u/ducky_butt

So my skin has been like this for a while now. I’ve been to my pcp and a dermatologist, both diagnosed me with perioral dermatitis. I have a genetic disposition to Rosacea. Not sure if I have a combo thing going on, or just perioral.

They both gave me doxycycline, with the derm giving me those pills, plus metronidazole and clindamycin gels. With the doxycycline and gels, my face did clear, but only for the month I was prescribed. After that, my skin went right back to how it is now.

With perioral I understand it’s usually caused by a trigger. The only new thing I had introduced before my face broke out was I switched shampoo types. My new shampoo had tea tree oil in it, and after getting my diagnoses I immediately figured this was the trigger, and changed my shampoo. There had been nothing else that was new in my daily routine. I figured after my regiment from the derm, and changing my shampoo it would help, but everything came back.

My lips always feel very dry and irritated. I also have very deep, tender bumps on the corners of my chin. I wake up in the morning with multiple whiteheads along my same chin, lip, and nose area. These areas feel very sore and dry.

I’ve tried salicylic acid face wash, Aseptic MD face wash, sulfur face wash, Harlan MD smart lotion, zero therapy, just water, nothing so far has worked. I’ve also tried going back to my old gels, didn’t have any results.

Currently I’m using my Eradikate sulfur wash at night, and just using water in the morning. Each time using gold bond face lotion to keep my face moisturized.

What can I try next? This is really wrecking my self confidence. Thanks in advance

Looking for some ideas as to what could help get my skin back to normal. Primary doctor and dermatologist diagnosed me with perioral dermatitis and after comparing symptoms along with taking my genetics into consideration (my mom and aunt both have rosacea), I’m thinking this is rosacea type 2 and not perioral.

My pcp gave me doxycycline which on its own had no effect. The dermatologist gave me doxycycline again, along with clindamycin and metronidazole gels. This did clear my skin but it was only a month long dose of doxy, and after that everything came right back.

I’ve tried sulfur, chlorine dioxide, and salicylic acid face washes, Harlan MD smart lotion, boric acid, and zero therapy, nothing has helped. I’ve even went back to using my old gels I was prescribed, didn’t work.

My cheeks are usually always flushed red, along with around my nose and mouth. I usually wake up in the morning with small whiteheads on my nose and on my lips, along with some bigger, deeper ones you can see in the photos on my chin area. My lips also feel very chapped and I’ve been trying to keep Vaseline or aquaphor on them, but it’s not doing much. No itching, just redness, whiteheads, and a sore, chapped feeling.

So I’m wondering am I right in thinking this is rosacea, or is it really something else? And what products or routines helped anyone struggling with the same thing? This has really been messing with my self confidence and I’m willing to try anything to get it back to normal. Thanks