Today I am sharing how I healed my Perioral Dermatitis naturally.
I was just about to give up and get on antibiotics when miraculously I healed at a rapid pace. I cannot pinpoint any one thing, but there are many things that stand out as to why I healed.
While I believe that numbers 1-10 below were CRITICAL, I also believe that it was number 11 which truly ended up being the key factor.
Boils Down to a Leaky Gut
For the record, healing Perioral Dermatitis ultimately requires healing the gut.
I followed The Gutsy Girl’s Bible: an approach to healing the gut first and foremost. If you’re looking for a specific meal plan and a hard-copy book, grab The Leaky Gut Meal Plan: 4 Weeks to Detox and Improve Digestive Health.
Consider joining the 28-Day Program for extra hand-holding as well.
Updated in 2017: By using all the methods below, I’ve continued healing, but I’ve switched my skincare routine and products 100% to Beautycounter. And it has been absolutely incredible. Read more HERE, and join my quest for ultimate skincare health.
By the way, THIS is the line for acne, and my most favorite product from it is the Acne Spot Treatment. If your skin is not oily, you can still use the spot treatment, but instead, choose the incredible Cleansing Balm.
If you’re interested in going on FREE 12- days of safer beauty journey, click HERE.
Below you’ll find the things worked for me. And if I can even give one person hope that something might work for them, then my job here is done.
How I Healed My Perioral Dermatitis Naturally
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GAPS Diet
I fully believe my healing was jump started when I went back (intensely) on GAPS. I’m not on GAPS right now, but I believe it was critical then.
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Moringa
Moringa is an amazing herb that I learned about while at the local Farmers’ Market this past summer. It has been used for many things, and while I initially started using it for digestion, I believe it (maybe indirectly) had positive impacts on the skin condition.
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Hempseed and Hemp oil
Hemp is powerful, internally and externally. In the beginning, I was using coconut oil on my face, until the condition seemed to be getting worse. I stopped that, and I started using hemp oil. I would topically apply about 1/2 of a dime-sized amount to the affected areas nightly before bedtime. Additionally, I began consuming a lot of hemp internally – the seed and oil. We eat it several times a week now in various ways. “Hemp is loaded with all 20 amino acids (including the 9 essential),” and I believe its dense nutrition helped. (Checkout one of my favorite hempseed recipes ever. And my Lemon-Garlic Basil Spaghetti Squash with Hemp is also incredible!)
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Cod Liver Oil
It’s not that I love it, but rather that cod liver oil is highly anti-inflammatory and since Perioral Dermatitis is a form of inflammation, I needed to reduce inflammation as much as much as possible. (I also did this by eating wild fish more in general.) I took/still take 1 teaspoon Cod Liver Oil daily.
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Probiotic
I returned to the consistent use of probiotics. Updated in 2019 to add: Use the Just Thrive one! I swear by it now, as do many others.
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Sleep
I have been starving my body from sleep, and in a million ways it manifested into so many unwanted things. I focused on 8+ hours a night. Some nights I could grab more, and some a little less, but the amount of sleep I’m getting overall has greatly increased. (Read also: Sleep and Gut Healing.)
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Nipple Butter and Bottom Balm
You think it sounds crazy, but I swear by this stuff now (–> sorry I stole so much of yours, Samarah!) I just use a little, but it made a huge difference.
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L-glutamine
I’m still sprinkling it on/in things 1-2 times per day.
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Face Wash
I never used traditional face wash while I was flaring. I kept it as minimal as possible. (Keep in mind also, though, that I’m pretty minimalistic when it comes to the amount of makeup I wear.)
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Toothpaste
This ONE thing can make a huge difference (click HERE to read about it). It did for me! I stopped using all traditional toothpaste as well, and never buy toothpaste with SLS and/or fluoride. It’s “Earthy,” but I enjoy it -> Earthpaste.
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Consistency
I have all but healed my Perioral Dermatitis, but it took months. There was no quick-fix-overnight scheme. I stayed consistent, and I did items 1-10 on a consistent basis.
Beginning
Today
Those are things I have done for how I healed my Perioral Dermatitis naturally. Questions? How about you?
Want more? Check out My Perioral Dermatitis Journey HERE. Don’t forget to grab The Gutsy Girl’s Bible for more or go on a FREE 12-Day Safer Skincare Journey.
Updated in 2019 to add: If my PD was this bad today or ever again, I would do all of the above, and for products, I would choose to use just the Beautycounter Cleansing Balm (as the face wash and moisturizer).
Xox,
SKH
You will heal. I will help.
YAY! I’m so glad to hear your skin cleared up!!
So glad you were able to heal it naturally! Have you ever thought of honey and/or oil cleansing your skin versus using dr. Bronners. I find that any surfactant based product will strip the skin and dry/dehydrate you to some degree. I have had serious success with a range of skin types and conditions (I am an aesthetician) with oil (light ones like Jojoba or grapeseed) and raw or manuka honey cleansing. You might add that into the mix. Good luck!
Thanks. ps. Love eating Manuka:)
Thank you for this post, Sarah. You have given me hope!
Good luck, Laura!
Laura,
Try Soothe from Rodan and fields it has helped me and as a consultant you can get 25%.
Works wonders and you get to skip the dermatologist .
http://www.jetgypsy.myrandf.com
-nic
so happy to hear this!!! I know your struggle. Everyday I doing what I can to heal my eczema and contact dermatitis
hugs
I have gotten to such a great place…I am more than excited:)
Great read! I’m doing about half of those things now… I guess I need to kick it up a notch. What brand nipple butter / BOttom balm and probiotics do you use?
also, have you seen it correlate with your cYcle? Like there is a connection?
Hi Alicia – thanks for stopping by! The Nipple Butter I use is “Earth Mama Angel Baby.” I love it! I currently use Prescript-Assist for my probiotic. And no, I haven’t seen a correlation with the PD + my cycle because I’ve had several cycles since I cleared it. Hope that helps!
I have a prescription in hand but do not want to start it! I’ve tried sooooo many home remedies but have not heard of most of yours. I will give it a shot! Has your continued to stay away? And did you ever try anti fungal creams? Thank you!!!
Hi, Ariana! Yes, it has continued to stay away and it has not come back since! And no, I never did any anti-fungal creams. Good luck to you!
Sarah, I also have Perioral Dermatitis. When I eat sugar, wheat or dairy My face breaks out. My skin stays pretty clear if I stay away from these 3. I’m hoping to heal my gut so I can splurge once in awhile. Did you ever find that eating wheat, sugar or dairy your POD was worse? If so, did it all change once you healed your gut?
Hi, Roxxi! Yes, sugar and dairy made it worse, but I’ve been wheat and gluten free for several years now (peruse my blog and you will see!) When I was really intentional about healing my gut and eliminating the inflammatory things, it went away. Good luck!
THANK YOU so much for this blog post. I recently got a rash on my face that has lasted for 2+ weeks. I had no idea what it was or what caused it. After reading this post, I realize that I, too, have PD! I just started a candida cleanse and I also have leaky gut, so I think I’m long overdue to start a healing process.
You are welcome! And yes….give it a try. Good luck:)
A few years ago, I had perioral dermatitis (undiagnosed, but I know now that’s what it was). After having it for about a year, I had a facial and they gave me a sample of a thick cleansing cream to try. After using the cream for only a few weeks, the perioral dermatitis cleared completely. The cream is from a line of biocosmetics made from herbs from the Alps called Dr. Spiller. I’ve been searching online and hope to find this cream again because it was a miracle worker.
Am I right that you didn’t use any antiobiotics? I have PD and I am struggling to find treatments. Any advice is greatly appreciated
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for sharing your success story, inspires me to keep on leaky gut program for healing.
Did your skin go through stages of good days (comfortable, less noticeable) and bad (red, bumpy, inflamed) as your gut healed before it went away completely?
Hi, Angela! You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. And not really….it just sort of started improving, little-by-little, day-by-day. Keep at it! Xox
Hi Sarah….I am so excited I found your page. First I HAD been PD free for almost 2 years and then had a recent flare up in a spot that I had never had it before….just in the fold on the left side of my nose. It’s a persistent little bugger and more dry than anything else which is making it difficult to heal. I have been applying hemp seed oil for a few days now and consuming it as well. I put it on and 5 minutes later it’s as if I never did….like my skin just soaks it up. So I just ordered a product recommended by my health coach who is a master herbalist called Gypsy Cream and it’s got the hemp oil, shea butter, and beez wax which is just supposed to be phenomenal for dry skin. I am almost 43 and noticing that my skin takes a longer time to turn over and heal. I will continue to apply the basic oil as an overall moisturizer and then apply this stuff to the extra dry areas. Sleep is a big issue for me as I tend to have disturbed sleep.
I have heard so many different versions of how this thing starts and I guess it’s supposed to be fungal. I have made some significant dietary changes but my body has a severe aversion to bone broth. So I’m using the L-glutamine, probiotics, I’m taking fish oil but am going to get the cod liver oil tomorrow. I have also read that people with chronic skin inflammation are missing an enzyme that converts ALA to GLA and that it’s a GLA deficiency which is what the hemp is good for
The biggest thing for me is that I happen to notice it flare up during EXTREME periods of stress
*during my separation and divorce
*during the start up of a new business
*while training for a marathon
*and most recently just a lot of work stuff
I had completely laid off of running for a few months and then several weeks ago did a few shorter runs and it all started up again. So I’m really seeing a connection with stress, adrenals, and of course the gut. But this thing hangs on for dear life.
Anyway, thanks for the blog. I have been meaning to switch to cod liver oil for a while now. Do you have a specific brand that you use? And does it need to be fermented.
Hi! Thank you for reaching out. Yes, PD can definitely flare with stress. Here are the various supplements I recommend -> http://agutsygirl.com/resources/recommended-supplements/ I am currently looking into another Cod Liver Oil, and will add it to the list once approved as well. Good luck!
I’ve been taking Barlean’s in Lemonade flavor and it is amazing.
Thanks for all the recommendations. Totally feel like I have my PD under control without the unsuccessful use of antibiotics. Makes me mad at my dermatologist. Love hemp oil now!!! What seemed to really make it better was taking fluoride out.
Yes! I have never added it back in!
Sarah, I have been struggling with Perioral Dermatitis since November of 2016. At first, I thought it was acne and started using various creams and scrubs only to have it get worse. Then I tried expensive therapy thinking that maybe I needed to work at controlling my stress levels. I even cut out dairy and even birth control thinking that was it. When I finally figured out it was PD it was January of 2017. My derm started me on antibiotics and a set of creams. I have been on them ever since – but they haven’t really helped. So I changed my shampoo, I cut out fluoride, I stopped using fancy cleansers and just used Cetaphil products. I read a million blogs on how people “cured” their PD. NONE of it helped. In fact, depending on the day, it got worse. Sometimes my face would physically hurt. I was embarrassed to go out, to wear makeup (which made it worse), and I was sick of all the bumps. It was emotionally taxing me – I cried a lot. Then two weeks ago my friend stumbled on your blog. After digging around I noticed the common theme was stomach issues. I’ve had H-pylori and my tummy has been a mess ever since. A light clicked for me. I had nothing to lose, so I tried your recommendations. I’ve been doing your exact suggestions religiously for the last two weeks and my PD is pretty much GONE. I have maybe two to three itty-bitty bumps here and there, but for the most part, my face has returned to normal. The burning, the rash, the bumps – gone. It was completely gastrointestinal. I feel like telling all the derms out there to start recommending their PD patients to gastroenterologists instead of treating it how they do. Your blog helped me get my face back in order, stopped my anxiety, and most of all – it stopped the tears. Every morning when I look in the mirror I think of how grateful I am for finding this. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and your advice. I never thought my PD would go away. You saved me – thank you.
Hi, Emily! I read your comment as soon as it came through. It’s taken me awhile to process it. Why? Because initially, I had tears in my eyes. I never sought out to write a blog that would do ANYTHING but help people…..from the gut, to skin, to infertility, to life. Your words made me know that all the time, energy, and heart-pouring that goes into this slice of the Internet is worth it. Thank you, Emily. And all my very best to you and your healing. Xox
Hi, i have the same problem as you. Since 2 years now. It started with a sharp pain in the stomach,than endet with bloating, gas,pain in the abdomen,constipation.
I have seen so many Doktors,they found nothing.
I started my self healing my gut, and at the beginning my face cleared up but since some month it started again.
I try to stay away from Weat, dairy,etc.
I take curcuma, drink Oregano tea 1.5l a day, ginger tea,eat healthy, no,make up. Proibiotics, nothing seems to Help.
Could it be that I might have H pylori?
How did you cleared your PD ?
My Pd is located around the nose.
Hi! I did everything my blog states for clearing the PD, including getting rid of the SIBO and really focusing on the gut. I have zero PD left.
I’m so happy you healed your PD! May I ask what specifically you did in her protocol to clear it? I’m struggling with getting rid of mine! I feel hopeless!
Hi Sarah!
I am going through similar steps right now healing my perioral naturally. One question for you, as it took months to heal naturally, did sometimes your dermatitis look worst/spread/got more inflamed? Mine looks so much better some days, but then others I get a new “dot,” meaning, my perioral wants to spread. But I keep keep it under control with oils, and I tell myself that my body is purging all the junk out of my gut, so it my skin is taking a beating? Was this your experince too, or did you have no new bumps?
No, mine would just progressively get better until it was just gone.
Hi Sarah!
I was just wondering how long you stayed on a strict GAPS diet before you decided it was okay to introduce other food? I am on it now and seeing improvements quickly. Thank you!
Hi Maddy! When I was first healing my gut in 2009, I stayed on GAPS for far too long. I don’t even know how long, but I do know it was too long. When I went on it to help with the PD, it was less than 30 days. I improved super quickly, but for me, it came down more to this –> http://bit.ly/skhocpd than anything. Hope that helps.
Hey Girl! Loving thus blog and your POD post. Here I am, almost 6 month post partum and the rash has been with me for probably 2 months now. I was prescribed metrogel. Just like everyone else, cleared up and it’s back with a vengeance. I’m on a limited TED because I’m breastfeeding my 2nd FPIES boy. So, I’m gut healing any way. I’m going to try everything you’ve recommended above. I’m a little confused about the steps of facial care. Do I wash my face with beauty counter before I put on the hemp oil? Maybe I am tired and reading it wrong! I also ordered a norwex cloth to see if that helps. I’m impatient but it seems like apple cider vinegar and coconut oil are making this worse:(
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. So, nothing about the post really is meant to be in order or exact steps….rather just different things I did and swear by to this day. If I were you, I would use a gentle cleanser, one from Beautycounter. I have been finding the Charcoal Cleansing Bar **super** effective lately – https://www.beautycounter.com/sarahhoffman?goto=charcoal-cleansing-bar.html If your PD is really bad right now, don’t put anything else on your face. Just leave it alone. You might be able to get by with a little hemp oil, but don’t use straight coconut oil. And then focus on the rest of the diet and lifestyle things 🙂 xox
How much of the hemp oil, hemp seed and moringa would you consume every day?
Not a ton, just casually. I’d say maybe 1-2 Tbsp total of hemp oil/hempseed and 1 tsp moringa.
Hi Sarah! So I’ve been fighting PD for a year now but just started experimenting with almost 500mg of CBD oil directly to my face. Is this similar to what you used? I’m hopping it really works so I can come off of my elidel cream (prescription steroid cream).
Hi Tracey – I didn’t have access to that back when my PD was at its worst. I did, however, use Hemp Oil some.