Well, not a blog post that I anticipated writing or even want to be writing, but here we are! The dreaded PD cropped back up on my face~perioral dermatitis. It’s like a toxic relationship. Something that I have tried to keep out of my mind and forget about like a blip in the past…then all of a sudden I wake up and boom, there it is again. And it feels like all my hard work has been erased and I’m going down a very unhealthy cycle again. But, I vowed to myself that this time it would be different. And that is why I am writing this post.
I think the last time I blogged about perioral dermatitis was in 2017 or 2018…so it has been a while. I’ve taken the clear skin around my mouth and nose area for granted, that’s for sure. For those of you that don’t know, perioral dermatitis is a bumpy, itchy, scaly and red rash that crops up around your nose and mouth. The fun part? It’s actually not acne, so traditional cleansers, treatments, toners, and scrubs won’t do anything. In fact, it will make it much worse. The extra fun part? No one really knows what causes perioral dermatitis and if you go to a dermatologist, they will send you a home with an immune-suppressing cream and a round of antibiotics. I’m sure you can sense my sarcasm at this point. I know that this is the case because I’ve dealt with this thing two times…well actually, three times now. Lucky three, right?
But this time, it is going to be different. It is going to be different because I refuse to let this stupid rash take over my life. I have spent way too much time doom-scrolling on my phone about this rash, picking at it in the mirror, spending hundreds of dollars on that one cure or remedy cream that someone posted about on Reddit, crying in the bathroom because my makeup looks horrible and refusing to go and do things because of how my skin looks. Life is way too short for that and this rash will not be the end of me!
I first noticed the bumps a few weeks ago, when my Nantucket vacation was rounding out. I initially attributed the rash to my diet, getting lots of sunshine, and being out of my normal routine. For example, I was eating out almost every night and my schedule was definitely out of whack–it was vacation, after all. I got home around early August, did a 2 day juice cleanse, and picked back up my normal habits. Still, it has been a few more days, and it looks like this rash is holding it’s ground. Okay PD…let’s bring out the big guns, shall we?
Here is a look at my skin:
It is definitely not as bad as it was at one point years ago, but you can see the redness and little bumps near the corners of my mouth and around my nose.
My theory at this point stems back to my wisdom teeth. I got my wisdom teeth pulled in April- there is a blog about my experience here, if you are interested. While I was recovering from my wisdom teeth, I obviously was taking a lot of painkillers. I also took an antibiotic to prevent infection and a steroid to bring down the swelling. In retrospect, it obviously wasn’t great for my gut to be on so many harsh medications at once. At that time, all I wanted to do was heal up fast and not get dry socket. Lucky for me, my sockets healed beautifully after surgery–no infections or dry socket, but I do wonder if months later, the PD is rebelling after doing my gut so dirty. I truly believe that this rash is here to tell me something. There is an imbalance in my body–whether it is with my hormones, my gut, my diet, or something else…I’m determined to get to the bottom of it. This is why this dang rash and I have a toxic relationship…I obviously want it out of my life, but I’m also grateful because it has taught me so many lessons. Whenever the perioral comes up, I know I need to really prioritize my health. Taking antibiotics would be the short cut and would get me clear skin, but that was never a long-term solution for me. It caused me a lot of stomach pain, bloating and other issues. The worst part? Whenever I went off antibiotics, the rash came back. So what gives? And what can I do?
What’s the plan?
Here is what I am personally going to be trying over the next few days and weeks to see if I improve. I’ve already noticed a big difference when I incorporate these in my day to day.
Lower Histamine Diet
Avoiding top offenders like blue cheese, peanuts, cayenne pepper, eggplant, egg whites, chocolate deli meat. Good foods include gluten free grains like quinoa, fresh meat, salmon, coconut oil, potatoes and non-citrus fruits like apples and mangoes. More about this diet and connection to perioral dermatitis can be found here. This one is tough for me because I’m a dark chocolate after dinner girlie. But alas, there are other options for a sweet treat.
Avoid Triggering High Cortisol
So, if a lot of stress + coffee + doom-scrolling on TikTok + strenuous exercise is the recipe for cortisol levels through the roof, we want the opposite of that. Sticky for me because I’m a coffee girlie. I’m trying to incorporate MCT oil and collagen in my coffee in the morning and limiting how many cups I’m having too avoid that spike. If that doesn’t help, I plan on switching to a completely decaf dandelion or mushroom coffee- that way I still get my morning ritual with no spike. I’m also focusing on rest, yoga, pilates and low-impact movement. It’s not the time to do Barry’s bootcamp, run for miles, or do any kind of intensive activity. The more my nervous system can rest and rejuvenate, the better for my skin.
Don’t stare at it. And if you listen to anything, listen to this: do NOT pick.
A few years ago, I remember obsessing about my rash at all hours of the day. It is literally all I would think about it. I swear this actually made the rash worse because I was giving it so much attention! Instead of doing this, I am trying my very best to just leave it alone. Trust me, you are your own worst critic. My boyfriend Josh who I live with, says he can barely see it–and if anyone were to notice it besides myself, it would be him! It just goes to show that our mind tries to tell us that everyone is staring at the rash and noticing it, but that’s not the case at all. People care way more about themselves! When I am in the bathroom, I don’t turn on a bunch of overhead lights to avoid obsessing. I definitely do not even go near the area~ no picking, no exfoliating, no scratching. This is the absolute worst thing you can do for perioral. Take it from someone who has been there and tried popping the bumps- your skin will punish you for that.
EFT Tapping and Gua Sha
Can we talk about Stephanie Flockhart for a second? I have been doing her meditations for a while, and she recently released this new program; MODE. Recently, I have been doing her EFT tapping sessions religiously and she also released a bunch of new amazing content; body gua sha routines, acupressure, and elevations. I’ll do a seperate post all about Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and how it has changed my life. It is truly incredible and so simple. Anyone can do it. Doing these routines regularly have allowed me to show respect, gratitude and unconditional love to myself–so important for when I am going through issues with my self-confidence.
Manuka Honey and Yogurt Mask
I’ve cut out my normal exfoliating masks and sheet masks for the time being. My skin barrier needs natural ingredients that are non-toxic. Recently, I have tried plain greek yogurt mixed with a bit of manuka honey and it has worked WONDERS to clam the inflammation! I recommend trying this if you still want to do a treatment but don’t want anything too rough or with too many ingredients. This mask is so hydrating and smells good enough to eat (which you theoretically could! 🙂
Supplements
More to come on this, but I have been taking this gut supplement with L-glutamine, a probiotic, berberine, liver capsules and Omega- 3 daily. I am visiting a holistic doctor in a few weeks and I expect them to give me more information on what I may be deficient in. Once I learn more about this, I will update my supplement routine.
Water Filter
Recently, I installed a FilterBaby for my bathroom sink. I love it. It is easy to install and maintain. There are many hard minerals in tap water, and I love knowing that I am washing my face with the cleanest, purest water. I use the Osmia Organics black clay soap on my face, and splash the dermatitis area with water. This gentle routine is best for me. Shout out to Osmia Organics- I’ve used the black clay soap for so many years now and it is probably my favorite skincare product. I also love following up with the rose drops after.
Resources and Next Steps
An incredible resource I found online was this blog: Well-Being In Bloom. Zoey has a free Masterclass about how she cleared her perioral dermatitis completely naturally. After she took antibiotics, her PD came back with vengeance, which is exactly what happened to me.
I am also going to see a holistic doctor in Boston in a few weeks. I will blog about that experience and the findings when I do: https://bostonholistichealth.com/
Unfortunately, with this rash, it takes time and patience. This isn’t one of those skin conditions that just goes away over night. Some days are better than others. It is also important to note that if you have a bad day with a flare-up, that doesn’t mean things are getting worse. It means that you are working through the healing process. Please take things day by day. Focus on your gut health, showing yourself love, and remember that you are a beautiful person no matter what your skin looks like. I literally have to remind myself of this every day and give myself affirmations. That has been the most helpful thing. You don’t want to look back on life and regret all of the time wasted worrying about what other people think of your skin. Focus on your family, friends, your health and well-being. I promise you that things will be okay–take it from someone who has been through this a few times now. My comments and email are always open if you want support and are dealing with perioral dermatitis. I will report back soon!
Let me know what you think!