Breakouts Around Mouth

It is common to have pimples or acne breakouts around the mouth and many things may contribute to these lesions. Pimples appear as small lesions on skin and are common during the adolescent but they can also appear in older individuals. Although pimples commonly form on the face, they can also appear around the mouth and they can cause a lot of discomfort. Pimples forming around an individual’s mouth can take away a person’s self-esteem because they tend to look unsightly.

 Pimples and Acne Around The Mouth

Both men and women can have adult acne or pimples. In women, acne associated with hormones is seen in around the mouth, the chin area, and the jaw line. About 90 percents of people having acne or pimples it’s usually because of use of the wrong cosmetic products like sulfate rich toothpastes, lip balms, and other make-up products. Women who go to sleep in their makeup may also be susceptible to having acne breakouts around their mouth and chin areas. The remaining 10 percent of people with acne occurring around the mouth or chin region is due to hormones and stress or other related health conditions.

Acne that is caused by hormonal imbalances, stress, and some other disorders may be harder to treat and it may require an integrated treatment approach. A big number of women have hormonal acne that occurs throughout their life. It may occur at start of puberty, it may occur after childbirth, in periods, and also during menopause.

 

 

Causes of Acne Around the Mouth

 If you have pimples developing around the mouth, it may be due to a variety of reasons. The possible causes are:

• Overactive sebaceous glands may release excess sebum that clogs skin pores resulting in pimples
• When excessive sebum oil combines with dead skin that arises from cells depleted from the skin’s surface, it can contribute to white pimples
• People who sweat too much may have their skin pores clogged thus leading to development of pimples
• In women, hormonal imbalances are a culprit in causing pimples. The hormonal changes occur during pregnancy, in times of periods, and in menopause.
• Stress and anxiety may also contribute to pimples
• Birth control pills and some medications like anti-depressants and steroids are associated with pimples around the mouth
• Over-washing the face, applying lip balm, not washing the face, and having excessively oily skin are other reasons you may have pimples
• Hot weather may at times be associated with acne breakouts around the mouth.

Hormonal Acne

Women may have hormonal acne presenting at certain times for example, it breaks out at ovulation that happens in the middle of menstrual cycle about two weeks after a woman’s first day of bleeding. The hormonal acne may also present few days before a woman has her period. It again can come at the beginning of a period. It is also likely for hormonal acne to present all the time, for example in women who have hormonal problems like PCOS and those with hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Hormonal acne forms cysts or pimples that are pus-filled and painful or inflamed. The pimples appear as red bumps and tend to have white pus. Sometimes, a mild form of hormonal acne can present in form of comedones referring to whitehead bumps that won’t break the surface.  Hormonal acne first presents around the mouth, it also appears on chin, sides of mouth, below the nose, and at the jawline. It however spreads to forehead and cheeks as it worsens. Hormonal acne can also affect other parts like the back, shoulders, and buttocks.

Hormonal acne is associated with an increase in production of oil underneath the skin. When the oil blocks the pores, bacteria present on skin begin to multiply as they feed on the oil and dead cells. An inflammation occurs. Oil secretions are caused by sex hormones or androgens, and testosterone is the chief culprit. A stress hormone known as DHEA-S is also responsible for the secretion of oil on skin.

Perioral Dermatitis

If you are wondering what perioral dermatitis is, it’s an inflammatory rash that affects the skin around the mouth. It can spread to affect other areas like the eyes and nose. The rash appears as scaly, red bumps forming around the mouth and it may discharge clear fluid. A person may also experience slight itching and a burning sensation. The rash occurs mostly in women who are at the age of 16 to 45, but it can also develop in all ages.

Perioral dermatitis may also develop in children. While it can go away, it can redevelop later. When bouts of perioral dermatitis occur, they can last for weeks or months. The cause for perioral dermatitis isn’t known and researchers think that it is as a result of using stronger topical steroids on an individual’s skin that have been prescribed to help treat other conditions. It may also be caused by nasal sprays that contain corticosteroids. Some ingredients contained in cosmetic products may cause the rash, for example petrolatum in skin creams. Perioral dermatitis may be triggered by sunscreen, oral contraceptives, bacterial infections, fungal infections, fluorinated toothpaste, constant drooling, and rosacea.

The rash arising from perioral dermatitis usually appears as red bumps forming a person’s mouth. The bumps also form in folds around a person’s nose and they may take scaly appearance. A person may have the rash forming on the forehead, under the eyes, and on the chin. The small bumps have fluid substance or pus and they tend to resemble acne.

 

 Breakouts Around The Mouth – Treatment

When treating breakouts around the mouth, you want to know whether it is a case of acne or perioral dermatitis. Often, acne is confused with perioral dermatitis something that can result in the wrong treatment.

Using warm water and antibacterial soaps that are hypoallergenic can help with acne. Antibacterial wipes containing extracts of cucumber and aloe vera may also be beneficial to the skin. Birth control pills may also help in enforcing hormone regularity within a woman’s system.  Because acne around the mouth can develop due to allergies, touching the skin, and use of dirty pillowcases, you want to be careful about what you do to your face. Keeping the hands clean can help prevent acne. Also, removing makeup when going to sleep helps prevent the skin condition.  You can avoid skincare products that contain harsh chemicals, skin irritants, fragrances, and comedogenic ingredients. Do away with cosmetic products that are likely to clog pores.

In treating hormonal acne the best solution is to have the imbalance corrected. Medications like flutamide and spironolactone may help.

Perioral dermatitis may be treated using topical antibiotic medications like metronidazole. Immunosuppressive creams like pimecrolimus may also help in treatment. Topical acne medications include azelaic acid and adapalene.

Oral antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, and isotretinoin are prescribed to treat perioral dermatitis. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology suggests that people with perioral dermatitis should stop the use of nasal sprays comprising steroids, and topical steroids creams.

Using warm water at time of breakouts and stopping the use of harsh scrubs and perfumed cleansers may help prevent the rash. After the rash heals, a person may only use mild soap and no scrubbing at the skin. Reducing the use of makeup, sunscreen, and cosmetics may also help prevent perioral dermatitis. Spicy foods that are likely to irritate the skin need also be limited.