I’ve got WHAT?!?

It’s that time of year again when the air progressively gets colder and our skin gets a little dryer and finicky. Some my even experience redness with abnormal flaking accompanied by tiny bumps around the mouth area. This is the typical characteristics of Perioral dermatitis, which is an inflammatory rash involving the skin around the mouth. The rash may spread up to the nose or even the eyes. In that case, it’s referred to as periorificial dermatitis. PD usually appears as a scaly or red bumpy rash around the mouth. There may be a clear fluid discharge. Redness and slight itching and burning can also occur. You should never fuss and try to pop these little bumps because it will just inflame the area more.  There are a few potential speculations however it’s not entirely clear what causes this rash. Something may be irritating your skin, such as a skin care product or toothpaste or overusing cortisones. It’s also possible that you’re allergic to something that’s touching your skin. It is more common in women between the ages of 16 to 45 years, but can be seen in all ages, races, and ethnicities. It also occurs in children of any age. Without the right treatment, cases of perioral dermatitis go away, but may reappear later, so it is ideal to get a prescription antibiotics from the doctor to heal the area. Episodes of perioral dermatitis can last weeks and even months. Annoying - yes. No one has got time for that! On the bright side, it is an easily treatable skin condition so there’s no need to panic ☺️