Perioral dermatitis….so fed up

[Osissa]

Anyone else have this?

Had It once before really badly and eventually cleared it with 8 weeks oral doxycycline.

Now it’s back and I forgot how absolutely hideous it is and how it literally doesn’t respond to ANYTHING. I tried rosex which supposedly is magical but it made it flare up even worse. Anything I use, even the Avene cilcalfate or the LRP B5 baume do nothing. Putting cream seems to hydrate the pustules and make them bigger and redder. I’m so reluctant to do the 2 months antibiotics again but it’s been 3 weeks with no change. I’m going to try zero therapy for a few days then decide. Just want to rant really. I find it mortifying, walking around with spots all around my nose and mouth in my 40s 😩

This sounds so hard. I was going to suggest e erythung you have already tried.

Given your history and finding that nothing works you might be better on the antibiotics sooner rather than later.

If you're concerned about the antibiotics effect on your health there are various supplements that can help to protect and repopulate your good bacteria.

Thanks. I’m starting to think I might have to do them. It’s just so frustrating. And it’s such a long course of treatment

Sorry to hear this OP - I have sensitive skin that reacts to all kinds of stuff and it's a minefield. The only suggestion I have is to try Reddit - there are all kinds of groups on there (sub, i.e. sub-Reddit threads) for skin conditions, and a lot of knowledgeable people.

Another option might be a private dermatologist - I had an appt with one for skin allergies years ago, he wrote to my GP advising comprehensive patch testing and that spurred her on to refer me for that on the NHS. The appt was about £180 I think.

Thank you. I’ve had life long skin issues and patch testing x3 but my only allergy is nickel which I am not putting on my face. Eczema is my usual issue but this PD is worse because a) it’s on my face and b) it just never gets any better!

You could try looking at capry oil, my son has seborrheic dermatitis,he had used all sorts of different products all of which didn’t really make much difference. We tried this as a last resort and it’s been amazing almost like a miracle cure. I’m not sure if it will help your condition by maybe worth looking in to

I suffer from this too and it is awful. The only thing that works for me is the antibiotics for a few weeks. I have tried all sorts of things but nothing has worked.

All that helped me was changing toothpaste. At the time I realised one sort of Colgate came with a rash; the other didn't. The only difference I could see in the ingredients was titanium dioxide, so maybe that had been the cause. I am currently using Zing, which lacks some other possible triggers such as sodium lauryl or laureth sulphate. I hope that might help someone else!

PS patch testing is unlikely to cover all possible irritants, so don't rule out on that basis.

I find that doing nothing is the answer.

As little makeup as possible and only the very lightest hint of a light moisturiser when absolutely necessary only.

Water only. And very careful with toothpaste.

It really sucks.

Yes changing toothpaste worked for me and if I run out and use a random one, it comes straight back.

the toothpaste thing I have heard but it is an utter mystery to me! The rash is mostly around my nose. Never in my life has toothpaste got anywhere near my nose! It never even goes outside my mouth or runs down my chin. I don’t understand how it could possibly ever be a culprit 😂

Yeah doing nothing is my current strategy. Not even moisturiser. My plan now is to do that for 4 days and if no change I’ll ask for the antibiotics 😩

I had this while wearing masks in work for over 2 years, nothing from the GP worked. I bought sulphur soap from Amazon and used it daily for 2 months, I did take a while but totally cleared it. I use it once a week now and have had no issues

Yeah my first bout was during covid and I’m sure the mask caused it. And then I put steroid on and it went crazy. This time is a mystery to me. No mask, no steroid. But it’s flared up anyway.

@Osissa findvthe PD Facebook group, it’s so helpful.

The only thing that worked for me was a strict sulphur soap regimen and nothing else!

The thing that triggered it for me was Tret 🙁

I cleared mine using Lyonsleaf beauty balm morning and night, weleda nappy cream in the day and plenty of sudocrem overnight. They also make a calendula and zinc cream. Took a long time though.

Mine flares up this time of year every year, I feel your pain!
My tips:
Use toothpaste without sodium laryl sulphate - if i slip up and use one accidentally it comes back IMMEDIATELY. It makes no sense to me as obvs goes nowhere near my nose but it's my main culprit.
Do not use ANYTHING on it. Wash your face with very mild cleanser then do not out any cream on at all. This will be very difficult and feel really hard, but it's the only thing that works. It will be itchy and then dry out and disappear.
I use a lot of acids and retinol etc and are very careful to avoid that area. They "travel" as well so I avoid a bigger area than gets affected.

Good luck, the not moisturising is soul destroying but it's the only thing that works for me.

The lyonsleaf Calendula cream is really good after it's cleared a bit I agree

Lyonsleaf zinc and calendula. Buy it off amazon. Honestly miracle worker!

I just had this, had never heard of it before it spread its way across my face! I blame stress and my ex husband 😬 three weeks on doxycycline cleared mine but I didn't realise how long I'd need it for and I couldn't get in at the gp so ordered a weeks worth online for chlamydia 😬 had to order twice more of course, glad there's an option to tick not to share with the GP!

I’d second the toothpaste. My daughter suffers with this. She noticed a difference straight away. She uses a fluoride free toothpaste without sodium laurel sulphate (sls) and sulphate free shampoo.

If you have a nickel allergy (as do I) then it's possible that diet is triggering it - it doesn't seem to make a difference for me (or at least one that I can get to the bottom of/trace!) but there are certainly plenty of sources online that say that certain foods may exacerbate it, given their nickel content.

I'm sure you have experience with a lot of gentle cleaners but just in case not - the most reliable/bland for me has always been Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser.

I had this and it took a three month course of antibiotics to shift it. Dermo Consultant said absolutely no make up and only a non-comodegenic moisturiser - I use La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo M. So far it seems to be keeping it at bay.

This cleared mine up really quickly. Nothing else worked.