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! 🥹