What is perioral dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that usually affects the area around the mouth. It can also show up around the nose and eyes, which is why you may hear it called periorificial dermatitis.

It often appears as small red or pink bumps, sometimes with dryness, flaking or a burning feeling. It can come and go, and once the skin barrier is unsettled, it can be quite stubborn.

It can also look a little like other skin conditions, which disguises it a bit. The bumps can make it look like acne. The redness can make it look like rosacea. The burning, stinging and product sensitivity can make it feel like your skin has suddenly become sensitive to everything.

Why perioral dermatitis can flare

With perioral dermatitis, there isn’t always one clear cause. Your skin barrier, current products, active ingredients, stress, hormones, gut health, oral care products and steroid use can all be part of the picture.

Flares can also line up with hormonal shifts, stress, illness, poor sleep or times when the body feels generally run down. That context matters, because inflamed skin usually has more going on than the product you happened to use yesterday.

Too many actives or harsh treatments

When the skin starts to flare, it’s very tempting to do more to get it under control quickly. With perioral dermatitis, the skin often needs the opposite. Strong actives, over-exfoliation and harsh treatments can disrupt the skin barrier. Once the barrier is impaired, the skin is more likely to feel dry, stingy, irritated and reactive.

At that point, I’d usually be thinking about what we can take away for a while, rather than what else we can add in.

Steroid creams and inhalers

Steroid creams can be linked with perioral dermatitis, especially when they are used on the face. Some people notice the skin improves while they are using them, then flares again when they stop. Inhaled steroids can also be relevant for some people, especially if the product comes into contact with the skin around the mouth.

If you are using a prescription steroid cream or inhaler, please don’t stop or change it without speaking to your GP or dermatologist. From my side, it’s still helpful to know about it during consultation, because it can explain why the skin is behaving the way it is.

Toothpaste, cosmetics and skincare ingredients

Toothpaste and oral care products can irritate the skin around the mouth for some people. Cosmetics, heavy moisturisers, fragranced products, sunscreens or products that sit too heavily on the skin can also contribute.

Sometimes the thing keeping the skin irritated is not an obvious active serum. It might be a toothpaste, a lip product, a thick cream, or a product that was fine for years until the skin barrier became more reactive for other reasons.

Stress, hormones and gut health

Because perioral dermatitis is inflammatory, I also like to look at what is happening internally. Stress, hormonal changes, nervous system stress and gut imbalance can all influence inflammation in the body. For some people, that can make the skin more reactive and harder to settle.

That doesn’t mean the gut is always the cause, or that stress is the only reason the skin is flaring. But when the skin is inflamed and reactive, it makes sense to look at what the body has been dealing with too.

How we support reactive skin at Skin Health Studio

When someone comes in with skin like this, I want to look at what has been happening around the flare with a full skin consultation. That means looking at your skin, your current products, your skin history, your stress, your hormones, your digestion, your lifestyle, and any possible triggers that may be keeping the skin irritated.

Barrier repair is a big part of this. When the barrier is impaired, the skin is more likely to sting, burn, react and flare. Supporting the barrier can help the skin feel more comfortable and more settled over time.

For some clients, we may also look at internal support, gut health, gentle professional treatments, LED Light Therapy, or changes to homecare such as using Prologic’s Bio Balance IQ serum.

No two skins need quite the same plan.

Where to start with finding the right skincare?

If your skin feels red, bumpy, dry, burning, flaky or reactive around the mouth, book a Skin Consultation so we can go through what has been happening. We can look at your current routine, your skin history, your possible triggers, and what support your skin may need first.

If your skin is painful, worsening quickly, infected, affecting your eyes, or connected to steroid medication, it is also important to speak with your GP or dermatologist.

If you are not local to Dunedin, you can also start with an Online Consultation Form, and I can guide you from there.

👉 Book a consultation to talk through the best option for your skin

~ Jemma

A holistic approach to skin health

Many people come to skin through products first. They try stronger actives, more exfoliation, or treatments that promise quick visible change.

Sometimes that gives the skin a short-term boost. But if the barrier is struggling, inflammation is high, or the body is under stress, the skin can end up feeling even more unsettled.

For me, the focus in our clinic is always on skin that becomes stronger, calmer and more resilient over time. That means supporting the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, encouraging repair, and looking at the internal factors that may be keeping the skin reactive.

Why I love Osmosis

What I like about Osmosis is that it suits this way of thinking. Osmosis supports repair, restoration, cellular communication and the internal factors that can influence skin health. It does this without constantly pushing the skin harder or relying on aggressive resurfacing.

Their philosophy is simple: Healthy skin is created by a healthy body.

For skin dealing with inflammation, sensitivity, pigmentation, premature ageing, acne, rosacea-prone flare-ups, or a barrier that has been overworked, this kind of support can make a real difference. 

Skin longevity over quick fixes

Skin longevity is something I focus on a lot in clinic, because there’s a big difference between a quick glow up and skin that is genuinely getting stronger. A quick glow can feel lovely, but long-term skin health is about function.

Stronger skin over time

Osmosis products are designed to support repair, collagen health, barrier restoration, cellular communication and healthy ageing. When we use them as part of a considered plan, they can support the skin without overwhelming it.

For some clients, we may also include Skin Health Facials, MediLUX LED Light Therapy, barrier repair, internal wellness support or changes to homecare, depending on what the skin needs.

The plan will always depend on the person.

Wellness is self-care

Taking care of your skin is also about taking care of yourself. Good nutrition, hydration, sleep, stress support, movement and nervous system care all matter. So does choosing skincare that supports your barrier and treatments that suit where your skin is at.

This doesn’t have to mean doing everything perfectly. It means understanding what your skin and body need, then building a plan that supports both. It is about balance, vitality, and supporting your body from within.

And when your skin starts to feel calmer and more predictable, it can make such a difference to your confidence as well.

Where to start with finding the right skincare?

If you would like guidance on a personalised wellness and skin journey, I would love to support you with tailored treatments, skincare, and wellness recommendations designed specifically for your skin goals.

During a Skin Consultation, we can look at your skin properly, talk through your current routine, your internal health, your lifestyle, your stress, your sleep, your skin history, and what we are actually trying to achieve.

From there, we can build a plan that supports your skin from the inside and the outside.

If you are not local to Dunedin, you can also start with an Online Consultation Form, and I can guide you from there.

👉 Book a consultation to talk through the best option for your skin

~ Jemma