What are the symptoms of perioral dermatitis?
Perioral dermatitis may be mildly itchy, sore, or cause no symptoms at all. Individuals who have perioral dermatitis are most often bothered by the appearance more than any discomfort from the rash. What does perioral dermatitis look like? As its name suggests, perioral dermatitis is a rash that occurs around the mouth, especially at the corners of the mouth (Figure 2). The area of skin directly adjacent to the lips, however, is usually unaffected. Other areas that are commonly involved are the chin, the skin around the nostrils (Figure 3), and around the eyes (Figure 4). In one study of children with perioral dermatitis, 26% had no rash around the mouth at all. The rash characteristically appears as tiny (1-2 mm) uniform bumps that are flesh colored or pink. The bumps are often scaly (flaky) and may have a tiny white pustule on their surface. In children, the bumps may even be yellowish or dark-colored. The rash may range in severity from just a few subtle bumps (Figure 5) to widespre
