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11th October 2024
11:02am BST
If you scroll on TikTok, you’re bound to come across someone talking about the painful condition.
“Perioral (periorificial) dermatitis is a red rash that circles your mouth,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Your skin can be scaly, dry and flaky with swollen, inflamed bumps called papules. It is one of many types of dermatitis.
“Perioral dermatitis can look like acne and is often mistaken for it.
“Some people report that perioral dermatitis itches or burns. Sometimes it spreads up to the nose and eyes and, very rarely, the genitals.”
We spoke with top Irish Aesthetician, Eavanna Breen, who explained why this has been cropping up among lots of men and women and what you need to do to treat the condition.
She said: “I mean the fact that we’re even talking about perioral dermatitis shows how prevalent it is in society at the moment.
“I’m seeing it constantly in the clinic and it is because people are being too aggressive with their skincare, they’re using too many actives that their skin just doesn’t need.”
She went on to say that one of the reasons it seems to be popping up more and more is that teenagers are following skincare routines they seen on TikTok that contain a whole myriad of ingredients their skin is not ready for.
“It comes back to, as well, this whole thing of teens using skincare that they’re just not ready to use, they’re compromising their natural lipid barrier and that’s what happens when you get perioral dermatitis.”
If you’re suffering with this uncomfortable condition, Eavanna said one thing that is a non-negotiable is going back to basics with your skincare routine.
“So what you end up needing to do is paring the skincare back to basics and sometimes you have to go onto an antibiotic to clear it up.”
If you suspect you may be suffering with perioral dermatitis, it’s important to book in with a dermatologist to get expert advice and an effective treatment plan.
