Perioral Dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Treat It

Fast answer:
Perioral dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes redness, small bumps, and irritation around the mouth.
It is not acne and is not caused by poor hygiene.

Important: Perioral dermatitis can look like acne, eczema, rosacea, or infection. If your rash is spreading, painful, near the eyes, or not improving, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or dermatologist.

It is often triggered by skincare products, topical steroid creams, or hormonal changes, and can feel persistent and frustrating to manage.

The good news is that, with the right approach, symptoms can often be calmed and the skin supported back to a more comfortable, balanced state.

If you’re dealing with ongoing irritation around the mouth, this guide explains the causes, common triggers, and gentle ways to soothe perioral dermatitis including what has worked for others..

Fast result:
Many people begin to notice reduced redness and irritation within 7–10 days of consistent, gentle care.

What Is Perioral Dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects the area around the mouth. It often appears as redness, small bumps, or irritated patches and can be mistaken for acne or rosacea.

Because both conditions can cause redness, irritation, dryness, and skin sensitivity, some people initially confuse perioral dermatitis with eczema. If symptoms are affecting intimate areas of the body, our Genital Eczema Guide explains the common symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches associated with genital eczema.

Although it can look severe, perioral dermatitis is not caused by poor hygiene and is not contagious. With the right care and avoidance of common triggers, symptoms can often be calmed over time. If you’d like a deeper understanding, see our complete eczema guide.

Common Symptoms of Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral dermatitis usually affects the skin around the mouth but can also appear around the nose or eyes. Symptoms can vary in severity and may flare up over time.

Common symptoms include:

• Redness or inflamed patches around the mouth
• Small bumps or raised spots
• Burning, stinging, or itching sensations
• Dry, flaky, or tight-feeling skin

If you want a deeper understanding of what triggers flare-ups, see our perioral dermatitis causes guide

Symptoms often worsen with the use of certain skincare products or topical steroid creams.

Eczema can also affect the face in different ways our facial eczema guide explains common symptoms and triggers

What We Know — And What We Do Not Claim

At Bragan Skincare, we believe in being honest about sensitive skin.

We know that many customers use our Atopic Cream to calm visible irritation, dryness, redness, and discomfort.

However, we do not claim that one cream cures perioral dermatitis for everyone.

Everyone’s skin is different. Some people see a fast improvement. Others may need more time. And some people may need medical treatment from a doctor.

Lorraine's Story: Living with Dermatitis

For many people, dermatitis is more than just a skin condition. The constant itching, irritation and flare-ups can affect confidence, comfort and everyday life. Lorraine understands that challenge all too well.

After struggling with ongoing skin issues, Lorraine decided to try Bragan Skincare and later shared her experience with us. What we appreciate most is not just her willingness to try something new, but her willingness to tell her story so openly. Real experiences can often provide reassurance and hope to others who may be facing similar challenges.

We understand that every person's skin is different, and no product works for everyone. However, stories like Lorraine's remind us why we do what we do. If you'd like to hear about her experience directly, you can watch Lorraine's video testimonial here.

What Can Trigger Perioral Dermatitis?

Perioral dermatitis is often linked to a combination of triggers rather than a single cause. Identifying and reducing these triggers can help calm flare-ups and prevent symptoms from worsening.

Common triggers include:

• Topical steroid creams used on the face
• Heavy or fragranced skincare products
• Toothpaste containing strong detergents
• Hormonal changes or stress
• Over-cleansing or frequent product changes

Avoiding irritants and simplifying skincare routines is often an important first step in managing symptoms. If you are looking for specific habits and safe product choices to calm your skin, our guide on effective skincare strategies for perioral dermatitis provides a clear roadmap on what to embrace and what to avoid.

A Simple Gentle Routine for Perioral Dermatitis-Prone Skin

When skin around the mouth is irritated, simple is usually best.

Try to:

• use lukewarm water
• avoid scrubbing
• avoid fragranced skincare
• avoid heavy layers of products
• avoid switching products too often
• apply only a small amount of cream
• give your skin time to settle

The aim is not to attack the skin.
The aim is to calm it.

Patch Testing First

Before applying any new cream to irritated facial skin, test a small amount first.

Apply a tiny amount to a small area.
Wait 24 hours if possible.
Then continue only if the skin feels comfortable.

This is especially important for sensitive or reactive skin.

A Real Experience with Perioral Dermatitis

The following section shares one person’s personal experience with perioral dermatitis. Results can vary, and this is not medical advice.

For almost a full year, I felt like I wasn’t myself anymore. My name is Lorraine Mannion, and I want to tell you my story. I want to tell you what perioral dermatitis did to me. And then, I want to tell you how a simple cream changed everything.

I’m sharing this because so many women, men, and even teenagers are struggling with this condition. I used to be one of them. I know the fear, the shame, the frustration, and the exhaustion that come with perioral dermatitis symptoms. I know the feeling of waking up hoping the redness is gone, only to realise it has actually worsened.

I know the sting.
I know the itch.
I know the bumps.
I know the frustration.

And I know how it affects your confidence.

This is my story. And I hope it helps you the way the Bragan Skincare Atopic Cream helped me.

The Day My Perioral Dermatitis Started

It began as a small patch around my mouth. It was merely a slight tinge of redness. A tiny thing. I thought nothing of it. But day after day, it got worse. The redness spread. Then the bumps came. Next came the itching. Next came the burning sensation.

I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what I had done wrong. I tried to ignore it at first. I hoped it would go away on its own. But it didn’t. It grew.

And with it, something else grew too.
My fear.

This fear was etched on my face. I couldn’t hide it. I couldn’t cover it. I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t there.

I started to worry every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I started to dread going anywhere. I started to feel like my face wasn’t mine anymore.

The Emotional Toll of Perioral Dermatitis

I won’t lie — this condition broke me down more than I ever expected. I’m a busy mammy. I’m always on the go. There's always training, matches, events, and everything else that comes with being part of a big GAA family. My husband and children are deeply involved, and usually I’m right alongside them.

But when the perioral dermatitis got really bad, I didn’t want to be seen.
I didn’t want to talk to people.
I didn’t want anyone to look at me.

I didn’t feel confident.
I didn’t feel pretty.
I didn’t feel normal.

Makeup only made things worse. Moisturisers made things flare. Some products stung my skin so badly that I ran to wash them off. And every time something failed, I lost more hope.

I spent so much money on creams that didn’t work that I honestly could have opened my own chemist.

It wasn’t just physical pain.
It was emotional pain.
And it was constant.

The Search for Answers

I joined Facebook groups. I read through forums. I listened to people who had suffered longer than I had. Some were dealing with it for years. Some tried antibiotics. Some tried steroid creams. Some tried completely giving up skincare. But person after person seemed stuck in the same cycle:

Flare → improvement → worse flare → despair

I didn’t want to be like that. I wanted a way out.

I asked questions. I looked into treatments. I searched for anything that didn’t involve steroids or strong medications. I wanted something gentle. Something natural. Something that people had real results with.

But no matter where I turned, there was no definite answer.
No cure.
No clear direction.

Just confusion. And more redness. Many people manage irritation using a gentle routine like our dermatitis care range.

The Moment I Found Bragan Skincare

Then one day, I came across Bragan Skincare. I saw people mentioning the Atopic Cream. I saw before-and-after photos. I saw the word “snail mucin”, and to be honest, I wasn't sure what to think. But the results looked real. They looked genuine.

So I messaged Kieran from Bragan Skincare and asked him a simple question:

“Does this product do anything for perioral dermatitis?”

His reply was confident, calm, and reassuring.
He explained that many customers with perioral dermatitis-type irritation had used the Atopic Cream and reported good results.

For the first time in months, I felt hopeful.

I asked him if they had samples, because at this stage I had spent enough money on creams to supply a whole football team. But he explained that it takes 7–10 days to see the full benefit, so a little sample wouldn’t give a true impression.

Fair enough, I thought.
If I wanted to know, I’d have to try it properly.

So I ordered it.

And I prayed it would work.

Why Bragan Skincare Focuses on Sensitive Skin

Bragan Skincare was developed in Co. Monaghan using snail mucin from our own snail farm.

Our focus is simple: gentle skincare for people dealing with dryness, irritation, and sensitive skin.

We do not believe in harsh promises.
We believe in careful, consistent support for the skin barrier.

When the Cream Arrived

I cannot describe how excited I was when the package arrived. I opened it straight away. I took a before photo, just in case it actually worked and I’d want to show people.

My skin at that stage was sore. It was red. It was bumpy. It was itchy. And it was embarrassing.

But I followed the instructions.
I used the cream gently.
I didn’t use anything else that might irritate my face.

And honestly…
I didn’t expect much at first.

But then, something happened.

The First Signs of Change

A few days in, I noticed a difference.

The redness started to calm.
The itching became less.
The bumps softened.
And the burning sensation faded.

I couldn’t believe it. I kept looking in the mirror to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. I took photos. I compared them. And every day it looked a bit better.

By the end of the first week, my skin looked like someone else’s.
In the best way possible.

By the second week, I felt like I had stepped back into my own face.
I felt like me again.

The transformation was unbelievable.
My confidence exploded back into my life.

The Big Change — The “After” Photo

Then came the moment that shocked even me.

I looked at the before photos…
And then at the after photos…
And I said out loud:

“Oh my God, that’s a different person.”

The lumps were gone.
The redness was gone.
The irritated patches were gone.
The miserable skin that had controlled my life for almost a year… was gone.

I cried.
I actually cried.

Not from pain.
But from relief.
From happiness.
From feeling whole again.

Why I Shared My Story Online

I’m not the kind of person who usually posts photos of myself on forums. I’m a mammy. I’m always busy. I’m in the background more than the foreground. But this time, something felt different.

I remember saying to Kieran:

“If this works for me, I’ll share it with the whole world.”

And I meant it.

So I went onto the Old Irish Remedies and Cures page.

I shared my before and after photos.
I shared my story.
I shared the product.
I told them what I did.
I told them how it changed my life.

Within an hour, people were asking for more details.
They were messaging me.
They were commenting.
They were hopeful just like I once was.

And I realised something:
If my story helps even one person feel normal again, it’s worth sharing.

What This Cream Gave Me Back

It didn’t just heal my skin.

It healed:

• My confidence
• My smile
• My self-esteem
• My happiness

I don’t hide anymore.
I’m not embarrassed.
I feel beautiful again.
I feel like myself again.

A Message to Anyone Suffering with Perioral Dermatitis

If you’re reading this, and you’re suffering, please know this:

You’re not alone.
You’re not hopeless.
You’re not stuck forever.

Perioral dermatitis takes your confidence.
It takes your energy.
It takes your joy.

But with the right product and the right care, your skin can come back to you.

Mine did.
And yours can, too.

I’m not a doctor.
I’m not a skincare expert.
I’m just a woman from Co. Mayo who suffered for a long time and finally found something that worked.

And if I can help even one person feel the way I feel now, then telling my story is worth every second.

Thank You, Bragan Skincare

To Kieran and the team at Bragan Skincare — thank you.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for creating something that actually works.
Thank you for giving me back my confidence.
Thank you for helping me feel like a new woman.

I will never forget what this cream did for me.
And I will keep telling people about it as long as I can.

Because sometimes, something small changes your whole life.
And for me, that “something small” was a bottle of Atopic Cream.

This is a personal experience. Results can vary, and this content does not replace medical advice.

If you’d like to try the same cream that helped me, you can find Bragan Skincare’s Atopic Cream for perioral dermatitis just click on the image below.

Who This Cream May Suit

Bragan Atopic Cream may suit people who:

• have dry, irritated skin around the mouth
• want a gentle moisturising cream
• prefer fragrance-free skincare
• are trying to simplify their routine
• want to support the skin barrier

Who Should Get Medical Advice First

Speak to a healthcare professional first if:

• the rash is spreading quickly
• the skin is cracked, bleeding, or infected
• the rash is close to the eyes
• you are using steroid cream on your face
• symptoms keep returning
• the condition affects a baby or young child

If your skin feels dry, irritated, and reactive, Bragan Atopic Cream may be worth trying as part of a simple, gentle routine. It does not work for everyone, but many customers have found it helpful for calming uncomfortable skin.