Let's imagine we meet each other in a long line of some sort and we strike up a conversation and the topic lands on perioral dermatitis. I know that's not very likely but we're using our imaginations here. Because you have it as well (or know a loved one who does) you have some questions for me. So I'm like "Sure! But just remember that I'm not a health care practitioner or professional and all my understanding of perioral dermatitis comes straight from my own experience with it so you agree not to take any of this as scientific fact nor will you mistake this for the diagnosis, treatment, or cure of any disease, riiiiight?" And you're like "Right". So here we go:
What is Perioral Dermatitis?
That's a loaded question. Perioral dermatitis looks like a rash that surrounds the mouth, giving it its endearing nicknames like "muzzle mouth", "muzzle rash", and "disease face" - I think I made that one up. Dermatitis just means inflamed skin and perioral refers to the tissues around the mouth. So yeah, like with many medical conditions its name is just descriptive, not helpful in figuring out how it got that way. I believe the most accurate and accepted cause of perioral dermatitis is "we don't know". In my (non-professional) opinion, perioral dermatitis is an autoimmune disease.
What are Autoimmune Diseases?
Great question! You should check out the video I made about it.
How Were You Diagnosed?
If you want all the savory details check out my timeline. But basically, a dermatologist diagnosed the rash under my nose as perioral dermatitis. I was told if it came back after treatment then it's considered rosacea.
What are Traditional Medical Treatments for Perioral Dermatitis?
Since the consensus among the general medical and dermatological community is that perioral dermatitis's cause is unknown, treatment is aimed at reducing or eliminating the appearance of the rash. The first line of prescription treatment is an oral antibiotic, typically minocycline, along with a medicated topical gel or cream. If the symptoms return after an initial round of treatment the choices at that point are to start another round of oral and topical prescription medications or to try facial light therapy. I'm not very educated as to the light therapy process as it was never an option for me due to the expense. Though it's my understanding that results have been mixed so the outlook is really unknown and it's not like you're going to get a refund if it doesn't work. A familiar theme arrises among these treatment options. If they work for you, they don't know why they work. It could have something to do with the strong inflammatory properties of the medication.
Did These Traditional Treatments Work for You?
Nope. Well ok, to be fair I didn't actually try facial light therapy. I resolved to figure something else out when I saw the price tag.
Why Not?
In my (non-professional) opinion these treatments do nothing to address what I believe is the underlying cause of peri oral dermatitis: autoimmune issues. In fact, I think these traditional treatment options make the underlying autoimmune issues worse.
So Then What Did Work for You?
The longterm solution for me was an all-natural approach. I eliminated the use of all personal care products that contained toxic ingredients and replaced them all with more natural, less toxic alternatives. I don't mean just on my face or just on my skin but on every surface of my body, including scalp, teeth/gums, and inside my nose! See how I did it on my timeline. I also focused on healing my digestive-intestinal system by eating foods that are healing to the gut and eliminating foods that cause damage to the intestinal lining. I regularly take a high quality, trusted probiotic. Only undertake dietary changes and the use of probiotics under the care of a functional and integrative medicine practitioner. They tend to be much more knowledgable about autoimmune diseases. It is a new area of medicine so not all primary care doctors are on-board.
If I Try This Approach Will My Perioral Dermatitis Go Away?
Since we're all unique I, of course, can't promise anything like that. And you should never stop taking a medication or refuse treatment for any disease because of something you read on my (or any other) website. However, it's not healthy to continue on personal paths that aren't working for you. I was thankful I was able to stumble my way through a more natural solution, at least it presents another possible option for you. Please feel free to Contact Me and I'd love to connect with you one on one via Skype or email, where I can speak more freely especially in regard to the use of essential oils within the natural approach.