One morning you get up to clusters of tiny crimson bumps round your mouth and nostril and assume oh, it should be a brand new product breaking you out or perhaps it’s since you’ve been slacking in your tretinoin at night time. So, naturally, you deal with it such as you would another breakout and assume it can go away. 

Besides it doesn’t. 

That’s what occurred to me for two years. Sure, for two years, the tiny little bumps round my mouth, I chalked it as much as pimples. However nothing helped it! Actually, my pimples merchandise gave the impression to be making it worse. 

Each time I appeared within the mirror I might have new bumps pop up someplace on my face. It wasn’t till I introduced it up with my dermatologist, that I spotted I wasn’t coping with pimples in any respect and I really had what is named perioral dermatitis. 

What Is Perioral Dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis or POD is an inflammatory pores and skin situation that sometimes presents as a crimson, bumpy rash close to the mouth, nostril and eyes. It will possibly additionally trigger flaky pores and skin and itching. POD can have completely different shows relying on how extreme your case is. It isn’t contagious, however can generally unfold to different areas of your face, like your brow. 

Perioral dermatitis is oftentimes misdiagnosed as pimples, or different inflammatory pores and skin circumstances like rosacea or allergic/contact dermatitis.  This pores and skin situation most generally impacts girls, often younger adults to middle-aged. 

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Signs Of Perioral Dermatitis

• A crimson, bumpy rash often situated across the mouth or nostril
• Itching or burning on the pores and skin the place the rash is
• Pustule like pimples lesions that may seem in clusters

For me, I by no means developed a rash and my pores and skin was by no means itchy. I merely had tiny crimson bumps that popped up round my mouth and nostril. A lot of them have been little pustules and appeared precisely like pimples.

What Causes Perioral Dermatitis?

Sadly, the foundation reason behind perioral dermatitis is unclear, however there are some things which have been related to POD. 

• Topical and corticosteroids (together with nasal sprays)
• Fluorinated toothpaste
• Sure microorganisms (like micro organism or yeast)
• Hormones
• Sure skincare or make-up merchandise

Perioral Dermatitis Therapies

There are various various kinds of remedies for perioral dermatitis, together with prescriptions and residential treatments. In lots of circumstances, perioral dermatitis remedy additionally requires way of life modifications to keep away from any triggers and future outbreaks. 

Perioral dermatitis can come again after remedy, so it’s vital to determine something that may be triggering it for you. It’s vital to notice perioral dermatitis will take a number of months of remedy to totally resolve, even with prescription choices. 

Prescription Perioral Dermatitis Therapies

Sometimes, when you see a physician for perioral dermatitis, they’ll prescribe oral antibiotics, topical remedies, or each. 

1. Oral Antibiotics

A 2-3 month lengthy course of oral antibiotics, like tetracycline, doxycycline or erythromycin is often used to deal with perioral dermatitis. For extra extreme circumstances, you could be prescribed oral and topical antibiotics. 

2. Topical Therapies

Topical antibiotic lotions equivalent to metronidazole, erythromycin or clindamycin, are most frequently utilized in perioral dermatitis remedy. Different topical components that can be utilized embody azelaic acid, sulfur, zinc pyrithione, sulfacetamide and adapalene. Immunosuppressive brokers equivalent to tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have additionally been proven to be efficient in treating POD. 

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OTC Perioral Dermatitis Therapies

Perioral dermatitis can generally be managed at dwelling with OTC remedies, together with modifications to your skincare routine. Fortunately, a few of the generally prescribed components are additionally out there over-the-counter. Adapalene, zinc, sulfur and azelaic acid are all out there OTC and are price attempting out to assist with POD signs.

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Life-style & Skincare Modifications

Most of the time, you’ll have to make some main modifications to do away with perioral dermatitis and stop any recurrences. I needed to fully change my skincare routine and change to very mild merchandise. 

Listed below are some issues that may be useful when coping with perioral dermatitis:

• Sulfate-free and fluoride-free toothpaste
• Washing sheets, pillowcases, towels, and many others frequently
• Utilizing a hypoallergenic laundry detergent
• Light skincare merchandise (sulfate and fragrance-free)
• Avoiding any topical or inhaled steroids (cortisone cream, nasal allergy spray and many others)
• Avoiding heavy lotions or moisturizers
• Utilizing sulfate-free hair merchandise
• Solely utilizing very mild exfoliants (bodily & chemical)
• Avoiding irritating merchandise

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What Labored For Me

Since my dermatologist identified me with perioral dermatitis, my first remedy was a 2 month course of doxycycline, together with my prescription Curology components with tretinoin, clindamycin and azelaic acid. She advised me that my components may assist deal with the POD so I continued to make use of it. 

I began seeing nice enchancment in a pair weeks with the oral antibiotics. When the two months have been up my pores and skin was fully clear and had been for weeks. Sadly, the POD began to come back again a couple of weeks after ending up the antibiotics. 

I began noticing that the night time’s I used my Curology components, the following day I might have extra spots pop up. I didn’t wish to go on one other spherical of antibiotics, so I began to look into different choices. 

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Again To The Fundamentals

I had learn that many individuals had good success with clearing their perioral dermatitis after they stopped utilizing any kind of skincare merchandise for a couple of weeks. Like not even utilizing a cleanser. 

Personally, I selected to solely use a really primary and mild cleanser and moisturizer. And that’s all I used for a couple of weeks. 

La Roche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Cleanser & Neutrogena Extremely Light Creamy are my go-to cleansers. For moisturizers, I used La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 or Avene Cicalfate Restorative Pores and skin Cream.

Soothing Merchandise

After a couple of weeks of solely utilizing cleanser and moisturizer, I noticed a whole lot of enchancment. However I used to be nonetheless having an occasional flare up. I did some analysis and located that zinc and hypochlorous acid may be nice for soothing pores and skin and treating perioral dermatitis. 

So, I began utilizing a sprig that contained hypochlorous acid (out there on amazon). I sprayed that on my pores and skin 2x a day after cleaning. Then adopted with diaper rash cream. Sure, actually. Diaper rash cream is nice as a result of it has a lot of zinc oxide, which is nice for irritation and soothing pores and skin. 

I believe the diaper rash cream has been the largest game-changer for me. I observed an enormous distinction in a single day. It helps scale back any redness, settle down irritation and bumps. 

The Backside Line

This stuff, together with the above way of life modifications, my POD has not come again! I’m nonetheless not utilizing any exfoliation or my Curology components in the meanwhile. I’m going to provide my pores and skin a protracted break from any kind of exfoliation. 

Not solely is my perioral dermatitis gone, however my pores and skin appears to be like and feels so significantly better. I believe the quite simple routine has helped my pores and skin tremendously. 

About BrittanyTBB

Brittany is a skincare and wellness blogger at The Blushing Bliss on a mission to supply everybody with simple to grasp info and strategies to get the pores and skin of their desires.

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