Perioral dermatitis, a facial rash, may be triggered by makeup, moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, dental products with fluoride, and hormonal fluctuations. Treatment involves eliminating the irritant and may require anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics. Natural treatments like omega-3 fatty acids and chamomile creams may also help. Women between 20 and 45 are most affected, but men may also develop the condition.
While the precise causes of perioral dermatitis are unknown, possible triggers include makeup and moisturizers, excessive use of topical corticosteroids, and dental products that contain fluoride. Characterized by a burning sensation, this facial rash is usually limited to the area around the mouth, but occasionally occurs around the nose and eyes as well. It is possible that this type of dermatitis is a form of rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis or adult acne. A diagnosis usually involves just a physical examination of the affected area. Treatment typically begins by eliminating the irritant, but severe cases may require an anti-inflammatory drug.
In many cases, topical steroid cream applied to the face is a primary cause of perioral dermatitis. These creams are topical forms of corticosteroids. They are often prescribed to treat a rash, dermatitis or eczema. When the cream is overused, the skin around the mouth can become irritated and erupt in the characteristic circular pattern of small bumps. In some cases, the condition will worsen when the steroid cream is stopped, setting a cycle of overuse and bursting.
Other potential causes of perioral dermatitis are makeup, moisturizers, and dental products that include fluoride. The ingredients in your makeup and moisturizer or face cream can irritate the delicate skin around your mouth, eyes, and nose. Vaseline or paraffin-based skin care products are particularly suspect, as is the use of foundations in addition to moisturizers and night creams.
Those who are sensitive to fluoride in toothpaste and other dental products can develop perioral dermatitis. There can be a few miscellaneous causes of perioral dermatitis, such as hormonal fluctuations and oral contraceptives. A doctor or dermatologist may also order a culture for bacteria to rule out bacterial infection as the cause.
This type of dermatitis is treated much like rosacea. If simply stopping use of the irritant doesn’t work, topical antibiotics often clear up mild cases. A severe case may require treatment with an oral antibiotic for several weeks. If the cause is related to excessive use of steroid cream, it may be necessary to take a tetracycline derivative for several weeks to overcome the rebound outbreak.
Perioral dermatitis is thought to be actually a form of adult acne, seborrheic dermatitis, or rosacea. The rashes that characterize perioral dermatitis are very similar to those associated with rosacea. The difference between perioral dermatitis and these other skin conditions is that the former usually resolves permanently with treatment. The other conditions recur often.
Whatever the causes of perioral dermatitis, it mainly affects women. Women between the ages of 20 and 45 account for about 90% of cases. It is thought that the number of male patients will increase as men change their cosmetic habits. This condition occurs in children but is rarely diagnosed.
There are a few natural treatment options for this condition other than simply discontinuing use of the irritant. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve skin inflammation and rashes. These fatty acids are found in fish oil and flaxseed. Some studies have shown that chamomile creams also help relieve dermatitis in general. Any treatment plan for perioral dermatitis should be discussed with a doctor.
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