17 Effective Natural Treatments for Perioral Dermatitis

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.

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.

I have realized that my perioral dermatitis has been caused by anything with mint flavoring/essential oils etc. I have cut out all mint related products and foods (even my lip balm had peppermint oil in it) and the PD has started clearing. I have suffered with mild PD all my life and recently it got terrible (I may have eaten a few too many peppermint patties). I have also had horrible acne which I am starting to think may have been related to the mint because it was around my mouth, mainly.

I just wanted to write this because I know a lot of people give up toothpastes with flouride and SLS but don't think about the mint. I know others have written about mint, cinnamon, essential oils etc. (most of which bother me, too), but I wanted to point out the mint connection in case it is being overlooked.

I had perioral dermatitis for months last year and my best topical remedy is non-astringent witch hazel, I soak cotton pads in the the witch hazel and stick them on the rash until they dry up and fall off. Witch hazel is soothing, but the thing that I am convinced got rid of the PD is GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT, taken internally. I have bought the same type at whole foods and a co-op- you mix some with a little bit of water (I use about 30 drops instead of what they recommend) and it tastes awful but I swear it went away within a few days of starting GSE. Anyway, I'm on here now because the dermatitis is sneaking back for the first time and I always like to look for new remedies- but I will be buying a new bottle of GSE later today.

Has anyone tried pure iodine on the affected areas? I put it on for the last two days at night time. It stings but I heard it is antibacteria can kill fungus.

So far my skin is dried up at the lesions sites and flaking with no new white filled pimples. Im interested to see how it progresses either way.....

I wanted to share with other Perioral Dermatitis suffers what helped me to resolve my skin issues. I found an obscure blog on Cure-zone almost 9 years ago from a couple of sufferers who healed themselves by using violet extract on their lesions, and safely on their lips. I used a well known herb pharm brand. It began to work!

I also used Lysine- I caution readers that Lysine is a secretagogue, an amino acid that can increase human growth hormone...which is good, but still keep your doses down because hormones are powerful. I was told this condition was a type of Rosacea, so I found that by adding anti-yeast remedies like adding a fouth of a teaspoon of borax or so in approximately 1 cup warm water and applied topically cools the skin down wonderfully. I also use an aloe /neem gel to follow...great hydration on my skin, but not for everybody (some relatives reported redness). I also use a very gentle glycerine oatmeal soap, or even just my neem gentle formula shampoo dusted lightly with borax - which is great in your hair!

But I would encourage users to change their diets too - ACV, probiotics, maybe a good yeast cleanse formula. My face has been clear except I still have the Rosacea in my eyes, so I use the much diluted - an eighth of a teaspoon or less, in a cup of water to flush them clear... much relief! Hope this is helpful... Best of luck!

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!!

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.

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 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.

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?

Thank you for this info. Currently fighting off PD for the second time. I am really liking this web site. Making my list now!

The Apple cider Vinegar brings a lot of relief. I have started taking a shot or two of it each day as well. Figured it couldn't hurt. Colloidal Silver gel, which one of these gel brands did you use? There are so many! I went back again to the Derm doc and have a third cream. They do nothing good for me at all. I have been searching for natural remedies. I went for two days with nothing on my face but I had a big meeting and I had to look decent so I applied some steroid cream and it wiped it out.......but I know its only gonna come back worse. I am doing the honey mask and apple cider vinegar 2-3 times a day, but just started that. Was wondering about the cream you were talking about, thought I might add that if I knew which brand to get.

Hi! I've had PD for about three months, except mine is around my eyes. I thought it was triggered by the fact that I just restarted my menstrual cycle after 1.5 years (pregnancy, breastfeeding). My doctor has prescribed 2 months of doxicycline and flagyl fungal cream. I'm beyond upset, because you CAN NOT conceive while on doxi or your fetus will have detrimental effects.

Because of this being so close to my eye, I'm very cautious of what I should use. I've tried melaleuca on my nasal bridge as well as lemongrass essential oils, I tried discontinuing all makeup, lotions and face wash. Does anyone have suggestions for the area around the eye as well as eyelid? I would be forever grateful! Thank you!

Laura, have you tried Coconut oil, and/or Castor oil? Both are to be used very sparingly.

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?

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.

I will try the grapefruit seed. Has anyone tried zinc powder directly on the face? It seems like everything I put on it makes it look really red, dry and irritated. Does this mean it's making it worse? I have been using the aloe/coconut/probiotics since sat feb 8th and it looks like the tiny bumps are sorta diminishing but the rash is in full bloom still. I had her tested for wheat, haven't received the results yet. If anyone has used this combo please give me any advise. I just don't know how long it takes or if I'm only making it worse. The dermatologist are no help! They only make it worse by telling me to use the wrong stuff. Please help me, thank you.

Dear Amy,

So sorry your little one is dealing with this! It sounds like you have tried a number of things already, and now you are going to be trying GSE, which sounds good.

For any kind of inflammation, we have had success with turmeric. It is so good for many different skin problems. I have used it with my little ones. For a 19 month old, I would try 1/8th of a teaspoon 3 times a day. You can put it in a little bit of apple sauce or yogurt.

If you have a reputable health food store, you could look for a good herbal salve. I would be looking for one with plantain, calendula, and comfrey. If you could find one with at least one of those as the main ingredient, that would be good. If you want to make a salve like this, I will write out a recipe.

I would also give the coconut oil internally, if you haven't already. You can give 1/2 teaspoon three times a day.

Please keep us posted. I hope your little one is better soon!

~Mama to Many~