Perioral Dermatitis

That stubborn rash around your mouth that seems to show up every time you try a new moisturizer, or seemingly randomly? We see this often, and we know how frustrating the trial-and-error can be. We'll help you figure out exactly what's driving it and get your skin back to calm, clear, and predictable.
Perioral dermatitis is a rash of small red bumps, sometimes with scaling, that appears around the mouth (and occasionally around the nose or eyes). It's often mistaken for acne or an allergic reaction, but it behaves, and responds to treatment, VERY differently.
Triggers can include topical steroid use, including inhaled steroids for asthma, heavy moisturizers, toothpaste, plumping lip gloss, essential oils, and certain cosmetics. It tends to worsen with the exact products people reach for to try to fix it. It can also flare during hormonal fluctuations and seasons of stress.
Treatment typically starts with stopping the triggering product. Our skin wants to heal, and if we can pinpoint and eliminate the offending product, the rash will resolve eventually. We can also consider topical or oral antibiotics with anti-inflammatory properties. We'll also help you simplify your skincare routine so flares stop happening.
If a rash around your mouth isn't responding to what you'd normally use for acne, or seems to flare with certain products, come in before trying more treatments on your own. The wrong product can prolong the rash for months, or leave you on a rollercoaster of improvements and flares.