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Perioral dermatitis (PD) is a common and prevalent inflammatory skin condition characterised by small, red papules and pustules around the mouth. While the exact cause of PD remains elusive, research suggests that the skin microbiome could be a significant factor in both the development and treatment of this condition, offering new avenues for understanding and managing PD.
What We Know:
PD most commonly affects adult women aged 20-45. It can also appear around the eyes (periocular) and nose (paranasal), leading to the alternative name "periorificial dermatitis." Despite this, PD does not share many characteristics with other forms of dermatitis (Tolaymat & Hall, 2024).
The exact cause of PD remains unknown, but various environmental factors have been linked to its onset. These include the use of topical and inhaled corticosteroids, which are believed to disrupt the hair follicle microflora and contribute to pathogenesis. Although most patients are female, no hormonal link has been established (Tolaymat & Hall, 2024).
PD development is associated with certain oral hygiene practices, such as using fluoride-containing toothpaste, chewing gum and dental fillings. Additionally, excessive skincare routines (e.g., over-exfoliation) and the use of specific cosmetic products (like combining moisturisers and foundations, as well as certain sunscreens) have been implicated (Tolaymat & Hall, 2024).
Treatment for PD typically involves topical creams, oral antibiotics and removing cosmetics. Zinc supplementation has also shown efficacy. Avoiding propyl gallate (food additive E310), found in some oils, crisps, spices and cake mixes may also help manage PD, as it is thought to aggravate the condition (Gürtler & Laurenz, 2022).
Industry Impact and Potential:
Studies suggest that Candida albicans, fusiform bacteria and Demodex mites may play a role in the onset of PD (Tolaymat & Hall, 2024).
Research indicates that Streptococcus and Rothia are common on the perioral skin of healthy infants, but more studies are needed to understand the microbial landscape of PD in adults. Given the correlation between PD and epidermal barrier disorders (which are linked to microbial dysbiosis) this area of research holds significant potential for developing new treatments and preventive strategies (Ferček et al., 2021).
Our Solution:
Exploring the microbial implications of PD could lead to novel treatments like targeted probiotics, prebiotics and microbiome-modulating skincare products. Sequential offers customisable microbiome studies to assess your products' impact on skin microbiome integrity. With our guided formulation services and extensive participant database, we support your efforts to understand and treat conditions like perioral dermatitis, marking an exciting shift towards more effective, personalised dermatology care.
References:
Ferček, I., Lugović-Mihić, L., Tambić-Andrašević, A., Ćesić, D., Grginić, A.G., Bešlić, I., Mravak-Stipetić, M., Mihatov-Štefanović, I., Buntić, A.-M. & Čivljak, R. (2021) Features of the Skin Microbiota in Common Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Life (Basel, Switzerland). 11 (9), 962. doi:10.3390/life11090962.
Gürtler, A. & Laurenz, S. (2022) The impact of clinical nutrition on inflammatory skin diseases. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology: JDDG. 20 (2), 185–202. doi:10.1111/ddg.14683.
Tolaymat, L. & Hall, M.R. (2024) Perioral Dermatitis. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing. p. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525968/.
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