Perioral dermatitis is a very common chronic dermatosis, primarily affects women aged 15 to 45 years. lupus-like perioral dermatitis and granulomatous perioral dermatitis which is more common in childhood and affects mostly prepubescent boys are two variants of POD. It is characterised by minute papules and water filled vesicles around mouth with a typical narrow spared zone around the edge of the lips.
The exact cause is still unknown but prolonged use of steroidal cream for different dermatological conditions like rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis precede the clinical manifestation of POD. Mild forms of perioral dermatitis, ‘zero therapy’ is the treatment of choice, Means simply moisturizing. In moderate disease, treatment includes topical metronidazole, erythromycin, and pimecrolimus, whereas in more severe cases the best validated choice is oral tetracycline in a subantimicrobial dose until complete remission is achieved. Systemic isotretinoin should be considered in resistant cases.



Dr Sachin k Maurya, Medical Director, Antiaging skin clinic Group