There are several things that seem to make perioral dermatitis worse. But is sunshine one of them?

Perioral dermatitis is an acne-like rash that can affect the face, especially around the chin, mouth and nose. It mostly, though not exclusively, found in adult women under forty.

Like rosacea or acne rosacea, which the condition resembles in several ways, perioral dermatitis seems to be affected by various factors; however, not everyone will be affected in the same way, so every sufferer needs an individual treatment plan.

A significant proportion of perioral dermatitis sufferers (some people have suggested around a quarter) find their skin gets worse if it’s exposed to sunlight.

However, the same proportion find their skin improves!

This is similar to how different people living with different skin conditions react to sunshine: some people with eczema can soak up the sun and find that summer is when their skin is best; others find being out in the sun makes everything worse, making them hot, itchy and inflamed. You can only go by your own experience.

It is also worth being aware that many people with perioral dermatitis find that sunscreen makes their skin worse, rather than the sunshine itself. Medical advice is to avoid sunburn, so if you're one of those whose skin flares up with the sun you will either need to find a hypoallergenic sunscreen that your skin tolerates well, or avoid the sun by wearing wide-brimmed hats or staying in the shade.

Read our article Top 8 Triggers Of Perioral Dermatitis to check out other common triggers of the condition.

For further information about what you can do holistically to manage flare-ups, see our blog on How To Treat Perioral Dermatitis. 

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