Perioral Dermatitis on Dark Skin: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Perioral dermatitis, sometimes referred to as perioral dermatitis, peridermal dermatitis, periorificial dermatitis or factitis, is a skin condition usually characterised by red, flaky skin around the mouth, but can sometimes present itself near the eyes, nose, cheeks, or jawline. This skin condition is common, yet frequently misunderstood when presented on people with black or dark skin. This article will explore perioral dermatitis on dark skin, focusing on causes and triggers, symptoms and diagnosis, and treatment options.
Causes and triggers
The causes and triggers of perioral dermatitis are the same across all skin types, although some skin types may be more sensitive to triggers. Causes include:
Steroids
Steroid creams or inhaled sprays can trigger perioral dermatitis by weakening and eroding the skin’s protective barrier (the epidermis), making the skin more sensitive and inflammatory. Steroid creams can also temporarily clear patches of perioral dermatitis, however, once the rash is gone and the use of the steroids is stopped, the rash will reappear, causing a vicious cycle of using steroid cream to clear the condition which usually worsens with each occurrence
Health and Lifestyle Products
Chewing gum: regular gum-chewers are at risk of perioral dermatitis due to irritating ingredients, increased saliva production, additives and friction, leading to skin agitation.
Hormonal changes
Hormones can influence the skin’s inflammatory response and sensitivity. This can particularly impact women, due to fluctuating hormones during menstruation, pregnancy and oral contraceptives. These can all affect the body’s immunological response, increasing the likelihood of a perioral dermatitis flare up.
Immune system
A weakened immune system can occur for a number of reasons, leaving individuals at a reduced defence against bacteria and can also lead to impaired inflammatory responses, causing the body to struggle to control inflammation.
Stress
Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone, elevated cortisol levels can worsen existing skin conditions or trigger new ones, making the skin more sensitive and prone to perioral dermatitis by making it react negatively with ingredients in products that would not normally irritate the skin barrier.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Perioral Dermatitis on Dark Skin
Perioral dermatitis symptoms can appear differently on darker skin, making it harder to diagnose despite similar causes. Many medical descriptions of skin conditions focus on how conditions appear on lighter skinned individuals, leaving darker skinned individuals confused when trying to self-remedy skin conditions. Disregarding how skin conditions form on darker skin tones shows a lack of diversity in dermatology which can lead to underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment for people of colour. Understanding the differences in skin tones and types allows individuals to seek products specific to their skin needs and to prevent and treat perioral dermatitis.
Hyperpigmentation on Dark Skin
In people of colour, perioral dermatitis often appears as brown, purple, or grey hyperpigmented spots, not a red rash. Darker skin is more sensitive to hyperpigmentation, which means that proper treatment is imperative to ensure dark spots disappear quickly. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may occur with improper treatment of perioral dermatitis. This refers to the lingering of dark spots due to the skin’s trauma response of producing excess melanin. Hyperpigmentation isn’t harmful but can affect self-esteem due to the visible appearance of dark spots.
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Treating Perioral Dermatitis on Dark Skin
Darker skin needs gentle, fragrance-free treatment to avoid irritation and reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. People of colour should use gentle skincare daily to prevent perioral dermatitis, irritation, and dark spots.. Our atopic cream is suitable for those with darker skin and is the perfect solution for perioral dermatitis. Snail mucin hydrates skin, protects the barrier, and helps reduce irritation and uneven skin tone.
Bragan Skincare offers gentle products with quality ingredients like hyaluronic acid, collagen, and glycolic acid.These skincare options are suitable for people of colour and can act as a preventative for perioral dermatitis and other skin conditions.
Conclusion
Perioral dermatitis in darker skin often leads to misdiagnosis and fewer treatment options for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Though causes are similar, darker skin requires gentler treatment due to increased sensitivity and risk of irritation.. Individuals with darker skin can manage and prevent perioral dermatitis through a gentle skincare routine and remedies. Bragan Skincare’s range of high-quality products infused with snail mucin offer effective treatment for perioral dermatitis in individuals with darker skin by restoring skin health and confidence.
Related articles
Best Fragrance – Free Creams for Daily Dermatitis Care
The best cream for Perioral Dermatitis
Additional Reading
The Pharmaceutical Journal: Recognising Common Skin Conditions in People of Colour
