In The Treatment of Acne

When treating acne, one sometimes sees an acne-like eruption around the mouth area. Known as peri-oral dermatitis, peri-oral refers to the facial area around the mouth while dermatitis pertains to inflammation, redness or irritation of the skin. In addition, there are usually small red bumps or even pus bumps and mild peeling as the skin is extremely aggravated. Peri-oral dermatitis symptoms characteristically involve the mouth area, but generally do not affect the lips themselves. You may also notice flaking of the skin at the site of occurrence. Many times if the flaking is isolated to the lip area it may be mistaken for chapped lips. Often the skin around the nose is affected too, and sometimes it can affect the area under and around the eyes. When peri-oral dermatitis expands to include the eye area, it should more correctly be termed "peri-ocular", or even, "peri-orificial" dermatitis. Peri-ocular dermatitis consists of similar flaking and redness with or without the appearance of small papules or pustules. This condition may be wrongfully thought of as acne while others believe it to be a manifestation of rosacea. Peri-oral dermatitis is often aggravated by fluoridated or tartar-control toothpaste, chapstick, the ingredients in lipstick, and mouthwash. According to the International Rosacea Foundation, discontinuing the use of fluoridated or tartar control toothpaste for six months may help reduce the symptoms of peri-oral dermatitis. Peri-oral dermatitis is a common skin problem that mainly affects young women, although men and children may also be affected by it