Perioral Dermatitis

Did you know that perioral dermatitis is much more prevalent than what people think? It is not a commonly spoken of skin condition but it is and I am living proof of it! Here is my story

Perioral dermatitis

Pictures of my the beginning of my perioral journey on my skin back in 2020

What is perioral dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis is an inflammatory rash involving the skin around your mouth. The rash may spread up to your nose or even your eyes. If the rash does this then it is referred to as periorificial dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis generally appears as a scaly or red bumpy rash. In darker skin, the lesions may be hyperpigmented or brown. The bumps may contain fluid, so there may be a clear fluid discharge from the bumps. Slight itching and burning can also occur. This condition is most commonly found in women ages 20 to 45, but it can be seen in all ages, races, and ethnicities. It can occur in children of any age. Episodes of perioral dermatitis can last weeks and even months. Perioral dermatitis is often chronic and relapsing, but it may resolve after the offending agents are removed. The cause of this inflammation is not completely clear but there may be certain triggers that cause it.

My Experience

As a disclaimer every ones perioral dermatitis looks different. Some people get rashes and no redness or redness and no rashes. Please also note that based on your race, perioral dermatitis will also look different because of skin complexion, but the core of experience is generally the same. My experience began back in 2020, it started with a simple itch around my mouth to a full out burning. As you can see the redness around my smile line. It does not look very painful from the pictures above but the pain was intense. As time would go on my breakouts would be more intense and more wide spread across my mouth (I did not take photos of these breakouts). There were times that it would leave dark patches of discoloration around my mouth after an episode because of the intense burning. I soon became desperate and began researching what could this be. I then came across the diagnosis of perioral dermatitis and I knew immediately what it was based on my symptoms. Perioral dermatitis is triggered in several ways:

• Topical steroid creams

• Some inhaled asthma medications

• Heavy moisturizers or sunscreens

• Fluoride toothpaste

• Changes in hormones, stress related

I determined that my outbreaks were a combination of hormones and stress. It would happen every month around my cycle, around the same time I would get hormonal acne as well. When I told my primary care about the situation, it was brushed off as nothing. I was determined to find something that worked for me. 2 years late I would create an antioxidant honey mask. I never thought that it would be my saving grace for my perioral dermatitis.

Why honey works

Honey has anti-microbial ( meaning an antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth) anti-bacterial (tending to prevent the growth or spread of bacteria.) In particular, I used wild flower honey to create my mask. Wild flower honey works as a natural humectant, and retains moisture within the skin. As a natural anti-inflammatory, wildflower honey calms irritable skin, especially skin impacted by hormonal fluctuations.

Application & Recommendations

When applied to the skin there may be some stinging since the area has been in an irritated state, but it will be subside. My recommendation is to let it sit on skin for at least 10 minutes and if possible up to 30 minutes. The honey will begin to dry up the dermatitis after the first application. Within 2-3 days you should see a remarkable difference in the way your skin looks. Shop our products on www.puahskincare.com for more information about this amazing honey mask.