Perioral dermatitis, also called PD in short, is an inflammatory condition where small papules in form of an itchy flaky rash develop around the mouth and nose area. In today’s article, we are going to talk about the foods to avoid for perioral dermatitis as one of the ways to help eliminate it forever. 

It’s not acne, eczema or rosacea – it’s perioral dermatitis. And if you have it, don’t worry you’re not alone and it’s not going to stay with you for the rest of your life!

Perioral dermatitis can be managed and one of the first steps is to try an elimination diet. 

This is where you basically find out the foods to avoid for perioral dermatitis. In particular, YOUR perioral dermatitis. That’s because POD can be due to inflammatory, hormonal or fungal causes. 

For some ladies, oral contraceptives could actually be the cause. So, it’s important you first discuss with your dermatologist who can help you discover the nature of your POD.

To follow an elimination diet for perioral dermatitis, all you need to do is try cutting out each and every food type listed below, one at a time for a period of 4 weeks.

Why 4 weeks?  That’s the amount of time it can take the body to purge out allergen producing foods. 

After eliminating them all out of your diet, slowly start reintroducing them back, again one food type at a time. This enables you to discover which one is actually causing your skin to have a reaction a.k.a perioral dermatitis. 

Okay, now let’s get started with this! Here is the list of major foods to avoid for perioral dermatitis:

Foods to Avoid for Perioral Dermatitis 

1.   Dairy 

This is a major food that triggers perioral dermatitis in many people.

Milk and milk products like cheese, butter, ice cream, etc could very well be causing your perioral dermatitis and exacerbating it. 

2.   Gluten 

Gluten in found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Nowadays, we can find gluten in almost every processed food. 

It’s hard to avoid but if you want to find out if it’s causing you’re POD, then you must try to eliminate it for a period of 4 weeks before slowly bringing it back to your diet. 

3.   Refined Sugar 

Refined sugar, also known as white sugar, is highly inflammatory so it’s unadvisable to consume it in large amounts even if you don’t have perioral dermatitis. 

It could be the one causing your perioral dermatitis if you have the inflammatory type of POD.

Replace it with raw honey, maple syrup, agave nectar and other natural sweeteners of your choice.

4.   Eggs 

Yes, eggs can also be a trigger for perioral dermatitis. Egg is an allergen for quite a number of people so it’s not a surprise if it’s the one causing your skin to react badly. 

5.   Meat 

Try cutting out meat from your diet to see if it’s the suspect in your POD struggles because it very well might be!

Eliminate it for 4 weeks and when you’re reintroducing it back to your diet, start with lean meats first.

If you notice your perioral dermatitis flaring up, then it might be the culprit. 

6.   Citrus Fruits 

Eating citrus fruits when you have perioral dermatitis can be a painful affair. The juice can sting your inflamed POD and irritate the area. 

For some people, citrus fruits including oranges, tangerine, lemon can even trigger perioral dermatitis. 

Even tomatoes and pineapples have the same effect though they aren’t citrus fruits, per say. 

Try eliminating them to see if they’re the ones causing all the trouble.

7.   Spicy Foods 

If you’re a lover of spicy foods, this may be bad news but trust me it’s worth it. Remove spices from your diet for a month and monitor your perioral dermatitis. Is it reducing? 

When you reintroduce it, does it flare-up? If it does, then you might have to say goodbye to spicy dishes. 

Other Tips for Perioral Dermatitis 

• Drink a lot of water 
• Avoid SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) in hygienic products especially soap and toothpaste
• Wash your face less 
• Keep the affected area moisturized to prevent it from flaking and cracking 

Thanks for reading the article ‘Foods to avoid with perioral dermatitis’. I wish you find quick relief and get back your smooth skin!