Pls help. Witts end. perioral dermatitis?

[Dellabob123]

Please please can you help me fix this? About 4 months ago I started out with what seemed like peri orla l dermatitis- raised red bumps, wet and flakes throughout the day. Spread from nose lines to left corner of chin. I used diprobase as that’s what worked years ago. Didn’t touch it. I don’t be use anything harsh on my face. I tried Suda cream and that helped redness and wet bumps but just made skin in between the spots really dry and flaky. Went to the docs and he prescribed a topical cream, but like Vaseline, but not steroid. It worked initially and then as I stopped usage it came back with a vengeance. Spread to the other side. I feel like I have to keep using it- catch 22. It feels like it’s on fire and still flaky but not the wet bumps like before. I have recently started a new job and I just feel like a freak and hideous and so self conscious. I’ve tried various other eczema creams, no water, changes my toothpaste to non fluoride. I have an nhs referral now but it could take weeks before I get to see a dermatologist. I have attached a picture.

I feel so down and teary by this and how long it’s lasting. Can anyone help? Thank you

Have you tried dermol? Washing your face with it and using it as a moisturiser. I had dermatitis all over my face and neck for over a year. My eyes also used to swell up. Dermatologist couldn't find anything wrong with me and put it down to stress. Worst year of my life but dermol cleared it up after a while and I still use it now 3 years on. Try not to use steroid on your face, I have wrinkles around my eyes now due to using it! Something I will always regret.

Hope it clears soon OP!

I have an annual flare up of perioral dermatitis for the last 23years. Only antibiotics help. Its very unannoying x

Dellabob123 before you try anything else do try Canesten. As it's moist it's very likely to be fungal infection. If it's that Canesten will have it gone in a week. Definitely don't use antibiotics before trying Canesten.

Go and see a pharmacist for advice.

It’s horrible to have it, isn’t it? I was prescribed lymecycline after it shifted towards my eyes and it hasn’t come back since.

Mine stays away with fluoride free toothpaste and SLS free shampoo.
(I’ve used Jason, Aubrey organics and Avalon from here www.gentlebubbles.com/buy-phthalate-free-products/sulfate-paraben-phthalate-free-shampoo/)

Ask your gp for protopic cream and in the meantime buy some head and shoulders and wash your face with it twice a day. That helps with mine. Its horrible, I feel for you

Can u go to the pharmacist and get some anti fungal while you wait for an appointment with the derm?
A colleague had what looked similar and antibiotics made it worse as it turned out to be fungal. There would be minimal side effects using an antifungal cream but ask your pharmacist for a coal tar face wash and cream.
And boil wash your pillow so you don’t get reinfected.

Thanks for posting everyone, I feel reassured by your stories of recovery and your posts.
I woke up his morning and for the first time my face wasn’t on fire. I stopped the protopic yesterday, washed in child’s farm changed my bedding and used the exzema ointment. It’s all still there but Its not quite as inflamed. I signed up for the online consultation to speed things up as well- I’m willing to pay!!

I’ll visit the pharmacy today and see what I can pick up.

Hello Dellabob. I can't tell whether or not you have peri-oral dermatitis from the photo.

But I've had per-oral dermatitis twice and saw a dermatologist both times. She said it could be caused by fluoride in toothpaste or by steroid use on the face (and there was a third which I can't remember). She also said it's one of the only skin conditions/rashes that is not caused by stress.

Both times I had to have a long course (4 weeks plus) of low dose antibiotics and had to go back to see derm before I stopped antibiotics as it's important to make sure there is no trace of the spots before stopping. It was horrible. The first time I looked like a had a moustache and a beard of small red spots.

I hope you find out what you had and good luck for getting rid of it.

Is it definitely perioral and not seborrheic? I ask because of the inflammation by your nose. It it could be the latter, try Dead Sea salt. You can get big packs from the pharmacy for about £15. Dissolve a teaspoon or two in a basin of lukewarm water and soak your face in it so it covers the area, morning and evening. If you don't want to submerge your face you could use soaked cotton wool balls on the area. Aveeno moisturisers are also good for flakes/problem skin, in combination with the Dead Sea salt routine. Not sure of the science of all this, but I read the solution online and it's worked for people I know. Avoid strong soaps/chemical-laden moisturisers on your face.

Mine cleared with a Lumie acne lamp. Took about 2 weeks' daily use to see an improvement and it was completely gone in 6-8 weeks.

And for goodness sake don't use a steroid cream (even mild hydrocortisone). It will improve it initially but then get ten times worse.

Hi @dellabob123,

I was just wondering how you got on with the treatment for your Perioral Dermatitis? I’m dealing with this at the moment and have been since August. Unfortunately, I’m 37 weeks pregnant so my treatment options are limited. I’ve been using prescribed Metrogel for 2 weeks but haven’t seen any improvement- if anything it has spread 😭. Feeling very down about it xx

Hi RD15, sorry to hear your are suffering, it’s horrible. I went back to the gp as the referral for consultant was too long. I research the antibiotics and basically told them what I wanted. I had two courses of 10 days and it cleared right up. No reoccurrence just yet. I think it was minocycline. It worked anyway. Hoping it clears naturally, but worth discussing with the gp.

Thanks for getting back to me- I’m so glad it cleared up for you. It gives me some hope that antibiotics can work although I’m guessing I’ll have to wait until the baby is born. I’m feeling so self-conscious and then guilty because I should be excited about our new arrival but I’m too busy worrying about my skin. Not easy when it’s on your face and there’s no hiding- I even feel embarrassed in front of my husband 😢. Thanks again for the update xx

Hi @Dellabob123, well my little one arrived safe and well. So I’m now on oral antibiotics from the GP, as sadly there was no sign of it clearing up. She gave me a 12 week course of lymecycline. Fingers crossed it works 🤞

Congratulations!! Trust me, the anti biotics will work! Enjoy your little one and relax knowing that soon you won’t have the added anxiety of troublesome skin.

Thank you 😊 xx

Hi all, I'm 29yo and for the first time in my life I'm having this problem on my face, red areas next to nose and chin, just like the pic of Dellabob123 but I little less red, I also have zero burning feeling or pain, it just looks red, ugly and bumpy. I went to my house doctor and he said that it is probably acne and prescribed something for acne but said I could only use it if the condition gets worse or some white starts to appear inside the bumps (sorry, I don't know how to explain it very well). I didn't want to argue with him but after researching a lot I really think my case is more similar to PD. All of you feel the bumps itchy and burning, or not really? I'm located in Belgium and here is really difficult to get anything in the pharmacy without any prescription. Thanks in advance for your help.

I had it and most of the time I did not feel it, sometimes mildly itchy but not always. If it's perioral, you need antibiotics - in my case, cream (Rozex, metronidazole) worked and I didn't need oral antibiotics. Do NOT use any steroid creams, will make it worse.

hello! are you still dealing with this or found out what helped? yours looks exactly like mine and I have no idea what it is that is on my face

Hi. I’ve just found this thread. Did you sort your peri oral dermatitis?

I’ve been treating my PO derm for 30 years. I can recommend treatment and skin care tips if anyone is struggling with it.

might something like coconut oil help?

No, oils don’t help. If it really is perioral derm, ebpven water irritates, especially if it’s hard. Some acne looks like perioral but perioral presents on and around the mucus membrane areas of the face...mouth, nose and eyes...not always all at once. When left undiagnosed and untreated for a long time (which often happens without specialist diagnosis), the patches can join up making it look like a face full of red spots. Perioral can also go up into the nasal passages so it’s difficult to see and diagnose.