Help..perioral dermatitis

[LadesC]

Can anyone give any advice on getting rid of this. Ive had it for about 18 months but didnt really identify what it was. Now Ive self diagnosed on dr google what i think it is, Im also pregnant so think its unlikely the gp will want to prescribe anything for it. Am currently sat slathered in sudocreme hoping for the best.

Seems to have flared up last few days but even at its calmest it looks like a big red mark all down my smile lines. At the mo its worse...lots of tiny red spots.

Am trying ren gentle skincare but doesnt seem to help.

have you tried aloe vera , have heard it does wonders for irritated skin
have you seen GP and is steroid cream not allowed in pregnancy ?

I had this over a year ago.
I discontinued all skincare, cleansers and makeup for a few weeks.
I cleansed with water and unperfumed castile soap, and hydrated the tight and hurting bits with a zinc cream (I used Fissan nappy cream but Cicaplast Bayme B5 was similar).
I switched to SLS free shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste, and have avoided SLS ever since.
Most important: do not put any hydrocortison or other cortisoles on your face.

With these measures (the 'zero routine'), my skin healed in a few weeks. I slowly reintroduced products one by one, lipsticks last because they seemed most irritating. I can use regular makeup and skincare now and even salicylic and glycolic acid in moderation but in the acute phase my skin was incredibly sensitive and tolerated nothing. I did not use topical or systemic medications, and have been relapse free ever since. My triggers were most likely overharsh SLS laced cleansers and salicylates and extreme work stress. Steroid medications are another common trigger, but the cause of perioral is unknown. I also have acne and rosacea prone skin, they appear to be on a continuum with perioral.

You could the zero routine this for a week as this is a conservative routine that is safe in pregnancy. If it does not help at all, talk to a GP or a dermatologist about medication choices.

thanks both. To be fair ive not booked in to see gp as yet...keep hoping ill wake up each morning and itll miraculously have gone! Will try the zero technique i think and see how that goes!!

Not an expert on perioral dermatitis - rosacea is my thing! - but I have a friend who suffered with it & she was told that she shouldn't put creams on it, as they can make it worse. She was meant to use a gentle foaming cleanser & then leave that part of her skin totally clear.

She was also given a topical by the GP, the same thing I use for my rosacea (finacea / azelaic acid) which is why I remember. Apparently it worked well, but it's prescription only in the UK. There are also antibiotic creams / gels, but I don't know if they're safe to use during pregnancy.

Try canesten HCP. Sometimes is a yeast infection and the hydrocortisone will help with any inflammation. If no better in a week see your gp

Sorry should say canesten HC. Is fine in pregnancy.

Also steroid on your face is fine as long as only for a week. Then see gp.

Be careful with Sudocreme too - I was paranoid about Fissan and went for a few days using absolutely nothing but I experienced a lot of tingling and tightness and Fissan seemed to relieve it without increasing irritation. During the recovery phase, I preferred products with really short ingredient lists and learned to read INCIs. Nobody knows exactly what exactly triggers perioral if it is not steroid-related so it is impossible to know what to avoid.

Good luck!

Nooo not steroids! Unless specifically instructed by a dermatologist.
The only known cause of perioral is side effects from steroids.
An info page here.

I get an outbreak of this every year or two and it clears up well with a topical cream I get on prescription called Rozex (metronidazole). I was actually pregnant the first time I got perioral dermitisis (maybe there's a link?) but didn't get round to treating it until after the pregnancy so I don't know whether it's safe to use when pregnant. HTH.

NO STEROIDS!!
Mine got much worse with using them.
frugsl advised me at the time and I also did "zero* skincare and cut out sls and fluoride toothpaste.
Unfortunately I eventuslly needed a long dose of antibiotics but mine really was terrible and painful too.
I have continued to be very careful with skincare and cosmetics and found avene really helped my skin recover.
You have my sympathy tho. It's awful.

I think this is what dd wS prescribed a 6 week corse of antibiotics for, and anothe NOOO for steroids - they aggrivate this complaint.

Derm nurse at hospital needed.

I have been suffering from this since I was a teenager, and have been prescribed all kinds of stuff, including antibiotics and Roaccutane (of course you can't use this when pregnant). They all helped temporarily, but it always came back.

Then I though that sunlight always makes it better, so got one of those acne healing lamps - mine is Lumie Clear, but I'm sure others will do the same job, and amazingly I have not been troubled by dermatitis for a couple of years now, so fx it's gone. I now also use sensitive skin products (Dr Hauschka), just in case.

I had this - first time was when I was pregnant 18 years ago.

Suffered for years, on and off. The GP would prescribe various creams, and short courses of antibiotics. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not.

Eventually saw a Consultant Dermatologist, and was diagnosed as Perioral Dermtatitis. (by this time I had googled). The treatment is a 3 month course of Lymecycline (Tetralysal). You won't be able to take this whilst pregnant I don't think.

I do think it is related to hormones to some extent. As I say, it first came on when pregnant, in subsequent years I was on the combined pill - and kept getting it every 12 - 18 months or so. I would just visit the GP and let them know what the treatment was and take the antibiotics.

'Touch wood' I haven't had it for just over a year now - so am half expecting another outbreak soon. It is always in the same place/s - the first is just on my top lip at the right. As soon as I feel the tingle/itch I get on the phone and see someone for a prescription.

The last time it came on was when I had been using a mineral powder foundation too. Whether that was due to just bad luck, or the powder irritating my skin, or the brush being contaminated - who knows. But I have since binned it all - and try to use no make up at all.

Don't know if this will help, but my experience - had a very bad attack of what doctors initially thought was a severe allergic reaction, but not sure what to. Perscribed steroids by the first doctor, but given his track record with everyone, didn't trust this. It got worse within a day and was sent to A&E! A&E said that the Ramipril I was on for blood pressure had caused an allergic reaction and to stop taking them. Also given intravenus steroids as throat had swollen. The inflamation and weeping sores around the mouth got worse and so I took to google and went back to the next GP, who had a dermatology specialism and said perioral dermatitis and perscribed anti-biotics, which did help with the weeping sores, but the itching remained. In the meantime, my skin is very sore. Googled again and stopped using everything on skin, including any cream to stop the itching (pharmacy recommendation), which if anything made it worse. Back to GP, another one!, and they referred me to an Allergy Specialist. In the meantime, I tried olive oil and sugar to stop infection, which helped (mentioned by someone experiencing PD). Here it gets interesting. Specialist said that I was not allergic to Ramipril, but that Ramipril accelerates an allergic reaction and makes it far worse than it should be. As I was allergic to Aspirin, said I had a Salicylate intolerance, which is not rare and to look at what I was eating / coming into contact with and use common sense. It worked - I still get itching, but not the pustules. May not help you, but it appears that there is such a lack of knowledge re. skin and side affects of drugs, that the above might benefit someone. My GPs are now certainly aware of what Ramipril can do!