Curing Perioral Dermatitis

[ll1234]

Hello, I wanted to share my personal experience of what cured my Perioral dermatitis. I hope this will help others find a solution to their Perioral dermatitis problems as well. I know how awful it is and how painful those blistering hives are, so my heart goes out to anyone dealing with it. The steps below are what cleared the devil rash off my face, in addition to cutting gluten completely out of my diet. My PD flared up and got so much worse each time I ate anything with gluten. 

*Disclaimer*: I am not a medical professional. I'm just a fellow victim of Perioral dermatitis trying to help! I do mention products/brands, but this is not a sponsored post in any way. This is just what has worked for me personally. I tried to make this as detailed as possible, but if anyone has any questions, please feel free to reply to this post or message me. 

1). DO NOT PUT ACNE CLEARING PRODUCTS ANYWHERE NEAR IT!!! I had absolutely no clue what Perioral dermatitis even was when it first showed up. I just thought it was acne since it was on my face. I made the massive mistake of putting acne washes that contained alcohols, acne creams, toners, and then finally hydrocortisone all over the bumps. Which caused the rash to viciously spread like wildfire. This is why it is so important to see a dermatologist about your skin problems. 

2). Doxycycline. My dermatologist prescribed me doxycycline 100 mg, 1 per day for 6 weeks (Currently still taking it because the 6 weeks aren't up yet.) But after 3 doses, I am not even kidding you, the PD rash/bumps began to disappear. And the inflamed, burning, blistering itch was no more!!! Talk to your dermatologist about the best option for you, but I give doxycycline the most credit for clearing my Perioral dermatitis so fast. The first dose did make me feel nauseous, so I just take it before bed. It also causes increased sun sensitivity, so be mindful of that. 

3). Pimecrolimus Cream 1% (Again, must be prescribed. This is not an over the counter medication.) This cream treats dermatitis and eczema. This is NOT a steroid cream. I warn you all... stay FAR, FAR, FAR away from any steroid topical creams!!! Steroids will make the PD incredibly worse. 

4). Spectro Jel Cleanser Frangrance Free. I read about this cleanser on a blog for curing Perioral dermatitis. You can buy this cleanser on Amazon. Read the reviews! You will see that almost every person mentions how great it has been for their PD. From my personal experience, this is the only face wash that hasn't felt like I'm rubbing acid onto my skin. It has seriously worked wonders for me! I wash with it twice a day. I don't use any sort of face washing tool, and no toners, scrubs, serums, etc. If you're suffering from PD or have sensitive skin, I highly suggest you do the same. My skin drastically cleared up once I stopped using unnecessary products. I know that doesn't seem glamorous and fun, but neither is the dermatitis... am i right?! 

--- Here's a link to the cleanser: https://www.amazon.com/Spectro-Cleanser-Fragrance-Free-200ml/dp/B00CUIKYJW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=spectro&qid=1598559522&sr=8-1 

5). Fluoride free toothpaste. My dermatologist told me to throw out my toothpaste if it contained fluoride. She said toothpaste containing fluoride can actually cause or irritate PD. The brand I like and recommend is 'Toms'. It's fluoride free and is made with natural ingredients. 

6). Get a gluten free chapstick. I was so surprised to find out how many chapsticks or lip balms actually contain gluten. My lips have always been dry or irritated, regardless of how much water I drink or how much chapstick I use. After discovering my gluten allergy, I realize it's because my lips couldn't handle the ingredients. An amazing, super hydrating option is 'EOS: The Hero Extra Dry Lip Treatment' It is gluten free and hypoallergenic. (but always check labels for ingredients you may be sensitive to)

7). Gluten Free Shampoo and Conditioner. Now obviously, I know (or hope) that no one is ingesting their hair products. However, think about how close they get to your face! Duh it goes all over your scalp, but it also can come in direct contact with your face during a shower. I have been using 'Garnier Fructis Pure Clean' which is free of gluten. I believe it's also free of some other common allergens. Google it and check it out for yourself!  

8). All Free Clear Detergent. Oh my gosh... ANYONE with sensitive skin, allergies, eczema, Perioral dermatitis, whatever!!! Please be careful of the detergent you are using to wash your clothes. Detergents have been one of the biggest irritants for my sensitive skin, especially my neck and face. 'All Free Clear' is great and is my go-to. It's the only one that doesn't turn my skin red and make me itch like crazy. 

9). Makeup. When my Perioral Dermatitis first happened and was at it's absolute worst, I didn't put any makeup on my face for 2 weeks. Trust me, I know you want to cover it up any way you can. I did too, because I thought I looked like a horrifying monster. But the rash will heal so much faster if you aren't putting foundation or powder on your face. Putting makeup on also means taking it off, and using makeup wipes while I had the rash drove my skin absolutely nuts. 

 

 

[Scott Adams]

This is great information, but I've not heard of a connection between Perioral Dermatitis and celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Do you know of such a connection?