[YEA]  04/19/2009: Christine from Lynd, MN: "I have had my first (and very bad) case of perioral dermatitis for the past 12 weeks. After being treated with various antibiotics and antivirals, and two forms of steroid creams I continue to go through period of extreme inflammation around my mouth mainly---very itchy, uncomfortable and spreading to cheeks. After reading various suggestions on this web page, I found that this remedy seems to have nearly cleared up my rash/itchiness in 3 days times. Here is what I've done:

EXTERNAL TREATMENT
- Roll of soft paper towels so that I wouldn't have to risk infection from washcloths/towels---I dab my face dry wit the paper towels, while avoiding scratching, rubbing,scrubbing, etc.

- Three times/day I go through the following steps:
1) Rinse my face with cool water and dab dry with paper towel.
2) Use cotton ball to dab face with Apple Cider Viniger (ACV) (stings, turn red for about 10-15 minutes)
3) Combine organic yogurt (2 TBLS) with three opened Grape Seed Extract capsules. Spread over face and neck. Feels cool, refreshing, soothing skin after ACV use. I wear face mask until it dries completely. Rinse luke warm, then cool water. Dab dry with paper towel.
4) Smooth expellor pressed Organic Coconut Oil over face. (I continue to use the coconut oil periodically throughout the day.)

INTERNAL TREATMENT
1) Drink plenty of water.
2) Drink 5 glasses of combination of vegetable/fruit juices (without sugar added).
3) Take two capsules of Grape Seed Extract.
4) Other supplements: B-vitamin complex; vitamin D; Lysine.
5) Cut way back on refined sugar.
6) Limit coffee to 1 cup/day.
7) Drink tea ---green tea and Yerba Matte---throughout day.
8) Cut out nuts--almonds, peanuts, etc.-- till face clears up.
9) Eat LOTS of organic yogurt (without sugar added).
10) Get plenty of sleep.

*I also make sure to keep my hands off of my face and wash my hands very often!

Hope this helps!

Christine"

[YEA]  04/20/2009: HannaQueen from Portland, OR replies: "Ive had skin issues my whole life, and now all 4 of my daughters have excema as well. I moved to a small town with really hard water. It made all of us 10 times worst. We did everything you can think about. Here are a few things we have used and helped.
1. Use all natural lotions. no perfume/plant based.
2. Oatmeal bath. Take cheese cloth and put some oatmeal in it. Tie it close. Throw in your bath and use it to wash yourself. Very soothing.
3. All natural/plant based laundry soap, dish washing soap, laundry softener, soap bars, shampoo, etc. This will help out a lot.

We did this for 2 years and it kept the excema at bay. My 4 yr old started getting red spots under her arms, legs, and hair line. That was it, we had it. We moved into a larger ciy and the water was a lot softer. All red spots and itchy patches were gone within 1 week. If you have hard water, look into getting a filter on your faucets.

We believe in using all natural products instead of using steroid creams or harsh ointments. It really is a life style change but its better for you and your skin. So eat healthy, and use healthy items. Good luck."

[YEA]  03/18/2008: Andrea from Westminster, CO: "I am a 30 F I have had perioral dermatitis as long as I can remember. I have been searching for a cure, I almost gave up by getting a prescription for Tetracycline but I have read the side effects of taking it are so bad. I also found people with perioral dermatitis have had success with a prescription vitamin called Nicomide which is 750 mcg of Niacinamide (amide of Niacin or B3), 500 mcg of Folic Acid, 1.5 mg Copper and 50 mg Zinc. SO, after I tried apple cider vinegar topically and it made my rash raw like chapped lips and very itchy, I went to the vitamin store and bought what I could find of the vitamins in Nicomide. I have been on 500mcg of Niacinamide, B complex w/ 400 mcg of Folic Acid and 50 mg Zinc for 3 days and my perioral dermatitis is under control I can still see a little redness but, it doesn't itch and there are no bumps or blisters. I have also been using Cetaphil to wash my face and Eucerin to moisturize and Aquaphor at night. I am very pleased that this worked for me."

[YEA]  05/16/2013: Aubergine from Washington, Dc, Usa: "Yes to Neem oil! Neem oil cured my 12-year-old daughter's Perioral Dermatitis (PD) after we tried a number of other remedies on this site without much success.

A little history: I was diagnosed with Perioral Dermatitis several years ago (after first being misdiagnosed with Rosacea, and changing dermatologists as a result). I had been treating it for a long time with topical corticosteroids prescribed by the original dermatologist, but every time I stopped using the corticosteroids, the PD came back (which, I later learned, is typical - the corticosteroids actually make the PD worse). The new dermatologist prescribed a non-steroidal ointment called Protopic, as well as the antibiotic Doxycycline. After two 14-day courses of Doxycycline and twice-daily applications of Protopic, my PD was gone. (Note, I'm not vouching for the safety or advisability of either of these medications... only stating that they resolved my condition at the time.)

Fast forward a couple of years, and my daughter developed what looked like PD under her nose and around her mouth. The dermatologist prescribed Protopic, and it worked like a charm. She and I would both have occasional recurrences, but we would apply a bit of Protopic and the PD would disappear quickly. At that rate our tube of Protopic lasted a really long time. But...

A few months ago, our Protopic finally ran out We went to the dermatologist and got a scrip for more. But this year, my insurance did not want to cover it. The dcctor got it authorized for me, but my particular benefit plan still required that the cost go against my deductible... over $300 for a 30-gram tube! I had recently become a fan of Earthclinic, so I came here to look for less-expensive remedies.

A lot of people here had success with Apple Cider Vinegar, but my daughter complained too much about the stinging and the smell. Yogurt felt soothing but didn't diminish the PD. Grapefruit Seed Extract didn't seem to make a difference either. I then tried calendula cream, and that seemed to help at first, but then the PD got worse again. I also tried a homeopathic eczema product called Florasone, but the improvement was minimal and temporary. After weeks of this trial-and-error (and my now-desperate daughter pleading with me to break down and buy the Protopic), I finally tried Neem oil. My daughter had trouble with the intense nutty smell, so I applied it while she was sleeping. In the morning the improvement was dramatic. After 3 or 4 nights, her PD was completely gone. That was a little over a week ago. I have continued to use it on her at night to make sure the PD stays away.

I purchased my Neem oil at a big natural foods chain store (the one some of my friends affectionately call "Whole Paycheck"). The version I got is a raw one that comes in a very small jar (I would say it's a little larger than a container of lip balm). It has a melting point right around room temperature, so during the winter it was semi-solid in the jar, like an ointment or balm. Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, it's a liquid oil. The effectiveness seems the same whether it's melted or not."

[YEA]  03/24/2013: Jasmine54 from La, Ca: "PERIORAL DERMATITIS CURE!! I have suffered with PD for 2 years and have tried EVERYTHING you can imagine for it. The ONLY thing that works is extra virgin olive oil and powdered sugar. You make a lotion paste with these two ingredients, put it on your face and leave it on all day and night until it's gone. Typically will take 5-9 days to dissapear. THIS WORKS AND IS A MIRACLE!!! This is the lady's website that I found it on. I promised if I found a cure I would post it and here you go!! Http://dawnmarie4.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/a-little-bit-of-sugar/#comment-4138"

[YEA]  08/19/2012: Dick from Willamsburg, Va: "I have tried nearly all the remedies that have been posted on this site, and yet the only thing that has worked for me is an Omega 3 treatment. Applying anything topical to the POD isn't treating the real problem, and for me that was an imbalance of the omega fatty acids in the body. I was consuming way too much omega 6 and no omega 3, which caused the rash around the mouth. What I did and continue to do, is take a tablespoon of flaxseed oil in the morning along with a tablespoon of cod liver oil at night. Nothing topical worked for me, and if it's not working for you either please consider this treatment."

[YEA]  04/25/2013: Kristen from Mount Shasta, California: "Finally Some Relief!!!

I am 29 and have been struggling with Perioral Dermatitis (PD) for sometime and I think I finally found some relief. This disorder has been such a blow to my self esteem in my late 20's, that I really want to share my experience to hopefully help someone else.

Because everyone and their skin is so different, I will try to briefly put myself into context here. I spend alot of time outside on the river and in the mountains all year long for work and recreation so I think my skin has been damaged by sun, water and cold air. I would always have flare ups surrounding these activities. Being healthy is very important to me as well, so I use all organic chemical free soaps, toothpaste, lotions ect and rarely wear makeup. I moisturize my face with pure, unscented shea butter always.

I tried every natural remedy I could find. I thought maybe its stress, hormoones, alcohol, gluten, dairy, sun-on and on... Nothing worked!!! Finally, after much research, time and trial, I started taking Omega 3-6-9 and Evening Primose Oil supplements, mainly for GLA. Finally, my skin is looking much better. It's not perfect, as I don't expect because of my outdoor activities, but my skin tone is much more even around my chin area with out the horrible flaky, blotchy, irriated mess it was. I havn't had any major flare ups and have been quite pleased. This supplement is the only thing I have been doing differently and it seems to be working!

I hope this helps someone!

Cheers!"

[YEA]  02/19/2013: Catherine from Southampton, New York: "I have posted on this site before. Been battling Perioral dermatitis for years. I saw imporvement with low sugar diet and calendula cream but could never knock it out totally. I am thrilled to announce I am cured. I had read an article about how scientists were experimenting with Oil of Oregano to kill MRSA and that it worked. I figured if it worked on MRSA why not try it on whatever is lurking in my skin. I bought a little bottle and put a few drops into a tablespoon of olive oil and then rubbed it on my chin. I saw results by the next day and it is now it as been 2 months and has not come back regardless of what sugar & junk I eat. I only used the Oil for about 3 days. All those years of doxy and minocycline and experimenting with creams and diets and it's now gone! I can't believe it. It's important to get Oil of Oregano that was grown in the Mediterreanean. It should have Cavacrol in it, look for one with the biggest percentage of Cavacrol you can find. Do not apply directly to skin, it will burn. Less is more in this case. Add to olive oil and it will not burn."

[YEA]  08/11/2011: Diane from Ottumwa, Ia replies: "Yes on Oregano Oil. Definitely try it. It works, and it is the only thing that worked on this particular breakout. I had tried everything else I could think of in the broad spectrum antifungal, antibacterial and anti-parasitcal range. My dermatitis was red bumps, with copius amounts of thick flakes of skin. They felt like small scabs. Not itchy, but very unsightly. I mixed a 50/50 mixture of oregano oil and castor oil, and applied it topically 5 times per day. Do not apply staight oregano oil to your skin, you'll burn it and things will be worse. You can probably use any oil as a carrier oil, but the castor oil is thick and keeps the scales from lifting rapidly. Coconut oil made the scales of skin just peel off too quickly. For this particular dermatitis breakout I had previously tried: GSE, colloidal siver, coconut oil, neem, ACV, zinc pyrithine, coal tar shampoo, borax, 3% hydrogen peroxide, MSM, DMSO, borage oil, borage oil, terbinifine cream and miconazole cream, all applied topically, all good things to try. Nothing worked on this particular peri-oral dermatitis. I had the rash for about 2 months, the previous treatments I tried did not get rid of it or made it worse. By the way, I also take probiotics, B-complex, and follow a very healthy diet with zero sugar. If I get another rash, I'll try oregano oil first. Hope this helps someone. GTLA"

09/30/2010: Madeline from London, Uk: "Hi just reading this site about Apple Cider Vinegar most people said it works I have just been told by my doctor that I have perioral derm he has given me Tetralysal anti biots. Are these ok to take? He hasnt given me any creams and at the moment it is itching like mad and red. I work on a makeup counter and cant go to work until it clears I will get the Apple Cider Vinegar tomorrow and keep you all posted."

11/15/2010: Annab from London, Uk replies: "Hi, how did you get on with the ACV ? Has your PD cleared, and if yes, what exactly have you done to clear it ? Thanks, Anna in London"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  11/27/2010: Sarina from Hayti, South Dakota replies: "I have a mild case of rashy bumps around my mouth and it seems like it might be perioral dermatitus. I have been washing the area with ACV twice a day. During the day I use a cream I found at the health food store called "Florasone Cream". Its for itching, eczema, inflammation, and rashes. It contains Cardiospermum tincture which is naturally homeopathic. Also I add a little grape seed oil to my face. I do this maybe 4 times a day, or if my skin starts to feel itchy. The redness is going away! The bumps are alot smaller. I feel like something is helping."

[YEA]  09/27/2012: Getting There from Sydney, New South Wales Australia: "Hi all! Don't despair. I am 45 years old, lives in Sydney, Australia and started to get PD 8 months ago. My doctor said it's from years of using cortisone creams as I suffer from slight eczema too. I had tried taking antibiotics for it like doxycycline plus she prescribed me Elocon to apply on the affected skin. It comes and goes and never really fixed the problem. I have been searching for the cure ever since and tried all sorts of remedy mostly natural but didn't really help me.

This includes putting apple cider vinegar plus lemon juice on the PD and putting organic yoghurt as per previous comments on this forum. I also switched to SLS free products – shampoo and toothpaste. I don't use any makeup on my face unless it's necessary but still puts on eye makeup, sunscreen and lipstick (the brand that doesn't irritate my PD is Clinique).

What worked for me is taking probiotics (I take Inner Health Plus) once a day and also found a cream called Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis, Itchy Dry Skin developed by Naturopaths and is cortisone-free. I use this product around my mouth as my moisturiser – it contains calendula, manuka honey, aloe vera, gotukola and licorice root. It doesn't sting when I apply it unlike the other natural stuff that I tried. I am not in any way associated with these companies and don't sell them. I got them from a local chemist and it worked for me so I thought I'd share this advice for those who are getting desperate with their PD. I started taking the probiotics and applying the cream only last Monday night and just after 3 days I can say that my PD is 80% clear. I am so happy and that's why I am sharing this with you. I hope it works for you too and good luck.

BTW, I would like to thank this forum especially the person who suggested taking probiotics (acidophilus). It really is fixing the source of the problem. My advice too is to avoid using creams prescribed by doctors that might be cortisone. I stopped using this to my kids as I don't want them to get PD when they grow older."

[YEA]  01/18/2012: Christine from Grand Haven, Mi : "I've had perioral dermatitis for years and after reading negative reviews about what the dermatologist recommended, I've been trying natural cures like vinegar and yogurt masks and avoiding SLS and fluoride with no success. I recently decided to deluge my gut with probiotics and prebiotics and I noticed a dramatic difference in about 4 days - My skin no longer burns, itches, or flakes off! I drink 1 - 2 servings of kefir per day, take a full spectrum pro-biotic, digestive enzymes (1 pill), and an aged garlic extract with probiotics (1 pill). I've cut back on sugar but am not really following any special diet. I didn't even put any lotion on today and my skin is smooth. I hope this helps someone out there!"