Acne around the mouth is a problem that plagues many young people, most often girls. Everyone wants to look beautiful, but at the same time, if the area around the mouth is strewn with acne, it is simply impossible to achieve beauty. That is why many people are interested in what causes this problem and, of course, how to cure acne around the mouth. This is exactly what the article will be about.
Acne and perioral dermatitis
If you have acne around your mouth, then the first thing you should do is determine what is happening to your skin. The fact is that the situation may turn out to be diametrically opposite. These can be either regular acne or symptoms of a disease called perioral dermatitis, which will be discussed below. But first you need to deal with a simpler option. If pimples around the mouth appear pointwise and periodically, then this is not a disease - these are the most common acne and ulcers. The cause of their occurrence is clogged pores, and this is caused by poor personal hygiene. You just need to purchase products with which you will care for your facial skin and use them constantly. Then acne will not appear, and you will achieve the beauty effect you have always dreamed of. However, rashes are not always caused by insufficient or improper care. Many people who regularly take care of their skin still develop acne around the mouth and chin. What could be causing this?
Disease
So, if you take proper care of your facial skin, but the rashes around your mouth do not disappear and are widespread rather than local, then the situation is more complex. The fact is that you most likely have perioral dermatitis - a disease in the field of dermatology that requires attention on your part. However, why do these pimples appear around the mouth? The reason for this phenomenon, unfortunately, has not yet been established - there are only a number of assumptions, which you will read in this article. A distinctive feature of this disease is that its signs are observed exclusively in the area of the nasolabial triangle - random pimples do not pop up on the cheeks, neck or anywhere else. That is why the disease is called perioral dermatitis, that is, one in which the rash spreads around the mouth.
What is this dermatitis?
Steroids
No, we are not talking about using steroids directly. If you have acne around your mouth, it's worth paying attention to whether your skin care products contain these substances. Facial creams and various ointments often contain prednisolone or hydrocortisone, which cause irritation in some people. Therefore, you should carefully study the composition of your products and try to stop using them for a while to determine whether they are the cause of the disease. Please note that the rashes do not disappear immediately after you stop using the cream that causes them to appear. Most often, the phase of active growth of acne is observed first, that is, there may be even more of them, they will become redder, and the sensations will become even more painful. But after a short period of time, this phase passes, and after it, the pimples gradually disappear from your face.
Cosmetics
Small pimples around the mouth can also appear when using various cosmetic products. The range of these products is quite wide, but the cause of this disease is most often foundation, and there are also frequent cases when perioral dermatitis appeared due to the use of certain makeup removers. In this case, you need to do the same as in the previous one - stop using specific products for a while to see if this will affect the acne around the mouth. The reason (in women this problem is observed much more often, since they use much more cosmetic products) is clear? Great! Take note, fight, and we move on.
Natural influence
It also cannot be ruled out that the occurrence of acne in the mouth area was caused by certain external factors, in particular natural phenomena. Among them, perioral dermatitis is most commonly caused by strong winds or excessive exposure to sunlight. It's not as easy to figure out as you'd like, but in most cases, if you just stop going out in the sun for a couple of days, your pimples will begin to fade, so you can quickly figure out whether something is causing your problems.
Toothpaste
Now you know the main reasons why acne around the mouth can occur. However, many doctors also talk about toothpaste that contains fluoride. By itself, in most cases, it cannot cause this disease, but if you have already developed it, then using such a paste can lead to unpleasant consequences. Fluoride intensifies the disease, pimples around the mouth begin to increase in size, become brighter, and the discomfort becomes more pronounced.
Infection
This disease can also be caused by a skin infection. This is one of the cases when you should not experiment or try to cure yourself - it is better to immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe you the necessary medications. If you self-medicate, you can trigger the disease and bring yourself to a much more serious condition. Remember that acne goes away without a trace only if you get rid of it quickly. If you delay, then after healing, traces will remain at the site of the rash that will spoil your appearance.
Hormonal background
It's no secret that hormones can greatly affect the health of the body as a whole and its individual organs and systems in particular. In some cases, their fluctuations affect the condition of your skin. As in the case of cosmetics, this reason most often causes the appearance of defects in women - acne around the mouth can appear during the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. However, when hormonal levels normalize, acne also disappears. As in the previous case, in case of hormonal imbalances, you should not try to deal with the problem on your own - it is best to contact a specialist who will accurately determine the specific cause of the disease, and then prescribe exactly the medicine that will most likely help you.
Contraceptives
Well, the last reason why you may experience perioral dermatitis is taking oral contraceptives. This point is closely related to the previous one - the fact is that such drugs lead to a strong change in hormonal levels, which, as you have already learned, can lead to the appearance of acne around the mouth. In this case, you should contact a gynecologist to choose the means of protection that will not cause a similar reaction in your body. It would also be a good idea to visit a dermatologist who will help you eliminate the effects of the disease from your face.
Treatment
So, now you know the main causes of acne around the mouth, and therefore it’s time to put this knowledge into practice. What should you do if they start appearing on you? First of all, you need to determine the extent of the lesion. If there are few acne, they appear not only around the mouth, but also on other parts of the face, and also eventually “mature” - this means that the problem lies in personal hygiene, that is, in the lack of it. Pores become clogged and need to be cleaned using special skin care products.
However, if the pimples are located exclusively around the mouth, there are a lot of them and they do not look like ulcers or acne, then you have perioral dermatitis. If the disease has just begun to manifest itself, it is worth trying home methods - avoiding creams containing steroids, certain types of cosmetics, as well as toothpaste with added fluoride. Pay attention to the environment, weather factors and monitor how certain of your actions affect the condition of the skin around your mouth. If you can’t get rid of acne at home, don’t delay - go to a specialist, otherwise you will jeopardize not only your health, but also your appearance in the future, since acne may leave unsightly marks. A dermatologist will help you sort out your problem, he will find out why you have these acne, and will also prescribe a specific course of treatment or write a referral to the appropriate specialist. Depending on the specific cause of the disease, the treatment method is selected. Special hormonal drugs are used to stabilize hormonal levels, and antibiotics are used to treat infections. So if you are convinced that the cause is not your cream or the environment, go to the doctor immediately. This way you can quickly and effectively overcome the disease and regain your beauty.
Acne around the mouth is a skin disease in which an inflammatory process occurs in the epidermis. People face this problem in adolescence and adulthood.
Possible causes of acne around the mouth
The rash around the mouth on the right and left is perioral dermatitis. It comes in two types: infectious and non-infectious. The first occurs when infected with viruses, bacteria, fungi. The second has an allergic, hormonal etiology. Adults and children get sick equally.
Causes of infectious perioral dermatitis:
- herpes simplex virus. A person becomes infected after hypothermia or decreased immunity. A group of blisters with clear liquid may immediately appear on the lip. They burst and form ulcers. If you get sick, the virus will constantly recur;
- demodicosis is a disease caused by mites of the genus Demodex. Manifests itself as pustular rashes;
- In children, acne attacks the face when infected with rubella, measles, chickenpox, and enteroviruses. The corner of the mouth is a favorite location.
Causes of non-infectious perioral dermatitis:
Allergies. Chemical components of cosmetics (lipstick, powder, foundation) cause the appearance of pimples in the perioral area. Wash lotions that are cheap or expire, cause breakouts. The area of skin may initially swell and then develop a rash.
Food products (citrus fruits, chocolate, red foods) cause a rash on the face in people with individual intolerance.
Creams and ointments based on glucocorticosteroids (prednisolone, hydrocortisone) provoke the appearance of small pimples.
Natural factors (strong wind, sun rays, frost).
Hormonal imbalance. In adolescence, the skin of the face is covered with pimples. In women, a few days before the start of menstruation, during pregnancy, acne appears as a result of hormonal changes in the body.
Oral contraceptives cause rashes on the face. You should get rid of them under the guidance of a doctor. If you experience acne after taking birth control, stop taking it immediately. Consult a dermatologist or gynecologist to change medications.
An infant has problems when teething. Pimples in the perioral area break out due to increased salivation. Such rashes go away without a trace if you keep your baby’s face clean. Cooled boiled water and baby cream will help alleviate the child’s condition.
In newborns, rashes on the face are associated with maternal hormones. The child receives their excess from the mother, circulating in his blood. They affect the condition of the skin. Hormonal acne is called neonatal acne. Localized in the facial area. Following good hygiene will help remove the rash.
Not only the beautiful half of humanity suffers from the disease. Men also have to deal with acne. They develop the disease for two reasons:
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, pancreatitis, liver and intestinal pathology);
- increased or decreased amount of male hormones.
Types of rash and localization features
In medicine, the following types of rashes are distinguished:
- A papule is a small pink nodule located superficially. Sizes vary from 1 mm to 3 cm in advanced cases. Pimples are more common on the upper lip.
- Vesicles are single or group pimples without content up to 1 cm. They can be filled with gray matter with blood. When extruded, erosions form. They are located on any part of the face.
- Pustule is a pimple with pus. The skin around the rash is red and there is an unpleasant feeling of itching and burning. Typical localization is pimples under the lip, on the cheeks, and chin.
- Blisters are a cavityless, pink compaction that affects the papillary layer of the epidermis. The patient complains of very intense itching. Education without treatment takes place in one day.
- Roseola is a pink spot, oval or round in shape with blurred boundaries. A distinctive feature from other species is that it turns pale when pressed. They can appear on different parts of the face.
- A tubercle is a cavity formation that lies in the subcutaneous layers. After squeezing, scars may remain. The pimple is the most painful under the lower lip.
- Node - red spots, do not have a cavity, lie in the dermis. Pimples are located in the corners of the mouth, forehead, and cheeks.
Acne has several types:
- comedo. Occurs when skin pores become clogged with sebaceous contents. When exposed to air, sebum oxidizes and the white pimple turns into a blackhead. An open comedone - a plug - blocks the facial pore in the upper part. This type of blackhead is easy to remove. A closed comedone occurs when a sebaceous plug has deeply blocked a pore. You won't be able to squeeze it out;
- nodular cystic eruptions are a group of pimples interconnected by fistulous ducts.
Treatment methods
Medication
Medicines are prescribed by the doctor. Rashes around the mouth are treated depending on the cause:
- Antibiotic therapy locally and systemically. Use antibiotic-based ointments (metronidazole, erythromycin). Tetracycline and Doxycycline are used in tablet form.
- Antiallergic drugs: Claritin, Erius, Tavegil.
- Vitamin therapy (vitamin B6, ascorutin, folic, nicotinic acid).
- Antiseptics (ichthyol, zinc ointment).
- Antiviral drugs are used to combat herpes - herpevir, Zovirax.
Mandatory consultation with a doctor in the following cases:
- pimples began to peel off, itch, hurt, and pus appears;
- there are many rashes with purulent contents on the face;
- you need to get rid of acne in a short period;
- the rash is associated with chronic diseases of the body, taking medications (hormonal).
At home
Traditional medicine will come to the rescue:
- Make lotions with a solution of chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, calendula, string. Buy an inexpensive herb at the pharmacy, make a decoction (1 tbsp per 1 tbsp water), wipe the affected areas several times a day.
- Drink tea with sage, St. John's wort, chamomile in a 1:1:1 ratio. Brew 1 tbsp of the plant mixture in 1 cup of boiling water. Leave for 30-40 minutes. Strain and consume 3 times a day.
- Boric, salicylic acid helps fight inflamed areas.
- Compresses with sea salt twice a day for 5 minutes will relieve redness and cleanse pores. Soak with a small amount of water and place on the sore area. This method is contraindicated in the presence of ulcers and cracks.
- Make a raspberry mask: mash 3 tablespoons of berries. Apply the mask for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Possible complications and lip care
Superficial small pimples go away without a trace, but deep ones leave spots and dents. Possible consequences:
- atrophic spots. On the skin of the face there are large wrinkled elements, pink in color with a bluish tint. Over time they become white;
- hypo- and hyperpigmentation of the skin in the form of light or dark spots on the face;
- the addition of a secondary infection (scratching introduces germs). Watery rashes with pus appear and are treated by a doctor;
- Scars are a cosmetic defect that can be removed surgically.
Facial skin care:
- Use only proven care products.
- Protect lips from chapping (lubricate with Vaseline at night).
- Avoid touching your face with dirty hands throughout the day.
- A healthy diet improves immunity and prevents diseases.
- Observe hygiene rules.
- Regularly use antiseptics to protect against bacteria and viruses.
Proper facial skin care will help avoid unpleasant problems. But if acne appears, you need to consult a doctor and find out the reasons for its occurrence. By quickly starting treatment, you can avoid unpleasant consequences.
Perioral dermatitis is an inflammatory disease of the skin around the mouth, causing the formation of small pimples on the chin, in the nasolabial folds, on the wings of the nose, and in especially unpleasant cases on the temples, bridge of the nose, lower and upper eyelids.
Not all experts recognize that this is an independent disease. You can find different names for this disease: perioral dermatitis, steroid perioral dermatitis, a special case of rosacea, and some combine it with seborrheic or allergic dermatitis.
This disease mainly affects girls over the age of 18 and women of childbearing age. Much less often, this disease affects men and children.
The causative agent of this disease is still unknown.
The causes of dermatitis come down to a weakening of the protective function of the skin, under the influence of unfavorable factors, both external and internal.
What do perioral acne look like?
Symmetrical rashes are small nodules filled with liquid, standing alone or in groups of several, which can fester and thereby resemble acne.
For perioral dermatitis rashes have a rough surface, mild itching, flaking and a feeling of tightness of the skin may appear - these symptoms differ from the manifestations of acne and rosacea (rosacea).
Directly around the red border of the lips (a rim approximately 3–5 mm wide) the skin remains intact, which is a diagnostic feature that distinguishes perioral dermatitis from herpes.
If the correct diagnosis is not made in time and treatment is not started correctly, the disease progresses and can spread to new areas of the skin of the face, this will complicate the situation; in addition to the dermatologist, you will also have to visit an ophthalmologist.
Why do pimples appear around the mouth?
There are several reasons for the appearance of rashes around the mouth:
- hormonal disbalance, diseases of the reproductive system in women – the most common reason;
- use of hormonal drugscontaining hydrocortisone or prednisolone, for the treatment of other dermatological diseases such as eczema, neurodermatitis and the like;
- taking hormonal contraceptives;
- using fluoride toothpaste, can provoke disease;
- active use of cleansing and other cosmetics, the skin suffers most from foundation creams;
- influence of adverse weather factorssuch as strong wind and prolonged direct ultraviolet irradiation;
- allergic bacterial effects of common saprophytes, occurs when the overall resistance of the body decreases. (Saprophytes are microscopic mites that live in the upper layers of our skin and feed on dead particles and sebum);
- diseases of the digestive system, and immunity depends directly on the state of this system;
- presence of a chronic infectious disease;
- decreased immune status.
Most often, perioral dermatitis is associated with the treatment of other skin diseases due to long-term use of hormonal ointments and creams. It seems to a person that this particular type of treatment is the best, since these medications quickly relieve inflammation and skin itching.
And here a vicious circle is formed! At the same time, they try to treat perioral dermatitis with these means, and even achieve some improvement, but as soon as the so-called treatment is stopped, the condition immediately worsens. It is for this reason that it is imperative to undergo an examination by a dermatologist and establish the correct diagnosis.
Under what circumstances is it necessary to urgently seek help from a specialist?
True, it signals that there are serious problems with internal organs and problems in the endocrine system.
Basically, this disease causes psychological discomfort; a person experiences constant stress because of his appearance and this causes him a lot of trouble.
But when self-treatment does not bring the expected result, and the disease worsens:
- ulcers appear and a secondary infection occurs;
- the disease spreads to new areas of the skin, the rashes grow and merge;
- rashes affect the lower and upper eyelids, and there is a risk of ophthalmological diseases.
In these cases, you need to urgently contact a dermatologist and ophthalmologist. If you delay a visit to the doctor, you can miss precious time, and then the treatment may take longer than it could have been if you had visited in a timely manner. And age spots that form at the site of the rash, if not treated in time, can cause no less trouble than dermatitis itself.
Treatment
And also stick to diets, eliminating irritation of the stomach and intestines.
It will be necessary to limit the consumption of: all sour, hot, salty, spicy foods and strong tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks that cause a rush of blood to the face.
After determining the cause of the disease, the doctor will recommend stopping the use of cosmetics, synthetic detergents and toothpastes containing fluoride. You will also need to stop using hormonal drugs for external use.
Modern drug treatments for perioral dermatitis are based on the use of antibiotics of the tetracycline group in tablets and externally - in the form of ointments and creams, with these antibiotics, accompanied by drugs containing imidazole (a substance that has an effect on protozoan microorganisms).
In case of allergic sensitization, it is necessary to take antihistamines, such as Claritin, Erius, and the like.
It is necessary to take care to increase immunity. It is recommended to take vitamins:
All medications must be prescribed by a doctor! Only a specialist can, based on the results of the examination, prescribe a suitable remedy and select the correct dosage.
Self-medication with antibiotics can cause serious harm to the body.
When using creams and ointments containing tetracycline antibiotics, it is necessary to take into account the photosensitizing (increasing photosensitivity) effect of these drugs and constantly use light-protective creams SPF 30 - 60. Otherwise, persistent pigment spots may appear on the skin.
Application also shows good results physiotherapeutic procedures. At the last stage of treatment, a good effect can be achieved using cryomassage with carbonic acid snow.
And to remove the vascular network formed at the site of the rash, you can take several electrolysis sessions.
If it is not possible to use medications, then you can turn to traditional methods of treatment. For young children, herbal treatment is the best option. And you can successfully combine both methods of treatment.
After the first signs of perioral dermatitis appear, it is necessary to eliminate the inflammatory phenomena and this can be done with the help of lotions.
They can be prepared from a decoction of string, linden blossom, chamomile and wormwood. It is very effective to wipe sore spots daily with decoctions of calendula flowers, St. John's wort, celandine, and yarrow.
You can use herbal decoctions not only for external use, but also take them internally. For this purpose, a decoction prepared from elecampane root, sage herb, St. John's wort flowers and peeled chamomile will be very useful. You need to take this decoction 1 glass orally, 3 times a day.
If you consult a specialist in a timely manner, treatment of perioral dermatitis is not particularly difficult. This disease in itself does not cause any serious consequences for the body. There is a chance to be completely cured. You just need to be patient and persistent. Strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations and try to follow a gentle diet. It is believed that there is no fear of relapse; this happens very rarely.