughout the day. And like any condition that affects your face, it can impact how you feel about your appearance.
We take all conditions seriously and understand that everyone wants to feel comfortable in their own skin. Our clinicians are here to recommend medications, but they’re also here to listen. They can discuss what you expect to get from the treatment you choose, and anything they recommend will have your personal needs in mind.
Our plans are easy to manage, and you’ll have access to our medical experts throughout your journey to better health.
How is perioral dermatitis diagnosed?
Answer:
A clinician will be able to diagnose perioral dermatitis by both the appearance of your affected skin, and where the rash is distributed. This usually involves examining some photos of your face, but it should be a fairly straightforward diagnosis.
They will ask you questions about your symptoms, but usually no tests are needed. You might be asked whether you’ve recently used steroid creams on your face, as this is often a cause of perioral dermatitis.
Is perioral dermatitis similar to any other skin conditions?
Answer:
Perioral dermatitis sometimes gets mistaken for other conditions involving red, inflamed skin. Rosacea is a long-term condition that also affects the face, and is typically experienced by women. It can appear as blushing and redness on the nose and cheeks, but it can also appear on your chin, which can make it look like perioral dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis is not considered a subtype of rosacea, even though similar treatments might work for both conditions.
Acne is another common skin condition that typically shows up on the face, back and neck. Like perioral dermatitis, it involves raised bumps that feel tender to touch. Although both of these conditions (along with others like seborrheic dermatitis) can seem like perioral dermatitis, the main distinguishing factor is that they don’t show up specifically around your mouth.
Can you get side effects from perioral dermatitis treatment?
Answer:
It depends which treatment you use. All our medications come with a patient information leaflet (PIL) that contains a list of all the possible side effects you might experience, if you do get any.
Oral antibiotics such as lymecycline and doxycycline can sometimes cause headaches, nausea and diarrhoea, but you’re less likely to get these side effects if you take the capsules with food.
Our clinicians are always on hand to discuss how to best manage your condition. If you get any side effects that make you want to stop using your treatment, they might suggest alternatives.
Do perioral dermatitis treatments always work?
Answer:
Perioral dermatitis can affect people to different extents, which means there are several ways to treat it. For mild rashes, using antiseptic creams and unperfumed moisturisers might be enough to help your skin heal.
Topical creams might be recommended, as well as oral antibiotics. Sometimes the two are prescribed at the same time. In a study that compared twice-daily topical metronidazole with 250mg oral tetracycline, both treatments were shown to be effective. People who used metronidazole reduced the number of papules they had to 8% of the amount they began the trial with, while those using tetracycline saw their papules reduce to 0% of the initial amount.
Topical treatments for perioral dermatitis might not reach their peak efficacy (how well they work) until you’ve used them daily for 3 months. If you’re using a topical treatment alongside an oral antibiotic, you should be able to stop the oral antibiotics after this amount of time as they’re usually used between 8-12 weeks for this condition.
For some people whose perioral dermatitis is chronic, antibiotics might be prescribed on a longer basis to manage their skin rash and stop it from reoccurring.
Topical Metronidazole in the Treatment of Perioral Dermatitis.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 24, no. 2 Pt 1, 1 Feb. 1991, pp. 258–260.
Management of Papulopustular Rosacea and Perioral Dermatitis with Emphasis on Iatrogenic Causation or Exacerbation of Inflammatory Facial Dermatoses.” The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, vol. 4, no. 8, 1 Aug. 2011, pp. 20–30.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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