Dry skin around mouth and nose pics attached - what could be causing it?

[Miamoo134]

Since my last trimester around June/July 2023 I have suffered with this dry skin on and off. I suffered with a bit of melasma which settled a bit after having my baby. Then before i was due for my period it came back and went once I started my period.

I've had a couple flare ups since but this time it started a week before my period and its been like this 2 weeks now! It's getting me down so much. I can't do make up the same..my skin burns and stings when I do my skin care. I use sensitive skin care but soon as I've rubbed in the cream it is immediately dry and flaking.

One image is the dry skin when I wake up. The other is after I've washed face and applied moisturiser. Please help!! Is this hormonal its bringing me down :(

I'm not sure if this is hormonal, but I've experienced similar recently, and overhauled my skincare regime. I now apply a face oil followed by moisturizer at bedtime, and serum before moisturiser during the day. It's improved a huge amount as a result - pretty much back to normal. I used to use "sensitive skin" stuff, but I've basically upgraded to expensive ultra dry skin stuff now.

@KentishMama thanks so much. Do you have any recommendations of oil moisturiser and Serum? I was thinking unscented cerave moisturiser

Is it your toothpaste causing it?

Cerave is great stuff.

Do you ever get papules/spots with it? If so it could be perioral dermatitis.

Do you use things like glycolic acid? The skin around the nose and mouth are sensitive. I got sore and cracked patches in the same places when I was using a glycolic acid toner.

You have beautiful skin by the way.

@TwelveAngryWhiskers

I did see something about perioral dermatitis but I don't get any spots or anything. It's just dry skin but when I wash it can be a bit of redness and irritation which soon calms down and then leaves me with the same patch of flaking skin in same spots.

I've just invested in some more skincare that I could afford so will see how it goes

I ordered glycolic toner thinking it was good for dry skin as I saw it somewhere but now I'm thinking to not use it!

Thank you sooo much ❤️

@GogAndMagog I have recently changed toothpaste!! This could potentially be a cause. Will swap back to my old one but only thing I'm thinking I've had this since I suffered with melasma back last year - and I used this toothpaste for a while before with no issues but worth a try!

I had this and it was cured very quickly by HRT. Obviously I'm older. But just to say, it probably is hormones.