How to use apple cider vinegar for perioral dermatitis? What are the benefits? The potential causes of this type of dermatitis? What are the side effects? And finally, what are some other natural remedies to alleviate the effects of perioral dermatitis?
I. What Is Perioral Dermatitis?
Perioral dermatitis is a facial inflammatory rash that tends to occur around the mouth (perioral: peri means “around” and oral means “mouth”).
It is most often red and slightly scaly or bumpy. Perioral dermatitis can look like acne and is often mistaken for it.
The bumps may contain fluid, so there may be a discharge of clear fluid from the bumps. Mild itching and burning may also occur. In people with darker skin, the lesions may be hyperpigmented or brown.
The condition may spread around the nose and sometimes the eyes while avoiding the skin adjacent to the lips. It is rarer in men and children.
It is more common in women between the ages of 20 and 45. Perioral dermatitis can appear and disappear for months or years and is not contagious.
II. Potential Causes of Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis can have more than one cause. One of the most common factors is the prolonged use of topical steroid creams and prescription inhaled steroid sprays used in the nose and mouth.
Excessive use of facial creams and moisturizers is another common cause.
Nasal sprays containing corticosteroids can also cause perioral dermatitis as can chewing gum and hormonal changes.
Certain ingredients in cosmetics or personal care products can also cause perioral dermatitis. Thick skin creams that contain petroleum jelly or a kerosene base can cause or worsen this condition.
Other causes include skin irritations, infections, immune system problems, fluoride toothpaste, and rosacea.
III. Apple Cider Vinegar for Perioral Dermatitis
# Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Perioral Dermatitis?
Apple cider vinegar has natural anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it an effective treatment to relieve dermatitis.
It is also antibacterial, which allows it to eliminate toxins that cause infections in and on the skin.
Apple cider vinegar also contains a high concentration of vitamins and minerals necessary to restore skin health and vitality.
# How is Apple Cider Vinegar Used for Perioral Dermatitis?
To cure perioral dermatitis with apple cider vinegar, it is recommended to dilute it with an equal amount of vinegar and warm water.
Then dab the resulting mixture on the face after cleansing, as if it were a skin tonic.
Leave the mixture on for 15 minutes before rinsing well with water.
# Signs Perioral Dermatitis Is Healing
If you follow the treatment effectively, the itching will tend to subside. Your symptoms and your rash will gradually disappear.
Note that natural treatment is not effective for all skin types and all perioral dermatitis problems.
# What Foods Trigger Perioral Dermatitis
It seems that food can be a problem for people vulnerable to this condition.
Gluten intolerance has been suggested as a trigger for perioral dermatitis, one doctor noted that patients who develop the rash have a gluten sensitivity or a mild, undiagnosed intolerance to gluten. When these patients switch to a gluten-free diet, their skin condition improves.
It also appears that common rosacea triggers can also be a problem with perioral dermatitis, so it is helpful to check your tolerance to the following foods: Hot spicy foods, Hot drinks, Alcohol, Dairy products, Cinnamon and similar spices, Tomatoes and Citrus fruits
IV. Is Perioral Dermatitis a Fungus?
Although perioral dermatitis is sometimes associated with yeast infections, the causes of the rash are not always very clear.
Sometimes one type of rash (a fungal infection, for example) can be made worse by treatment with topical corticosteroid creams, and develop into a persistent case of perioral dermatitis.
Or, in another case, a person prone to perioral dermatitis may be vulnerable to fungal or bacterial infections because the skin barrier is already compromised.
So there is a correlation between the two problems, but perioral dermatitis is not in itself a fungal condition, and people who suffer from it may not be successful in their treatment with antifungals.
V. Natural Treatments to Try at Home Perioral Dermatitis
In addition to apple cider vinegar, other natural products can treat perioral dermatitis safely and effectively. Here are a few that you can try if apple cider vinegar doesn’t work well enough on your skin.
# Tea Tree Oil
Tea trees can be beneficial for people whose perioral dermatitis is aggravated or accompanied by a skin infection, such as an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria.
This essential oil is a powerful natural antimicrobial, which means it can be effective against the microorganisms that cause skin infections, killing the germs and calming the inflammation they cause.
# Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a natural anti-inflammatory compound. As such, Aloe Vera calms and soothes the skin.
Used daily, Aloe Vera soothes the skin and prevents further redness. In addition, it has a high salicylic acid content. It is therefore recommended to relieve perioral dermatitis.
# Borage Oil
Nutritional supplementation with omega-6 essential fatty acids (omega-6 EFAs) is of potential interest in the treatment of perioral dermatitis.
In addition, it has been hypothesized that patients with perioral dermatitis have reduced activity of the enzyme delta-6 desaturase, affecting the metabolism of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
Borage seed oil contains very high levels of two types of omega-6 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, 20 to 26% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and linolenic acid (LA, which our body converts to GLA). This oil is therefore very interesting for the treatment of perioral dermatitis.
Borage seed oil treats all types of skin inflammation, including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea.
# Grapefruit Seed Extract
The grapefruit seed extract is an effective treatment option for a variety of purposes. For example, the extract works as an effective skin cleanser, removing toxins and bacteria from the face.
The oil is also antibacterial, so it removes the infection from the skin and body and treats the condition from within.
# Rosehip Oil
It turns out that Rosehip Oil is a brilliant oil for perioral dermatitis. It is hypoallergenic, lightweight, and easily penetrates sensitive, problem skin to soothe and calm it.
And it is also nourishing and regenerative and is, therefore, able to reduce the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or post-eczema scars.
# Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is packed with omega acids, including three, six, and nine, all of which help to improve and repair the skin barrier.
These nutrients help treat various skin conditions, including perioral dermatitis.
Certainly, essential oils can be an effective way to relieve perioral dermatitis, however, they are powerful ingredients and should not be used purely.
VI. Tips for Perioral Dermatitis
It is generally advisable in the case of perioral dermatitis to stop dental fluoride products and topical corticosteroids completely and then be prescribed topical antibiotics.
And to avoid the aggravation of this topical disease, it is also advisable to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, as ultraviolet light has been found to sometimes exacerbate the condition.
It is also necessary to stop using cosmetic products that can irritate the skin so that they do not trigger the disease.
Also in some cases, the direct cause of the appearance of pimples on the perioral is due to the wearing of a disposable mask. And it is advisable in this case if you are forced to wear this damn “political” mask to opt for masks made of fabric not irritating the skin.
VII. Does Apple Cider Vinegar Soothe Irritated Skin?
Apple cider vinegar is known to be an excellent anti-inflammatory. It strongly attenuates the various itchings of the skin and alleviates several irritations.
It also has antifungal and antibacterial properties due to its acidity. This gives it the ability to soothe irritated skin due to the various skin diseases they cause.
VIII. Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar for Perioral Dermatitis
Although some people claim to have treated perioral dermatitis with natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, dermatologists do not recommend it.
These treatments are natural and fight bacteria, but they can have side effects.
Some find that apple cider vinegar dries out the skin. Others find that it stings the skin.
Some find it causes temporary redness of the skin. If you experience side effects, try diluting the vinegar further, or rinsing it off after 20 minutes.
Useful Links:
What is perioral (periorificial) dermatitis? What does it look like?
Perioral Dermatitis: Continuing Education Activity
Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice, and Honey for Weight Loss?
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Aging?
