Homeopathic Treatment for Perioral Dermatitis

What is perioral dermatitis and the reasons behind it?

Perioral dermatitis refers to a rash that appears on the skin around the mouth. In some cases, the rash may even spread to the nose or eyes. The exact reason behind perioral dermatitis is still unknown. However, it is suggested that it can arise when from the use of certain products that irritate the skin in persons who have sensitive skin. These products can be cosmetic creams, makeup products, toothpaste, topical steroid ointments, use of sunscreen and nasal sprays that contain steroids. This condition can also trigger excessive saliva drooling out of the mouth, infections that can be fungal/bacterial, from hormonal changes, from the use of birth control pills and due to allergic reaction.

What are the signs and symptoms?

In the case of perioral dermatitis, a skin rash with red bumps appears on the skin around the mouth and creases around the nose. Sometimes the rash can also appear under the eyes, on the chin and forehead. The bumps may be filled with fluid or pus varying from case to case. Sometimes the rash tends to be dry and scaly/flaky. Itching and burning of varying intensity may be experienced in the rash.

Homeopathic Treatment for Perioral Dermatitis

Homeopathic medicines are very helpful to treat cases of perioral dermatitis. Homeopathic medicines help to heal the rash and bumps (either with watery content or pus) on the skin in perioral dermatitis in a very effective manner. They also help to control the attending symptoms of burning and itching excellently. The top-grade homeopathic medicines used to treat perioral dermatitis are Natrum Mur, Apis Mellifica, Graphites, Rhus Tox, Hepar Sulph, Silicea, Arsenic Album and Sulphur.

Homeopathic Medicines for Perioral Dermatitis

1. Natrum Mur – Top grade medicine

Natrum Mur is a leading homeopathic medicine for treating perioral dermatitis. There appears rash with bumps around the mouth in cases needing Natrum Mur. Sometimes the bumps are also present on the chin. These bumps are filled with watery fluid. Pain and burning may be felt in the blisters. Pain is mostly smarting type. These fluid-filled bumps may burst and get covered with a scab. Apart from above in few cases needing Natrum Mur cracks at the corner of the mouth may be present.

2. Apis Mellifica – For Burning, stinging sensation

Apis Mellifica is an excellent homeopathic medicine to treat perioral dermatitis when there is marked burning and stinging sensation in the rash. Prickling sensation is also sometimes present in a rash where Apis Mellifica is indicated. In addition to this, the rash is very red and inflamed. Swelling is also present in the rash It is also highly sensitive to touch. The rash is also intensely itchy most of the time. Sometimes there are eruptions with yellow crusts in some of the cases needing this medicine.

3. Graphites – For sticky discharge from the eruptions

Graphites is the next beneficial homeopathic medicine for treating cases of perioral dermatitis. Its use is considered when with sticky discharge from eruptions is prominent in perioral dermatitis. The person needing it has inflamed rash around mouth along with bumps arise that ooze sticky, gluey fluid. The fluid is transparent and watery in nature. The bumps appear around the mouth and chin where Graphites is indicated. These bumps also tend to itch and sometimes attended with the burning sensation in them.

4. Rhus Tox – For fluid filled eruptions

Homeopathic medicine Rhus Tox is prepared from fresh leaves of a plant named Rhus Toxicodendron. This plant belongs to family Anacardiaceae. Rhus Tox is another helpful medicine for treating perioral dermatitis with the presence of fluid-filled eruptions around the mouth. These eruptions are mostly present in clusters in cases needing Rhus Tox. These eruptions are filled with a yellow-colored fluid which is watery in nature. Itching and biting sensation are present in these eruptions. Most of the times these eruptions are also very sore to touch.

5. Hepar Sulph – For pus filled eruptions

Hepar Sulph is a very useful homeopathic medicine for treating perioral dermatitis. Its use is suggested in cases of perioral dermatitis cases when pus-filled eruptions appear on the face around the mouth. These eruptions are also painful and very sensitive to touch. Sometimes the heated sensation is also there in the corners of the mouth along with the pus-filled eruptions.

6. Silicea – To treat pus filled eruptions

Silicea is another well indicated homeopathic medicine like Hepar Sulph to treat perioral dermatitis cases where pus-filled eruptions are present. Silicea is a great anti suppurative medicine to treat skin conditions where pus-filled eruptions are present. Cases needing it have marked itching and pricking in the eruptions. The eruptions may be covered with scabs too. There is also a tendency to sweat excessively in such cases.

7. Arsenic Album – For scaly / flaky rash

Homeopathic medicine Arsenic Album is very suitable for perioral dermatitis that presents with a rash around the mouth which is covered with scales/flakes. The affected skin is very dry, rough along scaliness. The peeling of this skin area may also be there. It is attended with burning sensation and itching. Scratching worsens the itching in cases needing it. People requiring it usually complain of worsening of burning sensation is at night time. The affected skin is also over sensitive along with the above symptoms.

8. Sulphur – To manage itching in rash of perioral dermatitis

Homeopathic medicine Sulphur is very effective to manage itching. Persons needing this medicine mostly have to worsen itching at the night time. Scratching the rash often leads to pain in the affected skin area. Along with itching they also complain of burning sensation in the rash. Sometimes they also have stitching pain or prickling sensation in the rash. A formication sensation like insects crawling on the skin in the rash may be complained by them along with the above symptoms. They may also have fluid or pus-filled bumps along with itchy rash.