[2] Symptoms include multiple small (1–2 mm) bumps and blisters sometimes with background redness and scale, localized to the skin around the mouth and nostrils.

[5] Treatment is typically by stopping topical steroids, changing cosmetics, and in more severe cases, taking tetracyclines by mouth.

[3] Darrell Wilkinson was a British dermatologist who gave one of the earliest 'definitive' descriptions of 'perioral dermatitis' and noted that the condition was not always associated with the use of fluoridated steroid creams.

[13] For children with GPD, a skin biopsy showing granulomatous infiltrate is needed to confirm diagnosis in an atypical patient.

[1][3] Although light exposure has been discounted as a causal factor, some reports of perioral dermatitis have been made by some patients receiving Psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy.

[12] It is important to note that an underlying cause can not always be known for patients as the exact mechanism of action to develop perioral dermatitis is not known.

The highest link seems to be with topical corticosteroids in comparison to the others and there seems to be a higher chance of development of perioral dermatitis with greater strength steroids.

[4] Perioral dermatitis has a tendency to occur on the drier parts of the face and can be aggravated by drying agents including topical benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin and lotions with an alcohol base.

[8]Reports of perioral dermatitis in renal transplant recipients treated with oral corticosteroids and azathioprine have been documented.

The role of infectious agents such as Candida species, Demodex folliculorum, and fusobacteria has not been confirmed, but could be potential causes for development as well.

There are associations that water loss is greater with older adults but perioral dermatitis can still occur in younger people.

There are a variety of other potential factors that are suspected to cause or worsen perioral dermatitis; however, enough research has not been done to shown a link as strong as that with corticosteroids.

[16] Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) may also have a link as they significantly impact the hormonal balance of the people taking them.

This, in turn, resulted in an increased level of stress and oil secretions along the face and decreased intake of water.

[1] Treatment regimens are advised to treat perioral dermatitis using the lowest possible dose for antibiotics and other therapies.

[27] Topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide are potentially irritating products that can cause inflammation of the skin and should be avoided.

[27] Gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, and photosensitivity are possible short term side effects when taking tetracycline.

[32] Pregnant women and pediatric patients can not take tetracycline due to possible harm to the fetus and severe staining of developing teeth.

[27] Doxycycline is most often the first antibiotic drug choice, given at a daily dosage of 100 mg for up to a month before considering tapering off or stopping.

[27] If the perioral dermatitis was triggered by a topical steroid then pimecrolimus cream has been suggested as effective in improving symptoms.

[4] Topical pimecrolimus is often used in treating corticosteroid induced perioral dermatitis due to it being a non-steroid based cream.

[27] Topical adapalene has been reported to resolve a case of perioral dermatitis in 4 weeks without any side effects.

[27][33] The most common medications to help treat perioral dermatitis are oral tetracycline, pimecrolimus cream, and azelaic gel.

[35] For more rare cases, cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride, a beta lactam antibiotic, has been used in treating perioral dermatitis presumably caused by Fusobacteria.

If the perioral dermatitis comes back again, the medication that they took prior may not work the second time around, so the healthcare workers may need to create a secondary treatment plan around the return of the disease.

[37] Perioral dermatitis is likely to fully resolve with short courses of antibiotics but if left untreated it can persist for years and take on a chronic form.

[12] In some cases, it can be resolve for the patient to stop taking external factors that may play a role in the development of perioral dermatitis.

[7] Most commonly in females between the ages of 16 and 45 years, perioral dermatitis also occurs equally in all racial and ethnic backgrounds and include children as young as three months and is increasingly reported in male.

[39] Amongst the few adult men who find themselves diagnosed with perioral dermatitis, it has been shown in multiple studies the reason behind it is due to them taking volatile alkyl nitrates, an inhaled product used to relax muscles.

[41] This is particularly more prevalent in adolescents, compared to adults, due to the presence of more social stigmas during one's teen years as opposed to one's adulthood.