Perioral dermatitis is a fairly common acne-like skin eruption that starts around the mouth (perioral) region, including the creases of the nose, and/or chin, with sparing of a clear zone around the lip border. Lesions start as small red bumps and pustules but can become confluent with scaling, irritation, burning or a feeling of tightness. It is more common in young females but can affect children as well. The exact cause is unknown. It can be misdiagnosed sometimes as eczema or dermatitis and treated with steroids, which can make the problem much worse. It is usually treated successfully with topical or oral antibiotics.
