Generally, skin creams containing steroids should not be used to treat perioral dermatitis. Your health care provider may choose to treat the bumps with other topical (applied directly to the skin) medications, such as metronidazole, erythromycin, benzoyl peroxide, tacrolimus, clindamycin, or pimecrolimus.

In more severe cases, oral antibiotics (such as tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, or erythromycin) may be required.

Perioral dermatitis is a difficult condition to treat effectively. It often requires several months of treatment.

It is not unusual for the bumps to return, particularly if skin creams containing steroids are reapplied to the face.

Call your health care provider if you notice persistent red bumps around your mouth.

Images

Dermatitis, perioral

Review Date: 12/11/2009
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network; Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)