I have red, itchy bumps around the mouth for the past four weeks. Please help.

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Perioral dermatitis (POD) is a common skin problem that mostly affects young women of 20 to 45 years of age. Occasionally, men or children are affected. Perioral refers to the area around the mouth, and dermatitis indicates redness of the skin. In addition to redness, there are usually small red bumps or even pus bumps and mild peeling. The disease can look a lot like acne. The areas most affected are the areas from the nose to the sides of the lips, and the chin. Sometimes there is mild itching and/or burning. Symptoms may include an uncomfortable burning sensation around the mouth. Mild itching is a less common symptom. The predominant feature of this skin disorder is many red bumps around the mouth and some of these bumps may be pus-filled. There can be redness and peeling of the skin affected. The red bumpy rash is usually confined between the nose and lips, to the sides of the lips and from the lower lip to the chin. There is frequently a small perimeter of skin which borders the lips which will not have the rash. It is rare but sometimes the rash can appear around the eyes, nose, and forehead. While little is known about what causes this disorder, there are theories that overuse of topical cortisone creams, fluoridated toothpaste, or heavy or occlusive skin-care ointments and creams (especially those with petrolatum or thick wax base) and foundations may be responsible. Exposure to sunlight, heat, and wind can also make matters worse. This is a skin condition most commonly seen in young women of childbearing age. Women who are from 15-45 years of age are most affected. Stop using all facial products including make-up, lip balms, lotions, or topical cortisone creams on the affected skin areas to see if this makes a difference. It is suggested that you wash with warm water alone and see if the rash improves. Stop using fluoridated toothpaste or ones which contain anti-tartar ingredients to see if this helps your condition. You should also discontinue the use of topical cortisone creams, but be aware that this can initially make matters worse. That can feel self-defeating, but be patient for a few weeks to see if the condition improves. A picture of your rashes would help better.