Associated symptoms

As a first change of the skin many patients notice small nodules and pimples in the mouth area. Over time, these develop into pustules and blisters and can sometimes be pus-filled and extremely painful. The pustules, which initially often stand alone, become more and more and connect with each other.

They are usually accompanied by a large, scaly rash with redness and severe itching. The extent and severity of the dermatitis varies from patient to patient, and sometimes the rash can extend beyond the mouth area and affect the eyes, cheeks, forehead and chin. The permanent irritation of the skin leads to a misperception and can also cause other accompanying symptoms such as headaches, diarrhea/constipation and general tiredness.

The red dots, which preferably appear in the mouth area, are the leading symptom of perioral dermatitis. They are accompanied by dry, tense skin, which is red and itches and burns unpleasantly. If a bacterial infection of the skin is added to the perioral dermatitis, the red pustules may also be filled with pus.

The red spots in perioral dermatitis should not be confused with the classic blackheads that occur in acne. Since perioral dermatitis is usually caused by too much skin care, the first step in treatment is to omit all facial care products. To prevent the rash from breaking out again, the omission of creams etc.

should be permanent if possible. If the affected person suffers greatly from dry and tense skin in the mouth area, a moisturizing ointment may be applied after consultation with a dermatologist. In this case, medical products from the pharmacy should be used.This treatment can be supplemented with zinc-containing creams to combat itching.

The daily cleansing of the face should only be done with clear water. In addition, boiled tea can be used, preferably tannin-containing varieties such as black or green tea, which relieve the inflammation. Various antibiotically acting gels and creams are available as classic drugs for the therapy of perioral dermatitis.

These are applied locally. In very severe cases, the antibiotics can be administered in tablet form, although this is associated with more undesirable side effects. The classic cortisone-containing ointments, which are quite effective for a large number of other skin diseases, have no effect on perioral dermatitis or only worsen the skin condition.

Perioral dermatitis can start suddenly or develop insidiously over a longer period of time. Since most of those affected first try to get the rash under control themselves with ointments and creams and thereby only make the disease worse, a vicious circle of too much care, dry, over-irritated skin and even more ointments often ensues. If those affected do not consult a dermatologist, this process can sometimes take years. If the dermatitis is treated medically, it also takes a few weeks to months for the cells to recover and for the skin to return to normal. The most important measure of the therapy, namely the omission of all care products on the face, should be maintained for a lifetime.