r/Perioral_Dermatitis_

Hi everyone.

I’ve been experiencing this issue with my lips a few times since January. Spicy foods, alcohol, and cinnamon definitely seem to trigger these kinds of lesions, but I’ve also had flare-ups without any of those, with no clear cause.

My dermatologist prescribed Protopic, which helps calm my lips during a flare, but the episodes keep happening—sometimes completely unexpectedly.

Has anyone experienced something similar?

I’ve always been able to eat spicy food, drink alcohol, and eat anything without problems before this. I’ve also changed my face creams, toothpaste, and lip balm several times (I’ve used Vaseline, CeraVe ointment, and Cicaplast Lips), but nothing seems to stop or fully control the flare-ups.

It’s been really exhausting :(

Thank you in advance.

Hi, I’m dealing with perioral dermatitis around my mouth (redness, dryness, itching, no bumps) and I’m a bit desperate because I have an important event in 1 week.

My skin is very reactive right now– even my eyelids started itching, so I think I overdid it.

What I’ve tried:

Topical steroid (Locoid) → stopped 2 weeks ago

Barrier creams → help a bit but don’t clear it

Black tea compress → calms it temporarily

Azelaic acid → seemed good at first, but next day my skin got more red, so I stopped

Right now I’m doing a very minimal routine (water + light moisturizer + occasional tea compress).

Issue:

Some days it almost looks normal, then it flares again. The itching is the worst.

Questions:

Should I stick to minimal routine or try azelaic acid again slowly?

Is there anything that can calm POD quickly within a week?

Could this be steroid rebound?

I don’t need perfect skin, just calmer 😭 any help appreciated 🙏

Hi! I’m dealing with what I’m pretty sure is PD for the first time and I’m so stressed! What started with a few small bumps over a month ago is now a cluster of red, itchy, bumps! I switched to sulfur bar soap and cerave moisturizer, with prescription azelaic acid at night. Ive stopped all makeup/lip products. But I feel like it’s getting worse by the day!

I hadn’t changed anything about my routine that I think could have caused this, it seems to have come out of no where. I am on low dose (10mg per day) accutane that I’ve been on almost 2 years now, but I don’t think that’s the culprit?

Any advice? Are we sure this is PD? Ive never had rosacea or other skin condition before.

Thank you so much!

I don’t want to freak out.. but kinda freaking out…

If you see my previous post(s) I had very bad pd and started Accutane to treat it Feb 2025. I was on low dose 30mg for 8 months and then got kicked off the program due to the pregnancy testing and then my derm said that because I didn’t have new breakouts post 2 months, I should try to see if I can tolerate without. Therefore, I never finished the Accutane amount per body weight.

Now, post 3 months no Accutane, I’m getting it again. Still same spots, around my mouth, itchy, and tight feeling.

Has anyone treated PD with Accutane and had it return? I’m so scared it’s going to be as bad as last time ahhh.

First two photos are when I was on Accutane and the last two were taken today…

I've had this rash right over my top lip since the beginning of March. I'm not sure what may have triggered it, but I think it may be a reaction to my own saliva due to oral sex. It got better for a while when I switched to using a moisturizer for eczema and a cica balm, but recently a small round rash appeared under my bottom lip and two days ago a painful crack appeared on the left corner of my lip.

My camera is pretty bad, so the colors are dull in comparison to real life. The redness is worse in person.

I called my dermatologist and they don't have open spots until November. I'm not sure if this is Perioral dermatitis or something else, since it doesn't leave a white ring around the lips. I'd be grateful for any tips or help.

It may be worth mentioning that I have Hashimotos and am based in the EU, in case it's relevant.

My bf thinks my PD got better at first (I didn't) but now it seems like it spread and seems even worse. It's been a week and one day.

I am stressed right now so it might be just a trigger... Should I stop now or keep on going? My doctor and pharmacist both told me to wait 2-3 weeks unless I have an allergic reaction - which would be apparently all over my body and not only in one spot.

1st three pics are before I started treatment

2nd 3 pics are the improvement after couple days

Last pic is today and it seems like it spread to places I had none before....

The 1st pic is me now and the 2nd pic was 2days ago. Everytime I eat I get a red ring around my mouth it doesn’t matter what food it is it still goes red. Does anyone know why this is doing this it also happens when I laugh,smile or if I make any movement with my mouth. Has anyone any idea why it’s really annoying and I have now resorted to not eating and I know that sounds stupid but it’s just so embarrassing.

[effacé]