Multiple Remedies for Perioral Dermatitis

I moved to LA back in 2011 from Michigan. My diet changed due to stress, turning 21, and experiencing living on my own for the first time! At this time, I would pop the occasional (SO bad, I know) Accutane pills that I had left over from my treatment to rid me of my cystic acne (yes people, I had it all). I was out there modeling & couldn't deal with these outbreaks. Unknowingly to me, my cystic acne was probably caused by my lack of water intake, large alcohol intake, eating SO much processed food, high amounts of sugars, birth control, and also the fact that my Dad passed it down to me, awesome! I stopped taking the Accutane (due to the EXTREME side affects) & maybe a month later I thought I had a acne outbreak on my chin & mouth. SICK. I tried to pop it, NOPE, that made it worse. Tried my acne cream samples on it, HELL NAH, that made it so angry! Finally, after booking a new gig that wouldn't allow me to just cover up this mess, I made a dermatologist appt. He sampled it & told me what it was, I was flabergasted, I had never heard of this disgusting thing in my life! He gave me the 3 month supply of Antibiotics & some topical cream, as well as told me to get rid of all soaps containing fragrances, sulfates, ect. Me, being horrible at taking just a 3 week dose of antibiotics for a cold, I sure as hell knew I wouldn't be able to finish a 3 stinking month supply, wow! Needless to say, I couldn't even do the first day. I couldn't eat 2 hours before the pill or 2 hours after & I usually eat every 2 hours. I was throwing up every-time I tried to take the antibiotics because I would eat. Stopped taking those, and just used the topical cream (which now I know is a big no-no), removed all crappy makeup, cleaned my brushes, bought Dr.Bronners Tea Tree (this is magic, all Bronners is, helped clear up my acne as well as my brothers) and I believe I bought Sulfate Free hair products as well. My PD didn't clear up until I started traveling a lot for work, drinking more water, exercising, swimming in the pool, and getting sun when I could. There wasn't, at this time, something exact that rid me of it during this time. It was a combo of this. Stress I think feeds it as well, and when I started de-stressing, it went away. Mind you, I was traveling ALL the time for work, staying at nice hotels, which have clean sheets/pillow cases daily (I think this is huge with PD) & always on the go.

Flash forward to 2015-2016. I moved home in 2013, and my PD was still at bay. I was still traveling a lot for work at this time, and know that helped a lot. I do remember having a flare up when I returned home from a Vegas trip in May of 2014 or 15. We had went to this Adore anti-aging shop & they put all kinds of crap on my face to try & fix my "smile lines" that they couldn't stop saying looked so bad for me age (nice, thanks). I warned them of my sensitive skin, but they insisted this was "all organic, and has no harsh chemicals". Well, my face called BS after $500 products later, my PD flared up within 2 days. Horrible! I knew it was the lotions & immediately cut them out. It took a while for my face to readjust, because as you know, as soon as you've flared up, make-up really only makes it worse even if it's organic.

During this, we had moved to a new place in MI & the water was well water instead of city water (keep reading on, THIS PART IS HUGE!) & it was such a nice change. My PD always was at bay, slightly noticeable only to me, around the creases of my nostrils, which I was okay with. I rarely ever had outbreaks in this home, and lived here for 3 years (other than the vegas thing). If I did, I used ACV topically, 2 tablespoons orally, Physicians Formula pressed powder on my face, and tried to use makeups with least amount of allergy prone chemicals, organic shampoos, Dr.Bronners face wash, Coconut Oil only for face lotion, natural bug sprays, and Dessert Essence Natural Tea tree toothpaste. STAY away from- Clarisonic scrubber (makes it worse), exfoliating washes, scrubbs, cancelers withOUT high allergy chemicals in them (http://www.ewg.org/ check your makeup here, you want all 1's, and nothing in the Allergies & immunotoxicity setions. Another bummer is lipsticks, they tend to really make my PD react, so invest in some natural lipsticks, lip stains and pencils.

SO, here is the part I told you to all read on about. I recently moved too an new house in the suburbs, back to the old nasty city water like in LA. Since I have moved here, my PD is at it's absolute WORST it's ever been since I was diagnosed with it in 2011! I have only been here almost 3 months, and it's so bad that it bleeds sometimes, ACV no longer even affects it, and now I have to use rubbing alcohol to even somewhat dry it out. I turned to here & learned that this could be due to Candida Overgrowth, since PD is an affect of this possibly happening. I was consuming the same things I had been in LA, same amounts, and same lifestyle. It made sense, because nothing else was working. I tried the Candida Diet, & it did help a little bit. My PD was still not all gone though. I am no longer on the diet but take Grape Fruit Extract, Probiotics, & Candida Cleanse tablets 2x daily. I wash my face now with an organic Oatmeal Soap to help with the itching & redness. I have traveled less due to my busy season with my job & haven't exercised much unless on vacation. When on Vacation, I notice the next day I wake up, it looks better, doesn't itch, and I don't even notice it. It was right under my nose THE WHOLE TIME! FLUORIDE, how did I not realize this to begin with! The city water contains high amount of FLUORIDE to "help with tooth wellness" so they add it to the water as well as chlorine. My Well water never had this, but LA does & so does here. We all know this is HUGE NO for us, and just great, there's nothing I can do about it other than move or install an outrageously expensive house filtering system, which I am in a rental home, not going to happen.

All I can say is wash your face with filtered water, don't let the water run down your face in the shower (if city), exercise, get some sun, don't consume too much processed crap (if you're, try the Candida Diet then limit sugar intake daily after you've rid it), don't overdo the daily use of ACV topically or you'll become use to it like my PD did, use sulfate free everything, no facial products with added fragrances, check your makeup products online, clean your brushes weekly, change your pillow cases every other day or sleep on a fresh towel nightly, don't drink city water, take daily vitamins, sweat it out, watch alcohol intake, cut back on daily yeast intake, use nothing with Fluoride, double your daily intake in filtered water, and let it breath as much as possible.

I hope my many trial & errors help you & I hope it clears up. Nothing sucks more than this crap & I know you all hate it too. I know once I move it will clear up but I will let you know how not washing my face with the water anymore & not allowing it on my face in the shower holds up.

1. Cut fluoride (including using non-flouridated water to drink and wash my face).

2. Cut SLS from all of my health and beauty products.

3. Did a yogurt mask every night. After a few weeks I got creative and made a mask out of manuka honey, acidophilus, and aloe.

4. Cleaned my face with only diluted Bragg's apple cider vinegar (morning and night, I didn't use this on the dermatitis by my eyes because it would irritate that skin).

5. Applied violet tincture to the dermatitis morning and night.

6. Used only organic virgin coconut oil as a facial moisturizer.

7. Here is the tough one- I cut added sweeteners and coffee from my diet. I would cheat and have coffee on Saturday, and let myself have sweets on time a week. I drank earl grey instead of coffee.

8. Supplements I took- biotin, evening primrose oil, grapefruit seed extract, liquid acidophilus supplement morning and night.

Before I diagnosed myself with POD, I was using a steroid cream for months that was given to me by a dermatologist. I stopped using that cream after I began to suspect POD, and my skin went really crazy for about two weeks. After adhering to the treatment above for about two to three months my skin was clear. I should also add that I don't wear makeup, and I think that helps to clean it up faster.

Now to maintain clear skin, I use Keys Care facial moisturizer, and I try to stay away from coffee and sugar. I still avoid fluoride and SLS. I also use only non-soap cleanser on my face, and exfoliate with a cleansing grains mix that I make myself. After confirming my diagnosis, my dermatologist gave me an antibacterial cream that is also helpful when I think it is going to flare up. I hope this list is helpful to you! I got all of my information from the internet (including this site), for which I am so grateful!

I've been dealing with this awful Perioral Dermatitis rash for 4 months. I have had it off and on all my life, but this recent bout takes the cake. Around the nose, all over the chin, around the mouth, eyebrows, eyelids, and creeping up to my poor little cheeks! Saw a doctor that wanted to put me on antibiotics. I can't take them because I'm nursing a baby, so she gave me a topical antibiotic cream instead. It dried my face up and didn't work. Trying a few natural things now.

Has anyone tried Proskin Eczema cream? I bought some on the net and it seems to be helping with the pain, itchiness and dryness. I also decided to treat the condition like yeast, and have started taking acidophilus and applying an organic, plain, Greek yogurt mask once a day. I'm taking Biotin as well. Since starting on this path, the redness/swelling is much improved. I tried Apple Cider Vinegar once and it made the redness flare up, so I stopped. It even spread further up my face, as if it was running away! I will try again and stick with it, this time putting it on the unaffected areas close by as well. If this stupid POD is in any way a bacterial infection, then it makes perfect sense for the ACV to work. I read that the initial flare-up right after the first few applications is the infection going crazy and trying to leave the surface or something. But then it dies...nowhere to run!

Good luck to everyone!

The PD resurfaced ten fold after a trip we took to Thailand in the winter, where I was applying sunscreen and using facial wipes every day.

Shortly after, I discovered I was expecting and couldn't take any of the antiobiotics prescribed for PD. I tried so many of the natural remedies listed on this site (including ACV & probiotics) plus all- natural creams, pure aloe (from the plant), but nothing seemed to work for me.

I started using a mild tea tree oil bar soap to wash my face in the am and pm. At the same time I started using yogurt masks at night, and this seemed to help start clearing up the problem (I have since stopped applying the yogurt).

I now follow with an aloe gel (99% pure from a health food store, like Fiddleheads) on the affected areas, allowed it to dry, and then apply a very mild moisturizer, like Spectro. I also had to resist the urge to pick at the flakes and to gently wash the affected areas, making sure not to scrub. I also try to avoid applying makeup on any affected areas.

It hasn't completely disappeared, but it has been a significant improvement, to where it is just slightly visible around my nostrils, and not nearly as itchy and uncomfortable.

I don't know if this will work for other people, but knowing what it's like to walk around with the PD on your face, I just wanted to add my two cents and hopefully help someone else out!

I've likewise made the connection between the Fluoride in the tea and my new skin condition, which has proven much harder to get rid of than to come by... I've learned also to beware of sky high fluoride levels in all conventionally grown grape products and rooibos/redbush teas, as well as most conventionally produced poultry products including broths (its in the chicken feed) and off gassing from teflon cookware, especially if it is scratched. And of course toothpastes, and fluoride is added to tapwater in most parts of the country (tho thankfully not here in Portland)

My bones are feeling much better since getting rid of all my known fluoride sources including changing out all my cookware. And my mouth & tongue have stopped breaking out in painful canker sores since switching to baking soda for a dentrifice. I've been using Ted's borax protocol, alternating with an iodine protocol I learned about on curezone, all this past year and am certain that has made a big difference in my energy levels... not so horribly fatigued & dark circles less evident most of the time

But the PD is certainly proving to be much tougher to get rid of! Hoping to learn some more new strategies here :)

I committed the ultimate skin sin, and applied a prescription strength corticosteroid to the rash, and was very impressed when it was completely cleared the next morning. It reappeared a week later, and I applied the same fix. This went on for about 6 weeks when I realized that something was wrong. I did research and determined that I had perioral dermatitis and the cause was unclear. My skincare routine consisted of medical grade skincare products, but my diet for the past 6 months was embarrassingly poor, and I was eating huge amounts of refined sugar.

Realizing my mistake with the topical steroid cream, I went to my primary physician (military healthcare, can't see a dermatologist at this point), and left with an Rx for oral Erythromycin and Metrogel. Three days after starting the prescription meds, my face was worse and the rash had spread up and across one cheek.

I was discouraged by what I had read about the duration of treatment for the Rx meds and the results most people had, so I decided to take things into my own hands and look for alternatives. From this website, and based on user feedback I decided to try Apple Cider Vinegar and yogurt masks, vitamins, and probiotics, and better nutrition generally. I'm still using the Rx too.

I started applying ACV (straight from the bottle) to the rash 3 times a day, Yogurt masks 2x/day, and I sip green tea mixed with a teaspoon of ACV about 4 times a day. In a week the perioral dermatitis was completely gone. Each day I saw improvement, and I give credit to the ACV and Yogurt masks. I had one stubborn papule that I put some Tea Tree Oil on a few times, and that took care of it.

I have a few scars that are visible only to me and a little redness on my chin, but no raised papules or pustules. I also have tiny cracks on the corners of my lips that came with the dermatitis, but aren't improving.

I plan to continue with this regimen for a while and then maybe wean down to just a few times a week, but if I need to use the ACV daily to keep the rash gone, I'll gladly do it.

I've been doing this general routine everyday for the last 3 days. I also used green tea bags pressed against the affected area a couple times. I have seen a 50% improvement in my skin in the last couple days, and I'm assuming it will just continue to heal more and more... The bumps and blisters have diminished and the redness and flakiness is improving. THANK GOD. It is so embarrassing and makes me so self conscious since the rest of my skin is clear and soft.... Considering taking aloe juice internally.... I have not really changed my diet and I still put on makeup for work (bare minerals powder) I really think the toothpaste was a major issue. Hopefully this helps someone else... This site helped me find my own remedy and I just pray this continues to work and becomes manageable and my skin looks normal again! Good luck!!!

-organic plain yogurt (washing with and masks)
-grapefruit seed extract (washing with and taking internally)
-violet extract (topical)
-organic apple cider vinegar
-non toxic diaper rash cream with calendula
-calendula cream
-internal probiotics (which I take every day anyway)

I did all of these things at different times, sometimes one at a time, sometimes some of them together, sometimes while going back to the antibiotic gel. No matter what, nothing was working, I was getting more and more impatient, and concerned. I am a bit ocd when it comes to things looking out of place on me, and thinking that I might have to contend with this rash till I was able to take oral antibiotics (roughly 2 years due to pregnancy and breastfeeding) was becoming unbearable. I was definitely getting depressed and not wanting to go out and do things. Then I got a lovely yeast infection (woohoo). I told my doctor I was afraid I might have an overgrowth of yeast in my body, considering some people believe the rash can be due to yeast. She said I should get some antifungal cream (one that you would use for a yeast infection) and apply to rash to see if it works. Also, for this yeast infection my acupuncturist gave me a product called 'yin care herbal wash'. After looking online I read it's good for all sorts of things (yeast, bacteria, fungus, dermatitis, etc). For the past few days I have incorporated both these things into a new routine, and one that is actually working!! NEW ROUTINE THAT IS FINALLY WORKING! :

-wash with warm water or with grapefruit seed extract (if I need to wash off makeup)
-apply the e-mycin antibiotic gel (at night only) and let it sit for 1/2-1 hour
-rinse off e-mycin with warm water and rub on some hydrogen peroxide with cotton ball
-after a couple minutes rub on some yin care herbal wash (50/50 dilution product and water) with cotton ball
-after sometime (not a science here) I apply some terconazole 0. 4% cream (a prescription yeast infection 7 day suppository cream). I would think any type of antifungal cream made for that purpose would work, over the counter included. -last step in the mornings I actually put on some mineral makeup (not the mass marketed ones), some really nice organic makeup that doesn't include the harsh ingredients. I just make sure to wash it off when I get home. I've been following this routine since friday night, and it's now monday night. I cannot cannot cannot believe it but I am watching this beast disappear every time I look in the mirror! Every time I would read on this site about someone finding the thing that would actually cure their dermatitis, rather than feeling hope I would feel more and more like I must be the exception and that nothing would ever work for me.. But trust me, there IS hope! You just need to keep an open mind and continue to try different things, no matter how weird these things might seem. For me, I think it's either the yin care herbal wash, or the terconazole prescription cream (or both). But I'm not gonna stop my trusty routine just in case there's some magic in it. The rash on the right side is almost totally gone, just a couple bumps left but pretty much all smooth skin! It's still quite pink, I guess a bit scarred. The left side is the worse side, it's healing but not nearly to the extent as the right side. I think once it is all completely gone I will dab on some vitamin e oil to heal the pink scarring. I will update once this monster is totally gone! Good luck everyone, and hang in there..

Stopped using oral/body/hair products with fluoride or SLS (and asking my BF to do the same for now, what a great guy!).

Stopped coffee, soda, bread, dairy, sugar (not perfect on this, have always kept these to a minimum anyway but significantly less!)

Skin care: Washing with a very mild cleanser from whl-fds (at the sink, not in the shower, too hot!), applying ACV with a wet cotton ball. Using an extremly light/mild moisturizer, also from whl-fds.

Doing yogurt mask twice a day (organic plain).
Added supplements: probiotics, zinc, garlic, oregano oil, green tea extract.
Drinking 1-2 teasp ACV diluted in water (cutting back on this as it is giving me heartburn).
Now drinking juice of 1/2 lemon in water first thing in the morning before anything else.
I got one acupuncture treatment and am going back for more.

I have a sense that the acupuncture and yogurt mask have been the most helpful, but the other actions are laying the groundwork for healing. Note that I tried the diaper cream approach for a few days but did not notice much improvement. Good luck to everyone!

I'm 35 and live in Calgary, where the water is fluorinated (BOO!).

I suddenly became afflicted with perioral dermatitis in June of this year, a couple of days after receiving a tetanus shot.

Yes, I believe that is the cause; no, I can't prove it and have found no corroboration online. Anyone else get an immunization or vaccine just prior to this?

I had a very sore stomach for a couple of days after the shot, and then started getting an "acne-like" rash around the sides of my mouth and chin. I didn't think too much of it - I get the odd pimple in that area once in awhile.

I didn't notice any particular food related ebb and flow of symptoms, aside from some alcohols. No problem with spicy food or exercise either.

But this didn't go away, and it got worse and spread. These were blisters, not pimples (filled with clear fluid). I tried all my usual skin "cures" - primarily coconut oil, which is generally what I use on my skin and it's *usually* brilliant. But that only seemed to make the bumps worse! And a bit tender.
I tried castor oil - same thing. Bio-Oil - same.
I finally tried some of the cortisone cream my doc had prescribed for a different rash (on my shoulder - TOTALLY different beast), and that worked great... for a while. Then, like everyone else, I had the rebound, and the decreasing efficacy, and the spreading. Finally, I read that the cortisone can make it much worse (if I'd only known!).

I searched the 'Net, and self-diagnosed based on several write-ups of POD - I was not willing to go to the doc and end up on several months of antibiotics! There had to be something natural... And then I found Earth Clinic!

Now, the POD was on my eyelids, under my eyes, forehead, sides of the nose and around my mouth. When I stopped the cortisone, it was raw and painful and really unsightly and I was completely beside myself.

I tried whatever I could get my hands on that people were recommending here, with varying levels of success. My bathroom counter is covered with the many items I've bought trying to solve this!

My findings for the things I tried here:

Zinc Oxide cream - found that it relieved the rawness a bit, but the blisters proliferated and the redness did not subside. Might be partially due to other ingredients. I could not find one that didn't have either castor oil, petrolatum or other oils. ANY oil (except Tea Tree Oil) = FAIL. At least for me.

Vitamin E Oil - this was nice and soothing after using Tea Tree Oil or Apple Cider Vinegar, but - ANY OIL (except Tea Tree Oil)= FAIL. It would soothe the redness and rawness, but then I'd start over again with more blisters. Overall, I gave up on it for this condition.

Aloe vera gel (topical) - also stings. Helps the spots to feel better once the burning stops, but makes everything feel very tight and dry - need an emollient afterward, but at the time couldn't find anything. Helpful, but didn't cure anything.

Acidophillus - I've been taking acidophillus on a regular basis for years. I upped the dosage, but I didn't feel that this had any effect on my face.

Tea Tree Oil (TTO) - stings like crazy, but I could cope with that. It really helped by drying out the blisters. Definitely helped, but still never made it go away. Overall drying effect, so it didn't seem to contribute to new blisters, but it may since I couldn't seem to stop the blisters/dry & flaky cycle.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) -helped the most - stings, and very drying, but reduced the redness down to small spots.

I found TTO and ACV in tandem to be the most helpful in toning down the overall redness (after the initial burn, that is). I would alternate days using ACV and TTO as a "toner", using a small amount of a 20% Urea cream afterward (to combat the flaking and tightness - this was the ONLY thing that helped in that area without creating more blisters).

That got me into a more manageable cycle, BUT still the redness and flaking skin persisted. If I knocked off the ACV & TTO, the blisters would come back.

I decided to revisit some earlier advice from my acupuncturist. He said (back when this all started) that the area around the mouth (where it first showed up) is related to the intestines in Chinese Medicine. I'd tried elimination diets (dairy, meat, grains) throughout the summer and fall to no avail, and no appreciable effect.

So - my new strategy. I did 3 things simultaneously:

2 days ago:
I bought a huge jug of organic Aloe Vera juice (for drinking).
I took 4-5 oz twice a day (mixed with orange juice because it tastes better) to start with, along with some acidophillus (at the same time - the aloe helps with absorption as well as healing intestinal troubles).
I stopped the topical treatments of ACV and TTO, and now I just use a tiny amount of straight calendula cream (from a tube; not mixed in a lotion, but be careful - it's a bit oily!) mixed with 20% Urea cream to help with the dry/tight feeling.

I also finally found a really good, natural and fluoride and SLS free toothpaste at my health food store with Neem, TTO, activated oxygen and other good stuff.

It has been 2 days, and I've had the most dramatic change in the POD!

Literally, the redness is about 95% gone (in 2 days!), and the blisters are flaking off with clear, new skin underneath. A couple of the more severe areas are still a bit tender, but less red, and they're very like healing blemishes now. I can't even see it around my eyes anymore!

So - after all that, I'm recommending that all of you treat your tummy! Even if you don't think you have a problem, Aloe Vera Juice certainly can't hurt!
The acidophillus alone didn't do anything for me, which really isn't all that surprising if (as I surmise) I have a malabsorption problem (do you?), which prevents many things taken internally from working; prevents nutrient absorption, etc.

I'm not certain if it is one part of this latest regimen, or the whole thing together, but FINALLY I am getting some "love", and finally seeing some very promising results.

I'm going to keep going with 4-5 oz x 2/day of aloe juice (I bought a gallon of it for about $30; in Canada, that is), and I'll let you know how things go!

As an aside, I'm starting to think now that there are maybe 2 (or more) different kinds of POD - seems one can be "mite"/ topical parasite/ bacteria related, and one seems to be more connected with the stomach and intestines, based on the fact that there seem to be such wide ranging results for different people.
Any other thoughts or hypotheses on this?
Best of luck to everyone!
Namaste!
Colleen

It began around my 29th year. My sister thought she was being helpful when she gave be a steroid that cleared up her PD. It worked! But... it also made the PD worse. My PD was clear if I used the steroid every day and when I stopped, the PD expanded. She told me to stop as soon as she learned that these steroids make things worse.

I tried the ACV and didn't have much luck. Although I didn't probably give it enough time. drinking the stuff was impossible and during outbreaks, it stings.

Months ago my school doctor prescribed a topical antibiotic called Ethromycen, which worked, but left my hands with an orange tint and an odor. After stopping use, the PD came back.

I am now learning about Witch Hazel, Emu Oil and Neem Oil and leaves. It seems to be working a bit, but I think I will add the daily probiotics and reintroduce the ACV.

I have a feeling the PD is related to inflammation. Neem is an anti-flammatory. Emu Oil is transdermal, which means it can pass through the layers of skin, offering more healing. And Witch Hazel is a gentle, natural toner.

I hope my experience offers some help to the conversation.