Product overload! Has your skincare routine gone too far?

"Perioral dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically appears as clusters of small red bumps (hard papules or pimple-like pustules) around the mouth, nose and eyes. Anyone with dark skin may find that the patches look darker than their normal skin colour, rather than red. The area around the mouth is particularly vulnerable, because the skin there is thinner and exposed to constant friction and moisture from speaking, eating, cleansing and applying skincare."

"It often starts innocuously: a small cluster of spots around the mouth, easily dismissed as a hormonal breakout or a reaction to something you have eaten. But this is how perioral dermatitis shows up quietly, persistently and seemingly more frequently. It’s quickly become one of the most common inflammatory conditions I treat, says Dr Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist and founder of the Self London clinic."

"I realised it is becoming increasingly common the slow way. What I assumed was a fleeting breakout lingered for weeks, resisting every serum, cream and mask I threw at it. In trying to fix it, I made it worse layering on actives and, in a moment of panic, even reaching for a steroid cream better suited to eczema. It wasn't until I started speaking to experts for this article that the penny dropped: the condition I was researching was the thing I'd been dealing with."

"It is also a zone where products such as moisturiser, SPF, makeup or toothpaste can easily migrate and acc…"

Perioral dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that commonly appears as clusters of small red bumps, including hard papules or pimple-like pustules, around the mouth, nose, and eyes. People with darker skin may notice patches that look darker rather than red. The area around the mouth is especially vulnerable because the skin is thinner and experiences frequent friction and moisture from speaking, eating, cleansing, and applying skincare. Products such as moisturiser, SPF, makeup, and toothpaste can migrate into the area and contribute to irritation. The condition can persist for weeks and may resist many serums, creams, and masks. Using layered actives or steroid creams intended for other conditions can worsen it.

Read at www.theguardian.com