Apple cider vinegar is the top cure for perioral dermatitis at Earth Clinic. Many of our readers have found healing for this tenacious health problem with a remedy that is already in many kitchen cupboards!
How is Apple Cider Vinegar Used for Perioral Dermatitis?
Apple cider vinegar is mixed with water and applied to the face once or twice a day. Many of our readers find the best solution is 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water (preferably distilled or spring water.) This is applied to the affected areas of skin with a cotton ball, in a spray bottle or with the fingers. If skin is very sensitive or if skin is broken, it may be necessary to dilute the vinegar even more. Even 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of water may be strong enough to improve perioral dermatitis.
Some of our readers find it helpful to take apple cider vinegar internally as well. A typical apple cider vinegar tonic is 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, once or twice a day. It is generally best to start with the lower dose to make sure the tonic agrees with your system. Increase the amount slowly over days or weeks if desired.
Many readers find that following up with a skin nourishing moisturizer helps as well, since apple cider vinegar can be drying to the skin. Castor oil, shea butter, coconut oil or calendula cream are some great moisturizers for those who suffer with perioral dermatitis. Petroleum jelly and other products with chemicals would not be good choices as they are likely to aggravate perioral dermatitis.
Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar for Perioral Dermatitis
Some of our readers find that apple cider vinegar is drying to the skin. Others find it stings the skin. Some find that it causes the skin to redden temporarily. If you experience side effects, try diluting the vinegar more, or rinse it off after 20 minutes.
Have you tried apple cider vinegar for perioral dermatitis? Please share your experience with us!
Continue reading and you will find our readers stories about the use of apple cider vinegar for perioral dermatitis.
I have had PD on/off for the past 10 years. This past year has been particularly bad, and it's now the fourth time I have been prescribed Doxycycline (I hate antibiotics but for years it has been the only thing that has worked! ). However, this time it doesn't seem to be working and I have been feeling so unwell that I have stopped taking it after 1 month.
I used ACV yesterday for the first time after years of never trying this, and in the same day I noticed that the redness and swelling went down a little (and the skin dried out). I did 50/50 ACV/water. Today is day 2 of this (and no antibiotics) and already it seems to be better – not perfect but certainly a little less red and perhaps less bumpy.
Really hoping things continue this way!! I've always been very skeptical of this whole ACV thing but so far it's doing well..
Over 6 months ago, I noticed the area around my mouth becoming super irritated, dry, and scaly. At the time I just thought it was dry skin and put all kinds of lotions and chap stick over the inflamed area. It would work for a day or 2 and then the area would become even more irritated. The skin constantly burned and itched. It looked awful and was extremely red. I just learned to deal with it, but after months of irritation I couldn’t handle it anymore. I finally made an appointment to the dermatologist. They gave me some samples of a cream that was meant for eczema. The second I applied it to my face it burned and turned the entire bottom half of my face blazing red. I washed it off and iced it but the pain would not subside. I would cry about it everyday not only because of the pain but because of what it was doing to my self esteem. Even putting makeup over it did not look good.
I finally read about apple cider vinegar. I mixed equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar. I applied it to my face using a cotton ball. The first couple of days it burned, but I was willing to try anything. I let it dry for a minute or so and then put cetaphil lotion on it. After 5 days the rash was almost completely gone. There was no more itching or burning and I finally had relief.
Ok so I used to get PD occasionally and I had no idea what it was. My lazy ass dermo didn’t seem interested enough to even look. So I took it upon myself to research and I realized it was PD. I was so upset becaus I break out so easily and I finally had a steady routine and PD just ruined it all. I read for hours. I finally tried ACV and it seems to be working but drying out the skin. You MUST be patient and calm. Do not pick. Hopefully it will be healed in a few days.
2 years ago, I developed what I thought was seborrheic dermatitis on my face. My whole face became, red, blotchy, scaly and painful. I distinctly remember sitting my desk trying to work, scratching above my eyebrow and a huge chunk of dead skin falling off into my hand. It lasted for over 6 months. First bumps would appear, then they would flatten out, and scale over, eventually they would peel and I would have normal skin for a day or two before it would start again. I was depressed, withdrawn, and did not leave me apartment except to work and buy food/products that I hoped would help my skin. I did try ACV at that time, but I stopped when I didn’t see results after a few days. That was probably a mistake, or at that point the infection was too severe.
My Dermatologist put me on Protopic (steroid cream) and antibiotics. I used it for a few months and it my rash disappeared. However, I was doing two other things at the time that I think helped. I was using a face cleanser that contains the same ingredient used to treat scalp dandruff. I also started covering my whole face in Vaseline after reading that it would “starve” the bacteria on oxygen. The first night I put Vaseline on, my face burned which I interpreted as the fungus dying.
I was left with normal skin, with a lot of hyperpigmentation because I had been so rough with trying to get rid of the scales. I think what happened is that the steroid cream kept my symptoms at bay while I continued to use the cleanser, which eventually killed the bacteria. I stopped using protopic after a few months the rash did not come back. Occasionally, I would see a bump or two, apply protopic and it would go away. The hyperpigmentation eventually faded.
In Oct 2017, I decided to go off of my oral contraceptive. In January 2018, I entered into a new relationship and so restarted my birth control. That’s when I started getting bumps beside my mouth. Acne cream did not help, neither did the protopic. After some online research I self-diagnosed myself with perioral dermatitis.
From my experience two years ago, I knew how bad this could get. I was terrified and determined not to go back to what had been. My Dermatologist cannot see me until April! After reading all the reports on ACV on EC website, I bought some organic AVC and began to apply it to my face, followed up with calendula cream. I applied it full strength, I was diluting at first, but when done full strength I could see the “fizzing and bubbling” that others have mentioned. The PO active areas on my face would show white bumps. After the areas stopped reacting (2-4 days), I apply a diluted ACV solution to keep it from coming back.
I applied it not just to my mouth, but my forehead, nose and cheeks. I did this because in the past that’s where the bumps would occur and fade. Sure enough, there was PO, hiding in this area too. The ACV definitely made my face worse before it got better.
Using it full strength caused some bad drying of my skin. Some patches look like burns. Even with the calendula cream, y skin was tight and I looked tired and wrinkly because of the dry skin. I returned to using Vaseline after the calendula cream. This made my face feel comfortable and normal. The dry skin began to fall off and the skin underneath was smooth.
I started using this treatment 2 weeks ago. The PO is not gone, but is remarkably better. My skin is smooth, not red but a light pink. I am going to continue to use ACV and hopefully can get rid of this for good. I intend to tone with diluted ACV solution morning and night from now on.
Other things I am doing
Since I could not get the Born to be Mild cleaner anymore (they don’t ship to Canada), I bought a soap on Amazon.ca with the same zinc ingredient. It’s not drying on the skin. I wash my face with this before applying AVC
I take a probiotic, multivitamin and zinc supplement at night. I will stop the zinc after the PO is gone, because there is such a thing as too much zinc in the system. It can make you sick.
I put AVC and turmeric in my green tea every morning. No more than 2 tsp of ACV, usually less
I am not going back on oral contraceptives. I am going to speak to my doctor about other options
I have been a vegetarian since the age of 10, about 75% of my diet is vegan.
I do use makeup to cover the PO when I go out. Probably shouldn’t, but I am not as brave as some. Just concealer and foundation. I use Tarte and Bare Minerals.
Talked to people about what was happened. When this happened before I just hid at home and cried. This time, I was honest with the people in my life. I told the guy I was seeing about it before he saw me for our next date (he said he didn’t notice anything, sweet guy) I told my friends about it and how scared/upset I was. When people ask “how are you?” I am honest and say “I’m having some skin issues actually; I’m pretty self-conscious right now.” The support has been immediate and I don’t feel like I am hiding. From a mental health standpoint, it’s helped.
I know my use of Vaseline may be controversial to some on this site. Most sites agree that it is not good for PO. But in my experience it has not made my skin worse, and everyone’s skin is different.
Good luck everyone!
Update: The ACV continues to dry out and heal the active PO, but new spots keep forming. Toning with a diluted solution does not keep it from coming back. Still looking for a routine that will stop it from developing.
Please see my posting on Violet Extract here: https://www.earthclinic.com/violet-extract-for-perioral-dermatitis.html
Had a breakout with PD and used 3 part water 1 part ACV and used a cotton ball to apply it to my face cleared it up overnight (mild case) wasn't too severe, burned at first but felt soothing soon after work up to no PD