17 Effective Natural Treatments for Perioral Dermatitis

I swear I've used everything for this! For me, using zinc soap, allowing de La Cruz sulfur to sit on my skin for 15 minutes, and following up with prosacea has been working great for me.

I believe mine was caused from changing my CPAP mask to a memory foam type mask. Along with taking zinc 25 mg. The sulfur smells bad, but it's cleared my skin very well.

I've tried ACV, grapefruit seed oil (and capsules), zinc paste (which worked ok, but didn't take care of it) oreganal, primcrolamus, metronidazole, ketoconazole, Azelaic acid (made it worse), calendula, ivermectin gel, aloe Vera, Maura honey, Aleppo soap, and doxycycline. By far, the sulfur helped me the most, along with the prosasea. None of these worked.

I used the regimen above morning and night, for about a month now. The zinc cream worked very well to take redness and flakiness away but moved on to sulfur, as it worked better for me. I really hope this helps someone suffering with this. I've had perioral dermatitis for a year, and will be taking no more prescriptions!!!!!!

My POD started when I went on a keto diet and started eating halo top ice cream. As soon as I quit eating it, the rash went away and anytime I ain't even a little bit, it would come back. It also comes back sometimes, whether I eat the ice cream or not right before my period so it's definitely triggered by hormonal changes.

I believe my perioral dermatitis is actually severe rosacea. After trying ACV alone for 2 months, antifungal cream alone for 2 months, and a weak boric acid solution alone for 2 months, nothing has seemed to help. I tried coconut oil for 3 days only as it got progressively worse with this. I have fought this for a long time. I am now trying bleach water. I am still using the weak boric acid for my eyes (as the eye on the worst side of my face has been fighting sties for a long time as well). This points me to mites/bacteria overload. So I just decided to hit it with the worst I could throw at it. I have very oily facial skin, to the point that 2 hours after bathing, it is oily again, so makeup to cover my terrible face is out of the question.

After 2 weeks of twice daily cotton ball wipe of 10% bleach water (maybe 20%, I just splash a bit of bleach in distilled water in a plastic covered container), my face is noticeably better. The lumps are diminishing, along with the redness. I still get a few pustules here and there, not 5 new ones daily like before. My skin can take this harsh treatment since my oil production is through the roof, so may not be for everyone out there. I do not rinse it off, nor will I use it close to my eyes. I will continue this protocol for at least a total 2 month time frame to give it a fair shot.

For Perioral Dermatits: the trigger is yeast! -Which is in almost everything if you look at the ingredients - Kit Kits, veggie burgers, wine, pastries, chips, etc. Read ingredients! Do not eat any yeast. Please spread this! People think it is gluten, or almonds, or strawberries. It is ingestion of yeast.

I cured my bad case of Perioral Dermatitis by using a fluoride free tooth paste (Hello brand) and by using Lotrimin cream 2-3 times a day. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Suggestions for managing PERIORAL DERMATITIS:

I've been struggling with perioral dermatitis (PD) on again/off again for years.

I've recently started supplementing with *MICELLIZED* Vitamin A daily (dosage will vary depending on which kind you buy, don't overdo it as you can create toxic levels of Vitamin A build-up in your body. Do your own homework and get professional medical advice if you're unsure) and that is the first thing that seems to actually help heal the PD.

Also, I started taking Pharma GABA to help me with stress management and sleep hygiene and, to my my surprise, I think it has also helped treat the perioral dermatitis. This has me wondering if there is, in deed, a hormonal component to PD.

Best of luck to anyone dealing with this. I feel your pain but I'm hopeful that I'll figure it out and have my face back to normal again.

I had a small patch of dermatitis appear on my face near my smile line approximately 12 hours after getting salmonella poisoning a couple of weeks ago. I tried a few remedies for perioral dermatitis that I found here like lugol's iodine, colloidal silver and apple cider vinegar, but nothing helped. The remedy would start to dry out the area, but then flaking and new bumps would reappear. Rooting around for something else to try, I found a small tube of silver gel in my medicine cabinet that I had bought about 4 years ago at the pharmacy in the wound aisle for a 2nd degree burn. I applied the gel to the dermatitis and it felt very cooling and soothing immediately, whereas all the other remedies I tried burned like the dickens. I reapplied the gel several times a day and after a few days the funky patch of skin was gone. No more redness even.

I think silver gel might be a more effective method for skin conditions than colloidal silver spray because it is supposed to last up to 3 days per application and definitely keeps the skin hydrated, which a cs spray does not. Hope this helps someone!

I was a complete beauty product addict until I got a bad case of perioral dermatitis. It started with a small itchy, flaky, red patch on my chin. Seeing the flaky spot, I used more products to exfoliate and moisturize (bad mistake! ) The rash spread like wildfire and I was diagnosed with perioral dermatitis. The doctor suggested 3 months of antibiotics which I declined.

I googled and tried many natural remedies which did not work, some of which frankly made things worse. ( apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, essential oils, manuka honey, colloidal silver etc) . Meanwhile, the rash kept spreading.

Finally, I decided to try the zero therapy approach which I saw on google. No cleansers, no moisturizer, no makeup. Just wash with water. Dermatitis was completely healed after about a month on this method. I am still doing it 5 years later and I love how my skin feels and looks. ( I am 42).

At night, I put distilled water in a little bowl and used 3 cotton pads to clean my face. Pat dry with a clean towel. That's it. In the morning, I would clean my eyes with tap water on a face cloth, but no water on the rest of the face. If I had to go to work and the flakes were too bad, I would use one drop of jojoba oil to sort of glue the flakes in place. That's it.

I went all out and drastically reduced all my other body products as well. I bought natural stuff for the ones I could not do without. ( SLS free shampoo and conditioner, natural toothpaste with no fluoride, natural body soap, and lip balm). Jojoba oil here and there as needed.

I learned I don't need beauty products to be pretty. My skin can take care of itself. My face is healthier and happier when I leave it alone.

I have suffered from Perioral dermatitis for years! I just recently realized it is aggravated by tannins. It's at its worst when I try to eat clean. Could also explain why I have digestion issues and struggle to lose weight even when my diet seems so clean!

My daughter developed a perioral rash at age two. It was persistent for several months. The doctor prescribed Elidel, but I was concerned about using it and she screamed the few times I did put it on her. After noticing that the rash seemed more irritated after brushing teeth, I switched her from a mint flavored tooth paste to bubble gum kids' flavor. Her rash continued, but eventually became intermittent. Once it finally started clearing up, I was able to figure out the second trigger: cinnamon. Abstaining mint and cinnamon has completely eliminated her rash, though it will flare up mildly if she eats something on accident. She has been rash-free for 6 months with no treatment.

Tea Tree oil blended with Jojoba oil has completely gotten rid of mine. Safe for around eyes, just use lightly. I take the oil and mix it into my lotion.

Years ago my stomach became very sensitive to coffee (thought it was the caffeine) so I switched to decaf coffee. Several weeks later, I got big bumps in and around my mouth. I had them for about 6 months and I had no idea why? I retraced my steps on what I started new in my diet, and had an ah hah moment... decaf coffee. Sure enough, when I stopped drinking it, the bumps slowly went away after about 2-3 weeks.

I sure hope that helps somebody out there!

Hi! I had PD around my nose/mouth when I was 12, treated with a "bingo dabber" of some sort of antibiotic and then eventually with oral antibiotics (tetracycline I believe) which finally did the trick. However at age 24 it came back, this time around my eyes. I believe I was triggered by my makeup use, and I have since discontinued using makeup beyond very rare occasions. The doctor prescribed me some sort of very expensive topical probiotic, which was not effective. I eventually requested the tetracycline again which worked. However now about a year and a half later it has returned (I left the makeup on my face for too long again after an event). I am going to try apple cider vinegar this time, and default back to tetracycline if it doesn't work. It does feel different treating it around the eyes - the skin is even more sensitive! I can't even touch it at all - I can feel it getting worse every time I do.

Just wanted to follow up - are you still symptom free after using the Melaleuca Oil? And, are you still using it or have you discontinued use?

Sulfur Soap and Castor Oil/Coconut Oil cleansing

I developed the annoying little bumps about four months ago. They started as small bumps on the creases of my mouth and then sure enough migrated to the sides of my mouth (bottom) and the other side of my face. I was sure it was a breakout, so I tried everything I could think of (lavender, tea tree, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, green tea, salt water, manuka honey) but nothing worked, the final straw was when I developed the bumps under my eyes, that's when I knew I was dealing with a form of dermatitis and rosacea. After months of trying one thing after another, none helping at all, I have FINALLY figured out what works for me. I use 10% sulfur soap with vitamin on the dermatitis around my mouth, I don't put any oils or moisturizer on it.

When I started this routine, the bumps nearly cleared 100% within a week/week and a half. The ocular roseasa around my eyes only got worse with the sulfur soap so I use a mixture of castor oil and coconut oil to wash my eyes and the rest of my face (being careful to keep it away from around my mouth!! ), this has cleared it up within a few days. The redness is FINALLY going away around my mouth and the tone of my skin is returning to normal.

My mom also gets this, and she was put on antibiotics, it worked well the first time but it didn't get rid of it for good...I wanted to find a way of keeping it at bay without having to be on antibiotics for months at a time. Not sure if this will work for anyone else, but it's been great for me!

I have been suffering for 5 years from perial dermatitis. I have tried everything. My aunt gave me some melaleuca oil. I read this could help. I got a 2 oz glass spray bottle and added 8 drops of the oil and then filled the rest with water. All my symptoms disappeared after two days by spraying twice a day as a mist. No applying with a cotton ball. I am happy to say it's been three weeks and I'm still symptom free!! It's worth a try.

Hi. I am not in the usual 'group'. I'm 60 & developed PD around my nostril area about a month ago. My doc prescribed antibiotics & 2% cortisone cream…after getting home I decided to get online & do my research. Here is what I've done/changed. I discarded the meds! I got apple cider vinegar 'with mother', tea tree oil toothpaste & Neutrogena facial wipes. I cleaned all my makeup brushes in alcohol. I brush my teeth using Zephyrhills spring water (no fluoride),

I clean my face with the wipes, when it's completely dry I apply the vinegar neat with a q-tip (very precise application). I allow this to dry. I then apply whatever moisturizer I'm currently using…but not on the affected area. I never put makeup on the affected area while I had the breakout. I also added B12, B3 & D3 daily. During a recent visit to the dentist…told him no fluoride, no latex gloves. My face is completely clear of PD. I have read that PD can return…so I apply the vinegar (50/50 water) to my nostril area every night…with the intention of lessening this to 2-3 times p/week…it stinks…but I'm determined to keep it away.

I would say one of the key things is to keep your hands very clean at all times…with this condition it's impossible to keep yourself from touching the affected areas…they itch!!

Hi, I too started to get the rash after my period returned after my 2nd baby! I wonder if a hormone panel would give some answers?

I wanted to share my story because I seem to be having success clearing my PD and rosacea. Like most of the sufferers here I have spent hours upon hours chasing a cure (I have also had acne all my life and I am turning 50 in April). This is what I have learned. I finally broke down and started Ted's Borax remedy because I read how people had had success with it. I also researched Boron supplementation in case I could not tolerate the Borax because that is essentially the element you are getting from the Borax. I am very sensitive to things so, to make a long story short, the Borax was tough for me to tolerate (stomach ache from it), so I have decided to go with the Boron supplements even though they are more expensive (still very reasonable, though).

The Borax was clearly helping my PD so I knew I was on the right track -- now accepting that it was the Demodex mites taking over my face for the past 5 months. I take about 9mg a day of the Boron supplements total (3mg x3/day- trial and error as others may need more or less). I tolerate it well. I also made a solution of Borax and water (just water) to wipe on my face a few times a day. Whenever I added hydrogen peroxide to the borax it was too much for my skin and made it worse. I am totally on my road to recovery after trying every natural remedy available on this website and the web. EVERY ONE - ACV, manuka honey, violet extract, castor oil packs, cocunut oil, pumpkin seed oil, oregano, yogurt, clay, DE, GSE, you name it I tried it. Also gave up every ounce of makeup - natural included. I had noticed that natural lip balms made my lips feel weird. What I have determined about this condition for me is the following:

1) Demodex mites getting out of hand are likely the main problem.2) Boron/Borax are the keys to getting them under control. 3) There is research out there that people with Rosacea and possibly PD have different fatty acids on their skin. I believe this is the key. As I look back, I was using all natural products -- Castor oil, natural lip products, mineral makeup, etc. I believe the coconut/castor/ etc. oils were actually the initial cause of the problem (first I thought it was Titanium Dioxide, mint or mica causing the problem, but I have now narrowed it down to the natural oils). I was getting a better reaction using Dove than any other naturally derived soap which usually included coconut oil, castor oil, or the like. I could also only tolerate petroleum jelly as a lip treatment. I know it is not good for you, but everything else (mainly natural products) caused a reaction. I know everyone is different, but I wanted to pass my experience along.

My face is 90% clear after one week (it takes a long time for the PD to heal but slow and steady with the Borax/Boron and my rosacea is almost non-existant) and I feel my skin is starting to just look wonderful. I could never, ever say that before. I may be the one in a million who is worse using natural products and that is what it is. With regard to makeup, I am watching for castor oil and possibly mineral oil as ingredients that bother me. I don't know as much about mineral oil, but trying to avoid just in case. I just hope this helps someone.

I had an outbreak of perioral dermatitis and I noticed it was after I ate certain dairy products - sour cream, cream cheese and milk shakes, soft serve ice cream. I reviewed all ingredients and noticed that all contained guar gum or carrageenan- a thickening agent. I would have no problem eating certain ice creams and those were brands free of the thickening agent.

Hello All PD sufferers,

Is this not the most frustrating thing? So I started out with the prescribed clindamycin and steroid...only got worse and spread. I began taking ACV internally and I have been diligently applying ACV directly every hour I am at home. It is kind of hard to get used to but guess what, it is working! I read on another blog that you just have to over dry it like crazy and then it scabs and will eventually go away. I am currently in the flaking phase but it appears to be getting better not worse for once! I have also been taking curcumin internally. I think it may be helping too. I am going to try turmeric mask tonight. I will report back! Good luck to all. All I can say is that modern medicine does not understand this rash and whatever you do, DO NOT USE STEROIDS, ANTIBIOTICS, OR OTHER PRESCRIPTIONS IT JUST COMES BACK WORSE!!!