What are the signs of and causes of infant dermatitis around the mouth, which affects some infants and causes irritation and inflammation? How can it be detected and dealt with? The most crucial information in this article.
Let's familiarise ourselves with the most crucial information regarding infant perioral dermatitis, particularly the following:
What is perioral dermatitis in infants?
One of many typical dermatitis in children, perioral dermatitis causes a red rash around the mouth and occasionally also affects the nose and eyes.
In this condition, the skin is dry, scaly, and covered in papules, which are swollen, inflamed blisters. Perioral dermatitis can occasionally resemble acne.
It is important to remember that infants as young as three months can experience perioral dermatitis, and that children who develop the condition typically do so around the age of six.
Girls are more likely than boys to develop perioral dermatitis, and infants and kids who have used topical steroids on their faces are most likely to develop it.
Symptoms of perioral dermatitis in infants
Perioral dermatitis in infants is characterized by the appearance of multiple red papules, blisters, or vesicles with or without any crusts. The following traits apply to these blisters:
- They typically develop around the mouth, but not on the skin right next to the mouth.
- On occasion, it might itch or burn.
- The region around the nose and eyes, as well as other facial features, are also likely to be impacted.
One type of this inflammation, known as granulomatous perioral dermatitis, typically manifests before puberty in children with dark skin and includes the following symptoms:
- There are numerous tiny, distinct papules that are hyperpigmented or skin-colored.
- Papules sometimes show up elsewhere in addition to the face.
- Blepharitis or conjunctivitis can occasionally coexist with granular perioral dermatitis.
Causes of perioral dermatitis in infants
These are the most typical causes of perioral dermatitis in infants and kids generally, though there may be other contributing factors as well:
- Topical steroid creams applied to the affected area of skin over an extended period of time may seem to help relieve the itching caused by the rash, but these drugs actually worsen the condition.
- asthma is treated with prescription steroid inhalers administered through the mouth and nose.
- excessive application of heavy moisturisers and face creams on the child.
- External irritants may have a greater impact on the skin as a result of atopic dermatitis.
Diagnosis of perioral dermatitis in infants
Consult a dermatologist right away if you suspect that your child has perioral dermatitis. The doctor will make a diagnosis based on the appearance of the rash and ruling out other similar conditions, as there is no specific test to diagnose the condition.
Perioral dermatitis typically goes away on its own, especially after stopping the steroid cream, but if your child's rash persists, consult a doctor.
Treatment of perioral dermatitis in infants
As a first step, your doctor may advise stopping the steroid cream or spray. They may also advise selecting a mild facial soap and avoiding skin care products that might irritate the affected area while the rash heals.
It should be noted that after you stop taking the steroids, the rash will get worse before gradually getting better.
Each of the following remedies may occasionally be suggested by a doctor to treat perioral dermatitis:
- Oral or topical antibiotic.
- Eczema is typically treated with a topical cream containing pimecrolimus.
Typically, the course of treatment lasts 4 to 8 weeks.