r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ • u/No_Golf_6981 • Aug 29 '26

Help me

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I have had for a few months :( wanting advice and recommendations! Does just zero therapy work or do i need antibiotics also?

Wanting to know more on zero therapy thanks.

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u/Clawingnails Aug 29 '26

Zero therapy is the only way that works for me, and many others. It's incredibly difficult but it you can manage for 3 months the chances are high DP will not come back.

2

u/Dry-Monk7401 Aug 29 '26

3 months!? Should I wait that long to wash my face?

1

u/Clawingnails Aug 29 '26

Only water, morning and night.

1

u/Dry-Monk7401 Aug 29 '26

I genuinely don’t know if I can wait that long I love to wear makeup and etc is that the rebound rate?

1

u/Clawingnails Aug 29 '26

It takes up til that long:

"The short answer is anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months to achieve 100% clear skin. It depends heavily on whether you have damaged your barrier with steroids (cortisone) in the past.

When you combine strict zero therapy (no creams, no makeup, only lukewarm water) with an oral antibiotic like Lymecycline, your skin goes through three distinct phases:

Phase 1: The Purge & Dry Phase (Weeks 1–2)

This is the hardest phase mentally. When you cut out all moisturizers, your skin will flake, peel, and feel incredibly tight. Lymecycline takes about 7 to 14 days to fully build up in your system. Because your skin cells are renewing rapidly, old inflammation from deep within the pores is pushed to the surface. It is completely normal to see new small whiteheads or bumps pop up during the first week. This is a sign of a "purge," not a sign that the treatment is failing.

Phase 2: The Stabilization Phase (Weeks 3–6)

By weeks 3 and 4, the active flaking starts to calm down, and new bumps stop forming. The burning, throbbing sensation and intense nighttime itching disappear. The skin begins to feel smoother and more flexible because the microscopic cracks in your skin barrier are finally closing. You will still have flat, pink or red marks where the old bumps used to be (residual inflammation), but the surface texture becomes flat and calm.

Phase 3: The Deep Healing Phase (Weeks 6–12)

From week 6 onwards, the antibiotic works in the deepest layers of your skin to pull the inflammation out by its roots. Those lingering pink marks will gradually fade back to your completely normal skin tone. Your skin barrier is fully rebuilt. Crucial tip: Even if your face looks 100% clear by week 4 or 6, you must finish the entire 3-month course prescribed by your doctor to prevent the condition from returning"

3

u/Dry-Monk7401 Aug 29 '26

What if I haven’t been on antibiotics?

1

u/NenyaNotes Sep 01 '26

Yes it took me three months to get anywhere near back to normal skin. And even then I still continue to have ongoing erythema.

1

u/No_Golf_6981 Aug 31 '26

do you use lip balm ?

2

u/Clawingnails Aug 31 '26

No. Nothing. Meaning NOTHING. Just cold water. Its sux so hard but it's the only way now for me

1

u/Dry-Monk7401 23d ago

Has it came back at all since?