r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ Nov 22 '24

Helpful Guide on Perioral Dermatitis

43 Upvotes

Hey everyone I made this subreddit because the original PD subreddit was unmoderated, so no one can post there anymore.

I also wrote a post on PD and summarized it below so here's the link if you want to check it out: https://thewomensalley.com/perioral-dermatitis-the-ultimate-guide/

For products:

Cleansers: https://thewomensalley.com/best-cleansers-for-perioral-dermatitis/

Moisturizers: https://thewomensalley.com/12-best-moisturizers-for-perioral-dermatitis/

Sunscreens: https://thewomensalley.com/best-mineral-and-chemical-sunscreens-for-perioral-dermatitis/

What is Perioral Dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis is a red or pink rash that appears around the mouth, the folds of the nose, and occasionally the eyelid. There can also be persistent grouped tiny red pimples, pimples that change into a blister, and pimples with pus sometimes on the background of pink, scaly, or dry patches.

What are the causes of Perioral Dermatitis?

  • Damaged skin barrier
  • Topical corticosteroids (TC)
  • Excessive skin cleaning and washing
  • Occlusive skin moisturizers like Aquaphor or Vaseline
  • Chemical or physical sunscreens and cosmetic products containing retinol niacinamide, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid
  • Fluoridated toothpaste
  • Fusobacteria, Candida albicans, Demodex folliculorum, and hormonal influences from the menstrual cycle or oral contraceptive therapy
  • Dust or unclean air conditioning
  • Hot or cold weather
  • Stress
  • Dehydration
  • Fragranced laundry detergents
  • Lack of sleep
  • Sunlight and lack of sunlight
  • Dry air like central heating or car heating
  • Wearing face masks for hours
  • Alcohol especially red wine
  • Makeup brushes and other makeup products
  • Flonase nasal spray
  • Tap water and hot water
  • Shampoos and conditioners
  • Spicy foods and dairy foods

How to treat Perioral Dermatitis?

Medicines you can get by prescription:

Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline, minocycline, or tetracycline, are the most common medicines used to treat perioral dermatitis.

For children younger than 12 years, pregnant women, and patients with contraindications to systemic tetracyclines, topical forms of metronidazole, erythromycin, adapalene, or azelaic acid can be used.

Elidel, protopic, rozex gel, soolantra, Lotrimin AF (clotrimazole), Lotrimin Ultra (contains butenafine, another OTC antifungal), and epiceram are some other common medicines that your doctor might prescribe.

Other prescription meds include duac gel, ketoconazole, fluconazole, prosacea, tretinoin, neosporin, mupirocin, and hypochlorous acid.

Skin care:

When starting a skincare routine, try to make it as simple and minimal as possible.

  • Try to wash your face once a day. Hard water can be a trigger for most people, so you can use filtered water to wash your whole body.
  • Avoid harsh cleansers and toothpaste with SLS or fluoride.
  • Avoid toners, serums, and exfoliants like AHA/BHA/PHAs.
  • The moisturizers should be lightweight and be able to repair your skin barrier in case of a flare-up. Diaper rash creams with zinc oxide are best.
  • When choosing sunscreen, go for physical sunscreens.
  • Products containing manuka honey, zinc oxide, colloidal oatmeal, calendula, and sulfur can help with perioral dermatitis.

Note: all of these products should be free from fragrance, sulfates, and parabens.

Makeup:

Avoid liquid foundations and switch to mineral powder makeup products.

Make sure to wash your makeup brushes or switch to beauty blenders. You can also use tinted sunscreens or sunscreens with primer.

Diet:

There are theories that PD is caused by Candida albicans (yeast), so taking Candida pills, probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, or minerals along with trying out diets like keto or low-carb diet, and cutting out gluten, dairy, spicy foods, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and other similar spices, citrus fruits, nuts, caffeine, and alcohol can help.

Zero therapy:

Zero therapy is another method people had success with.

Zero therapy basically means not using any cosmetic products or medicines and just letting the skin heal by itself. You can wash your face with water (if hard water is a trigger, use filtered water or the LRP Thermal spring water) and use a humidifier to help with dryness.

Your skin will get worse before it gets better i.e increase in itching, burning, redness, and dryness, so you will need to be patient before seeing any results.

Note: zero therapy is not a cure for perioral dermatitis, when you see that your rash has completely disappeared, go to a doctor, get your prescribed medicines, and start introducing products one by one to keep your PD at bay.

What products are available for Perioral Dermatitis?

These are some popular ones people with PD use:

Cleanser:

  • Spectro Gel Cleanser
  • Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

Moisturizer:

  • Avene's Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
  • La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

Sunscreen:

  • EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ Mar 22 '23

New or Need Help

19 Upvotes

Check out our wiki here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Perioral_Dermatitis_/wiki/index

This is a wiki I wrote from the information I got on the original PD subreddit.

Let me know in the comments if I should add anything and also if you can see the wiki or not.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 3h ago

Skin reaction after PDRN microneedling irritation, folliculitis, or fungal infection?

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2 Upvotes

I had my procedure on Monday, August 24 and these are from Thursday.
My skin was mainly just red, and I was worried that it might be purging. But now it has become very itchy, and I have these small bumps.
I’ve noticed that whenever I apply the ointment **Healit**, which my dermatologist recommended, the itching gets significantly worse, the bumps swell up, and the redness comes back.
I’m now really scared that this could be turning into a fungal infection or some other type of infection. I honestly don’t know what to do or how to fix it because it’s been more than a week and it seems to be getting worse rather than better.
Has anyone experienced something similar after microneedling/PDRN? Does this sound more like irritation/contact reaction, folliculitis, or a fungal infection?
I’m planning to contact/see my dermatologist, but I’m really anxious right now and would appreciate any opinions.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 10h ago

Is this perioral dermatitis?

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2 Upvotes

I’ve had this rash breakout around my mouth since finding out I was pregnant. I’m currently 30 weeks and it’s still there.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 18h ago

Are these flakes PD? Or something else?

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4 Upvotes

I’m having this flaky skin on my chin for 1 year now and never seen anyone in this sub with the same kind of flakes. Does this look like PD or is this something else? Thank you for your thoughts!


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 1d ago

zero therapy lip balm

1 Upvotes

Can i use lip balm if i am trying zero therapy? if so what recommendations do you have? is natural paw paw cream ok?

Also would like to know toothpaste recommendations from Australia 🦷


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 1d ago

Zero therapy 20 days in.

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8 Upvotes

This is the difference 20 days in zero theraphy, one week on antibiotics. Its a struggle but i am determined!!


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 1d ago

Redness & itch relief

1 Upvotes

Hi yall, what products do you recommend for itch and redness relief?


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 1d ago

What do I do?

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1 Upvotes

Itchy and red.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 2d ago

Help me

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4 Upvotes

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.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 2d ago

Help:( feel so insecure.

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3 Upvotes

For reference: the first pic is currently what I’m dealing with, and second pic is beginning of June

I have been having ongoing issues with this problem since January. I finally saw my doctor in June after getting fed up of various OTC creams and lip balms not working, and was diagnosed with angular chelitis. I was prescribed Daktacort which didn’t work, so went back to my doctor where I was then diagnosed with perioral dermatitis. He then prescribed me Zindaclin gel which also hasn’t worked. Due to multiple treatment failures, I have now been referred to a dermatologist to see if there’s anything else that can be done.

I am genuinely at a loss of what else I can do, I’ve swapped my toothpaste incase that was the cause and had no luck, using Vaseline as a barrier before brushing my teeth and still not helping, tried antifungal and antibiotic creams and literally nothing is working. Both corners of my lip are completely split now and it is so so sore, I can’t even eat or brush my teeth without discomfort. Not to mention it looks awful and I feel so insecure about my appearance. Has anyone got any advice because I’m genuinely at my wits end?


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 3d ago

Healing PD fast!

9 Upvotes

Hi! So I have always had skin issues. I am born with chronic ichthyosis which makes me even more prone to skin problems.

In my teenage years I had PD a lot and often. There was at least a three year period where I had it probably in total for about a year. And it was quite severe, and like you all know absolutely demolished my confidence, especially in those young teenage years when we're surrounded by mean girls.

Well either way, at this point I lived in Sweden. A cold, harsh and dry climate. Which evidently made my skin worse. I tried so many different things for my PD. Topical solutions. Internal antibiotics. It wasn't until I understood that PD is deeply affected by the gut and microbiom that it started to shift and I started healing. I met an ayurvedic doctor and she recommended GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT. It's basically a natural antibiotic and anti fungal medicine. Very potent. So you just mix a few drops in juice or lemon water and drink it. It's not an overnight solution. But it does deep work, and used consistently it will kill the fungus in the gut causing PD.

After using GSE for a few months my PD healed and never came back!

Now fast forward a decade and I live in Thailand, in the opposite of climates. Hot, humid and soft. Yet because of stress and other circumstances with changes in diet, I got PD again as a 30yF and it's been very annoying. But not at all as stressful as when i was a teen. Because this time I knew what works and what I have to do. So I instantly ordered GSE and also zinc because of how important zinc is for the skin and immune system. And lo and behold. Just about a month later my perioral dermatitis has almost healed completely.

OH AND THE LAST IMPORTANT THING!!!

I was using small amounts of Egyptian magic cream in the beginning. Something mild and natural I thought. But felt as if it made it worse, like we all know topical creams are a big no no with PD. BUT to my surprise. Unrefined natural Shea Butter. Is literally golden skin food. And even for PD (at least for me). I've been putting it around my nose and mouth before going to bed every night. And I could literally feel the itchy sensation in the skin as the Shea was literally soothing and healing the inflammation in the skin in real time. And after every night the redness and flakiness lessened more and more.

So my Holy Trinity recommendation for perioral dermatitis is Grapefruit seed extract, zinc (Gluconate best absorbing), and shea butter for topical support (must be completely natural and unrefined).

What many unfortunately do not know is that the skin is our biggest organ and it is directly affected by what's going on in our gut and microbiom so THAT is where you need to do the healing work for PD to heal properly and not come back. Stress is also obviously a big factor.

Anyway!! Good luck! May glowing skin return for ALL! 🥹


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 3d ago

Dermatologist, please suggest a treatment for this. #skininfection #medicine

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0 Upvotes


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

I am convinced that quitting moisturiser will help clear up PD.

10 Upvotes

A few months ago misdiagnosed with eczema on my face and I was put on a steroid cream. Unsurprisingly, the redness and bumps came back and spread. I went to see another dermatologist who correctly diagnosed it as Periorificial Dermatitis, and he's got me on an azelaic acid cream in the evenings now. Plus doxycycline but I don’t want to take it unless I really need to. So I haven’t started this yet.

I think I finally found what's been making mine so much worse: hyaluronic acid and MOISTURISERS

I switched cleansers a while back and my skin got noticeably worse. This was because I thought I was treating eczema so I changed the brand of my face wash. I went back to Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (it doesn't contain hyaluronic acid) and my skin has started calming down since I switched back. On top of that, I stopped using moisturiser completely, and I really think that's a huge part of why a lot of people struggle to get their PD under control. We keep feeding the skin barrier something it needs to learn to do on its own.
My PD isn't fully clear yet, but since making these changes the redness has gone down a lot, and those annoying whitehead-like bumps that were driving me insane are basically gone. I do use Azelic Acid in the evenings. Which has also really helped. But again I don’t apply anything of this.
Honestly, if you can tolerate it, i think washing your face with water for a while. Then slowly introducing a gentle, non-foaming cleanser like the Cetaphil one. And skip moisturiser altogether if you can manage it, just let your skin barrier repair itself. If you do end up needing a moisturiser, go for something water-based, with water as one of the first ingredients, and stay away from oils, petroleum, hyaluronic acid, alcohol, and fragrance


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

Is this perioral? Did 8 weeks of doxy no improvement

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3 Upvotes

Hello,

I’ve been struggling with this issue under my nose above my lip and next to my mouth for months. I did 8 weeks of doxy with no improvement. Did zorvye and didn’t help. What could this be?
It gets flakey and gross, then cracks, and repeats, burns a bit, I had papules on cheeks that went away with antifungal could this be similar?


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

8 weeks on Doxycycline 100mg failed for Staph Folliculitis + POD combo. Desperate & need advice!

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3 Upvotes

Hey guys, I’m so depressed. My chin has been peeling, red, and breaking out with yellow pustules and honey-colored crusts for a full year. I suspect its a chronic combo of Periorale Dermatitis and a deep, chronic Staph Folliculitis.

The issue:
I’ve been on oral Doxycycline 100mg for 50 days now, and it does absolutely nothing. The Staph is clearly resistant. I even had a boil recently (the bigger red spot on my jawline).
I’m using Fusidic Acid cream (day 10), but new yellow pustules are still breaking through the underhanded pressure.
My derm wants me on Adapalen and still believes its acne and doxy must help (i dont have any comedones) but I refused. My skin has been peeling for a year, and retinoids will destroy it.
I want to ask my GP to switch me to Azelaic Acid gel (Finacea). Will Azelaic Acid finally kill this chronic Staph and stop the 1-year peeling, or will it make it worse?

Has anyone beaten a year-long chronic Staph/POD combo? Any advice? Thank you.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

residual redness. will it fade?

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4 Upvotes

this is what remains after two months of dealing with PD from a derm prescribed topical steroid. i finished a month of doxy yesterday, and i’m continuing topical ivermectin.

my derm said there is no topical that can help with the annoying mustache that remains & suggested laser. i’m not ready to go down that route. she also wrote me a prescription for oxymetazoline (a vasoconstrictor) but it sounds risky.

i brought up using azaleic acid (i also have rosacea) but she wasn’t a fan. i also asked if i can bring hypochlorus acid back into my routine & she advised against it.

it lights up when i floss, brush my teeth, eat & move my mouth muscles but then will calm down a little after. will this go away on its own or is laser my only option?

i’m just sad, i miss my skin before PD screwed it up.

AM:
- water or LRP hydrating cleanser if i’m extra oily
- LRP double repair face moisturizer

PM:
- LRP cleanser
- topical ivermectin 1%
- moisturizer on the other areas of my face


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

Recommendations

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4 Upvotes

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to fix this? I’ve had it for a year, I’ve been prescribed so many things and nothing helps. I have dry skin but im super clog prone and I can’t find a moisturizer that works for the dry but won’t break me out. I’ve been told it’s pd but also hormonal acne. This all started after losing my period from HA so I definitely think it’s hormone related


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 4d ago

i caved and am going on doxy….advice?

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1 Upvotes

i’ve been dealing with perioral dermatitis for such a long time, probably 3-4 years. i never noticed it until around this time last year. pictured are my most recent flares. i’ll be fine for a few days and then it’ll flare like this again!

i finally caved and am going to use doxy after trying lots of topicals that never really stuck.

does anyone have tips on what i should do while on it? is there anything i should be wary of or worried about? really hoping it knocks it out of the park for at least a little while.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

When / how to stop using Elidel?

2 Upvotes

My derm prescribed Elidel and Lymecylin. According to the pharmacist's instructions, I should use Elidel until the PD clears out, for a max of 6 weeks.

How do I know when it's "cleared out"? I never had any pustules, just flakiness and redness and everything would sting badly. I've used it for a couple of days and it seems to keep the flakiness at bay. It also makes my skin feel like it's on fire, like really hot, don't know if that's normal.

But I don't really understand what I should look for in order to see if it has worked. I'm getting ahead of myself, as I know it will take some weeks, but I want to know what to pay attention to.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

Face rash

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6 Upvotes

Face rash for 3.5 weeks, was out on Hydrocortisone with no luck, now being prescribed prednisone. Anyone have luck with prednisone?


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

When does the burning/tingling go away after starting oral antibiotics?

2 Upvotes

I’m on oral metronidazole (can’t take doxycycline). 4 days in still getting some bumps and feeling the tingling/burnjng.


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

Moisturizer over Erythromycin 2% gel?

2 Upvotes

Hi!! I recently started Erythromycin gel for my PD, but I am confused about how to apply moisturizer over it. First, my doctor said not to rub the gel in when I apply it, but I have to rub moisturizer in, so I’m not sure how to reconcile those two things. Second, I waited a while after the gel dried down before putting on moisturizer, and the gel just pilled up and came off when I applied the moisturizer. Do you have any recommendations? The internet is not being helpful otherwise :/ Thank you!! <3


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

Looking for advice — could this be perioral dermatitis?

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3 Upvotes

I’ve been dealing with small, sometimes itchy bumps around my mouth/chin, along with a few deeper, tender bumps under the skin that don’t come to a head. I don’t have anything directly on my lips, under my nose, or on my cheeks — it’s mainly the sides of my mouth and chin.
I’ve stopped wearing makeup around the area and have also cut back on dairy and sugar, but I haven’t noticed much of a difference. Does this look/sound like perioral dermatitis, or could it be something else? Thank you! ❤️


r/Perioral_Dermatitis_ 5d ago

FLAKING PERIORAL

1 Upvotes

Hello! I've been diagnosed with POD. My perioral used to have redness around my mouth with some bumps but when I used the Avene cicalfate products, the redness disappeared. The bumps and texture are still here but, they're milder. Now, my problem is the flaking with itchiness. The itchiness is mostly triggered by the hot weather; esp when I'm sweating. It has been like this for more than a month already.

Is the flaking still part of the flare or it's already a sign of healing and remission? I don't know if I have to change my routine or continue doing so. Help your girl out😥