The Osmia Skincare Perioral Dermatitis Protocol

From personal experience, I can say that having perioral dermatitis can feel like a hopeless, miserable journey. Luckily, it was that exact feeling of hopelessness that drove me to understand perioral dermatitis more deeply and formulate products to help. Even after you get your perioral dermatitis symptoms under control, your skin may flare up from time to time in your life to remind you that something is slightly out of balance. But these six simple steps will get you back on track every time, and you'll soon understand how to support your skin better when it's feeling frustrated. 

Step One: Try This Gentle Skincare Routine for Perioral Dermatitis

Most people with perioral dermatitis are doing WAY too many things to their skin. While it feels hard to do less, it's often exactly what your skin is begging you to do. Our simple perioral dermatitis skincare routine is as follows:

  1. Wash your face once a day before bed with our Black Clay Facial Soap.
  2. Moisturize with our Purely Simple Face Cream.

You can purchase them together for a slight discount in our Irritated Skin Kit.  Don't use any other products on your skin—especially oils or balms. Ideally, you would transition slowly from your current routine, but if your products are irritating your skin, you can start this new regimen right away. Other products in our collection can be added eventually, but we recommend sticking with just these two for 3–4 weeks minimum.

If your skin feels dry as it heals, apply a second layer of the Purely Simple Face Cream 5–10 minutes after the first, or anytime throughout the day.

Osmia Skincare's Irritated Face Kit for perioral dermatitis

Step Two: Wean Off Steroid Creams Carefully

Unfortunately, steroid creams are still widely prescribed for perioral dermatitis. While they may seem to help at first, stopping them often makes things worse. If you're still using steroids, taper off gradually—reduce the amount by the tiniest amount each day over several weeks. Imagine you're trying to tiptoe out of a room without waking a sleeping puppy: that's how delicately you want to handle this. If your doctor recommends steroids, ask why—and let them know steroids are a known cause of perioral dermatitis.

Step Three: Eliminate Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES)

Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are foaming agents found in countless household and personal care products: toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, dish soap, and more. If you haven’t made a concerted effort to eliminate SLS/SLES, you’re almost certainly using them daily.

These ingredients are major skin irritants that can worsen or even cause perioral dermatitis. Eliminating them completely from your life is one of the most critical steps toward healing. And honestly, if you have any skin condition at all—dryness, eczema, or otherwise—ditch the sulfates.

Step Four: Switch to Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Fluoride is a common trigger for perioral dermatitis. Switching to a fluoride-free toothpaste is crucial for long-term improvement. Be sure your new toothpaste is also free from sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate.

Some trusted options include:

  • Jason Seafresh Deep Sea Spearmint
  • Terra & Co
  • Cocofloss
  • Boka Refresh Mint Whitening Toothpaste
  • Bite Toothpaste Bits

Step Five: Consider Evening Primrose Oil Supplements

If you're actively trying to conceive or are pregnant, skip this step. Otherwise, a high-quality evening primrose oil supplement can be helpful in supporting skin health during a perioral dermatitis flare and beyond.

There’s no definitive research proving its benefits, but I’ve personally seen improvement and I’ve seen it help others, too. I take this one because it’s organic, vegan, and contains 500mg per capsule (a bit more than most brands).

Step Six: Address the Role of Stress in Perioral Dermatitis

This step may be last on the list, but it’s arguably the most important.

If you think stress has nothing to do with your perioral dermatitis, I say this gently: you’re wrong. Even if stress didn’t cause the condition, the condition itself creates stress. I’ve been the one staring into a magnifying mirror, feeling hopeless and unattractive as my face burned—and it’s awful.

You have to step away from the mirror and work actively to calm your nervous system. Try:

  • Mindfulness or meditation
  • Yoga or stretching
  • Journaling or therapy
  • Affirmations or breathwork

Lowering your cortisol levels will help your skin heal. Period.

Final Words of Encouragement

I hope these suggestions help you along your perioral dermatitis journey. Please reach out to us directly at help@osmiaskincare.com if we can answer any questions along the way. You're not alone, and this simple protocol has helped so many people.

One last tip? Be patient. Your skin won’t heal overnight—but it will heal over time. And when it flares up again in the future, you’ll know exactly how to support it.

 

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OUR WELLNESS + SKINCARE EXPERT

Sarah Villafranco, MD

Dr. Sarah Villafranco attended Georgetown University Medical School, and went on to complete her residency in emergency medicine at George Washington University. She moved to Colorado, where she practiced as a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Aspen Valley Hospital, Snowmass Clinic, and Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, CO. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, she took a local soap making class, and fell in love with the chemistry and artistry of making soap. Sarah went into research mode and was alarmed to learn how many potentially harmful ingredients were in most skincare products on the market. She knew she could make better, safer products that were as effective (if not more so) than conventional products. After a few years of research and development, Sarah stepped away from the emergency room to launch Osmia Skincare in April of 2012. She remains a licensed physician in Colorado, and now helps people find healthier, happier skin as CEO of the brand.