I recently read an article online by the American Academy of Dermatology about acne that gave a lot of great information on acne treatments. I’ve tried acne treatments that included creams, topical ointments, oral supplements, and chemical peels. One thing that I hadn’t considered was an oral antibiotic like tetracycline. I had what was known as perioral dermatitis which my dermatologist said is a common skin problem that can affect young women and occasionally men or children. Basically what perioral dermatitis is, is an inflamed rash on the skin around the lips or mouth, nose, and chin.

The rash looks like small red bumps that can peel, itch and sometimes burn. When you see perioral dermatitis it looks a lot like acne. My dermatologist also told me that if I didn’t have it treated it could last anywhere from months to several years. After a successful treatment, the problem shouldn’t reoccur. He gave me an oral antibiotic, tetracycline that I used for about two months. That stuff worked like magic and before not too long, I was back to having a clean and clear face. One thing he told me was that it is important to stay away from using fluorinated corticosteroid creams… so I’m just passing on that little tidbit.