My Story: My Journey With Perioral Dermatitis
- Christie Lara
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
I struggled with Perioral Dermatitis, which is why I chose to specialise in this specifically, as well as other skin concerns. My personal journey gave me a passion to help others struggling with the same concern. I can understand, as I have been through it. In this blog I'm going to share with you what helped me along my path. (Scroll down for my skin transformation photos).
What is Perioral Dermatitis?
In short Perioral Dermatitis is a recurring/ persistent rash around the mouth, which can also occur around the nose, and other areas of the face. (In my case it spread to my nose, and forehead). It is often confused with other skin inflammations/ versions of dermatitis. This misdiagnosis has given me the desire to share more information on this subject, to assist with the condition, and boost skin health.
Mostly women struggle with this, so I am here to share my advice with other women. In order to help them to get the results they desire with their skin, like I have achieved with my own journey.
What Is The Root Cause?
A sudden onset of Perioral Dermatitis, can be triggered by many different things. So, It's important to get to the root cause of your condition. For example, it has been linked to candida, sugar, gut microbiome imbalances, and zinc deficiency. Therefore, some women may find it helpful to look into this with their health care professional, to avoid recurring flare ups. It may also be beneficial for them to try the anti-candida diet, balance the gut microbiome, or go sugar free, as well as adding more Zinc rich foods to their diet.
Can Perioral Dermatitis be related to stress and hormones?
Raised cortisol, due to a stressful period in our life, can trigger an outbreak. This causes the skin barrier to weaken, and as an immune response our skin breaks out into a rash. It's often helpful, to address stress levels, and take measures to lower them, where ever we can.
As women, hormone changes due to things such as our menstrual cycle, or pregnancy, can also be a catalyst. When our hormones fluctuate, we may notice this happening more. So, trying therapies to balance hormones (which I understand, may take some time) can assist.
The Doctors Advice:
Doctors will advise, creams, and a long course of antibiotics to hopefully see an improvement. Antibiotics have a purpose, but they also kill essential good bacteria in the gut, and disturb the microbiome. This, in turn, can affect the immune system.
Personally, I did not want to go on antibiotics, or use anything harsh on my skin, so I chose a more natural and holistic route. This took some trial and error, but it was worth it to get my desired results, and essentially cleared my skin within a few months.
Here is what I tried (some of the below relieved the symptoms, but it always returned):
Clove water toner (this is anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial).
Zinc supplements (as a deficiency can sometimes cause an outbreak).
Turmeric (for its anti-inflammatory benefits).
Stripping back my skincare routine (Organic baby skin care products with Calendula, and a light cleanser only, using a Calendula and Chic Pea Balm as a moisturiser).
Changing my water filter, and only using filtered water on my skin.
Cutting out spicy food.
Schisandra Berry Tea (drank daily as this has numerous benefits for the skin).
Changing my diet to include more Zinc, Omega, D3 and K2 Vitamins.
Using Fluoride Free toothpaste.
No makeup, or as little as possible (Omega 3 rich cleansing oil to remove any makeup).
Using beauty/haircare products that are as clean as possible / organic.
Castor oil (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and filled with good fatty acids) almost cleared it for a while:
My Successful Skincare Routine:
Every case, and persons skin is unique, but here is the skincare routine I used to clear this completely, and naturally without antibiotics (N.B: This is not medical advice, and I would always recommend to consult with a doctor / health care professional):
Sulphur soap to wash/cleanse (that contains simple moisturising ingredients, so it doesn't dehydrate the skin).
Add Azelaic Acid to the skin.
Moisturise with a cream containing a high level of Zinc.
Add a thin layer of Castor Oil (to reintroduce moisture to the skin, as Zinc cream can be drying).
P.S: I wore as little makeup as I could until it cleared (If I did wear makeup, I would remove it with an omega rich cleansing oil, before washing my face).
My Healing Process (Before and After):
I hope this can help some of you.
If you would like further assistance with getting to the root cause of your Perioral Dermatitis, I am currently taking bookings for sessions. You can get in touch by leaving a message in the box on my contact page, and I will get back to you directly.
With Love,
Christie x
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