The Ordinary For Perioral Dermatitis – Is Toothpaste The Cause?

My Latest Perioral Dermatitis Flare-Up – How I Calmed My Skin in Just 5 Days

If you’re struggling with perioral dermatitis, I know exactly how frustrating it can be.

This was my latest flare-up, and as you can see from the before-and-after photos, my skin went from red, sore and inflamed to looking much calmer in just five days.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that my perioral dermatitis almost always gets worse during the summer months. Heat, sunshine, sweat and certain skincare products seem to be my biggest triggers.

Everyone’s skin is different, but this is exactly what worked for me.

Clearing my Perioral Dermatitis in just 5 days

My 15-Second Guide – How I Calmed My Perioral Dermatitis

⭐ Stop using almost everything – I paused all skincare, cleansers and makeup to give my skin a chance to recover.

⭐ Switch to an SLS- and fluoride-free toothpaste – This has made a huge difference for me during flare-ups. Find some here on amazon.

⭐ Cleanse with cool water only – No cleansers, just water and a clean, soft face cloth.

⭐ Apply The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane morning and evening – This helped keep my skin comfortable without irritating it further.

⭐ Once my skin started calming down, I introduced Azelaic Acid very slowly – I waited until the inflammation had reduced before adding any active ingredients.

⭐ Avoid direct sun exposure – Heat and sunshine are some of my biggest triggers, so I stayed in the shade and avoided making things worse.

Please remember: This is my personal experience with perioral dermatitis and not medical advice. What worked for my skin may not work for everyone. If your symptoms are severe, persistent or worsening, please speak to your doctor or dermatologist.

My Perioral Dermatitis Journey – What Finally Helped Calm My Skin

For the last few years, perioral dermatitis has come and gone, although I’m not sure it’s ever completely disappeared. Every summer it seems to flare up again, but this latest outbreak, which started at the beginning of May, was by far the worst. No matter what I tried, it simply refused to go away.

At first, I blamed everything.

Was it the water while I was on holiday? The chlorine? Sea water? One of my SPFs? The heat?

I was convinced it would improve once I got home, but it didn’t.

Instead, my skin became increasingly red, dry, sore, tight, itchy and incredibly uncomfortable. Even smiling hurt.

What Triggered My Perioral Dermatitis?

Looking back, I think it was probably a combination of several things rather than one single trigger.

I’d just returned from holiday after wearing far more makeup than usual in the heat. My routine included:

Dior Forever Foundation
Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Anua Hyaluronic Acid Mist
Several different SPFs
Plus a few new skincare products I’d been influenced to try.

On top of that, my diet had completely gone off track.

I’m fructose intolerant, and I’d slowly started eating more fructose again. Looking back now, my whole body felt inflamed, not just my skin.

I also know my skin doesn’t cope well with fragrance, so I’m always careful about the products I use. I´ve now realised that I am so focused on fragrance free skincare and bodycare but haven´t paid enough attention to makeup.

What I Tried to Calm My Perioral Dermatitis

I couldn’t get help from the pharmacy without a prescription, and local dermatology appointments were booked up for months.

So I did what so many of us probably do these days…

I asked ChatGPT. 🤖

It suggested stripping my routine right back and letting my skin recover naturally before introducing any active ingredients again.

The advice was to:

✨ Switch to an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste

✨ Stop all skincare products

✨ Stop wearing makeup completely

✨ Wash my face with water only

✨ Use The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane as my only skincare product

✨ Wait a few days before slowly introducing The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

That’s exactly what I did.

My Results After Just a Few Days

From Saturday onwards, I wore no makeup at all, cleansed with water only and applied The Ordinary Squalanemorning and evening.

After just 24 hours, my skin already felt different.

It still looked angry, but the soreness had almost disappeared.

By Monday evening, I felt confident enough to introduce a tiny amount of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.

The final photo shows where my skin is today.

Seeing the difference after just a few days honestly gave me hope that I was finally heading in the right direction.

Would I Recommend This?

I’m not saying this is a cure, and I’m not even claiming with certainty that this is perioral dermatitis, although I’m fairly sure it is. I also have a much milder rash around the outer corners of my eyes, which seems to flare up at the same time.

I’m simply sharing my personal experience in the hope that it might help someone else who is feeling as frustrated as I was.

Have You Experienced Perioral Dermatitis?

I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

👉 What finally cleared your perioral dermatitis?

👉 Did simplifying your skincare routine help more than adding new products?

👉 Have you discovered any unexpected triggers?

Please share your experience in the comments. The more we learn from each other, the more we can help others going through the same thing.

Please note: This article is based entirely on my own experience and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have persistent or worsening symptoms, it’s always best to speak to your doctor or dermatologist.

A Little Update

Today, 23 July, I managed to finally see a dermatologist, and he confirmed it was perioral dermatitis. He prescribed Soolantra Cream for me to use once a day in the evenings.

To save me going back and paying even more money, he has also given me a prescription for Metronidazole in case Soolantra does not work. He has also prescribed me a tablet to take every evening called Doxiclat.

I´m not sure I will take the tablet but will definitely start the cream tonight and update you all very soon. My skin is much better since making all the changes above, but I´m not totally clear of it.

There doesn´t seem to be an exact cause for this and everyone´s skin is different. He asked if I was stressed, if I drank a lot of alcohol and if I ate a lot of spicy food and lactose – all of which the answer was no.

Let´s see!

Comparing My Two Perioral Dermatitis Flare-Ups – See my 2023 flare-up below

2023	2026
Changed toothpaste	Changed toothpaste
Water cleansing	Water cleansing
Dermaveel cream	Squalane Oil
Aloe + NAG	Azelaic Acid
Improved in days	Improved in days

Looking back, there are a few things that were consistent in both flare-ups. Simplifying my routine, avoiding unnecessary skincare products and giving my skin time to heal seemed to make the biggest difference.

I’ve now experienced two significant perioral dermatitis flare-ups several years apart. Although I still can’t say with certainty exactly what triggers mine, both episodes happened during warmer weather after periods. I’m continuing to keep a diary of my skin in the hope of identifying any long-term patterns.

My 2023 Perioral Dermatitis Experience

Back in 2023, I developed another painful rash around my mouth and chin that lasted for several weeks.

At the time, my friend Nia suggested it could be perioral dermatitis, something I’d never even heard of.

After researching the condition and speaking to my local pharmacy in Spain, I simplified my routine completely.

This is what I changed:

Switched from my regular Colgate toothpaste to an SLS-free, fluoride-free toothpaste.
Cleansed mainly with water, occasionally using The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.
Applied Dermaveel cream, recommended by my local pharmacist.
Once the inflammation settled, I introduced The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2%.

Within just a couple of days, the burning sensation had almost disappeared, and over the following week my skin continued to improve.

The photos below were taken on 29 September and 5 October, showing the progress after simplifying my routine.

Do not use this photo without permission.

My 2023 Perioral Dermatitis Journey – Did Changing My Toothpaste Help?

Could Toothpaste Be Causing My Perioral Dermatitis?

This is just my personal experience and not medical advice, but one of the biggest changes I made during this flare-up was switching my toothpaste.

My perioral dermatitis first appeared around mid to late August 2023 although I think i have suffered with this before but thought it was just hormonal spots. I was on holiday in Madrid, and the weather was incredibly hot. At first, I blamed the heat because my face was constantly sweaty, but my skin became so sore that even applying moisturiser made it sting.

The rash was red, painful and irritated, and sitting around my mouth and chin. It looked awful, but what upset me most was that I couldn’t even wear makeup to cover it because everything seemed to make it worse.

Was Peri-Menopause Making My Skin Worse?

At the time, I was also going through menopause, and my skin seemed to be changing almost overnight.

I’d gone from always feeling cold to constantly overheating, and my face seemed to be permanently covered in sweat. Looking back, I can’t say whether menopause actually caused my perioral dermatitis, but I do wonder if the heat, hormonal changes and irritated skin barrier all played a part.

How I Discovered It Might Be Perioral Dermatitis

After sending a photo of my skin to my friend Nia Patten, who also moderates the Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group, she immediately suggested it looked like perioral dermatitis.

Until then, I’d never even heard of the condition.

My Trip to the Pharmacy

Armed with my new theory, I headed to my local pharmacy in Spain.

Interestingly, the pharmacist wasn’t convinced. He thought it looked more like herpes, while I believed Nia was right and that it was perioral dermatitis.

We agreed that I’d try a cream called Dermaveel first, and if it didn’t improve within a few days, I’d return to explore other options.

Why I Changed My Toothpaste

Because the rash was only affecting the area around my mouth, I started wondering if my toothpaste might also be contributing to the problem.

I’d experienced milder flare-ups before, but nothing as severe as this.

As part of simplifying everything, I stopped using my usual Colgate Fresh Gel Toothpaste and switched to an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste to see if it made any difference.

I honestly don’t know whether the toothpaste was the cause, but I do know that once I stripped everything back, my skin finally started to settle.

Before & After – One Week Later

The top photo was taken on 29 September, and the bottom photo was taken on 5 October.

My skin certainly wasn’t perfect, but the improvement was incredible.

The redness had reduced dramatically, and more importantly, the burning and stinging sensation disappeared within just a day or two. For the first time in weeks, my skin actually felt comfortable again.

The Ordinary & Perioral Dermatitis Before & After Photo

Do not use this photo without permission

Top photo taken 29th September. The bottom photo was taken on October 5th.

My Skincare Routine for Perioral Dermatitis

This is the routine that helped calm my perioral dermatitis. I’m not suggesting this is a cure or that it will work for everyone, but these are the changes that made the biggest difference for me.

Step 1 – I Changed My Toothpaste

The very first thing I did was stop using my usual Colgate Fresh Gel Toothpaste and switch to an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste.

After brushing my teeth, I made sure to rinse the skin around my mouth thoroughly to remove any toothpaste residue.

Step 2 – I Used the Cream Recommended by the Pharmacy

I applied Dermaveel, the cream recommended by my local pharmacist in Spain, three times a day for the first few days.

Step 3 – I Simplified My Skincare Routine

Instead of using lots of skincare products, I stripped everything back.

Most days I simply cleansed my face with cool water. If I felt I needed a cleanser, I used a small amount of The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, which I found gentle and non-stripping.

Step 4 – I Focused on Skin Barrier Repair

Once my skin started to settle, I slowly introduced products designed to support hydration and help repair my skin barrier.

I started using The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution twice a day. It felt wonderfully soothing on my irritated skin, although I did find it slightly sticky after application.

More recently, I also bought The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum (the Pink Serum) after several members of the Deciem Chat Room community said it had really helped calm their own irritated skin.

My Results

Within just a few days, the improvement was remarkable.

The redness reduced dramatically, the burning sensation disappeared, and my skin finally started to feel comfortable again.

It certainly wasn’t perfect, but it was a huge improvement in a very short space of time, and that gave me confidence that I was finally heading in the right direction.

The Ordinary & NIOD Products That May Help Support the Skin Barrier

If your skin feels irritated, dry or compromised, these are some of the products I’ve personally found helpful or that members of the Deciem Chat Room community frequently recommend. I would recommend patch-testing first, especially if your skin is already irritated.

👉 You can also read my complete guide to repairing your skin barrier with The Ordinary.

Tips That Helped Me

These are simply things that worked for me or are worth considering if you’re experiencing something similar.

✔ Strip your skincare routine right back and give your skin a chance to recover.

✔ If the rash is mainly around your mouth and chin, consider trying an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste to see whether it makes any difference.

✔ Brush your teeth before cleansing your face so you remove any toothpaste residue from your skin.

✔ If your rash extends onto your forehead, hairline or neck, think about your haircare products too. Shampoo, conditioner and styling products can all come into contact with your skin.

✔ If your symptoms continue or worsen, always seek advice from a healthcare professional or dermatologist.

My Biggest Lesson – Look Beyond Skincare

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that not every skin problem is caused by skincare products.

For a long time, I was unknowingly reacting to fragrance.

Perfumes, room diffusers, air fresheners and heavily fragranced cleaning products can make me feel extremely unwell. Looking back, I’d been experiencing reactions since I was a teenager but never realised what was causing them.

I also eventually discovered that white wine and champagne made me feel particularly unwell, and because I’m fructose intolerant, certain foods can leave my whole body feeling inflamed.

Whether these things directly caused my perioral dermatitis, I honestly don’t know. I´m also learning that there is a link between histamine and perioral dermatitis. I have always struggled with allergy symptoms – going from being absolutely fine to my nose being completely blocked up, throat sore and feeling really unwell.

What I do know is that our skin is affected by much more than just the skincare products we apply.

Sometimes the triggers can be surprisingly simple:

Toothpaste
Haircare products
Fragrance
Food intolerances
Heat and sunshine
Hormonal changes
Stress

Learning to look at the bigger picture has helped me understand my skin far better than simply buying another skincare product ever could.

Please remember: This page is based entirely on my personal experience with perioral dermatitis. It isn’t medical advice, and everyone’s skin is different. If you’re struggling with persistent or worsening symptoms, please speak to your doctor or dermatologist.

FAQS

Can Toothpaste Cause Perioral Dermatitis?

One of the biggest questions people ask is whether toothpaste can cause perioral dermatitis. While I can’t say toothpaste was definitely the cause of mine, changing to an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste was one of the first changes I made. Within a couple of days, the burning sensation had almost disappeared. Whether it was the toothpaste, simplifying my skincare routine, or a combination of both, I honestly don’t know—but it was one of the changes that seemed to help.

Which Toothpaste Did I Stop Using?

During my flare-up I stopped using Colgate Fresh Gel and changed to an SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpaste. I’m not suggesting Colgate caused my perioral dermatitis, only that removing it formed part of the routine that helped my skin recover.

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Good for Perioral Dermatitis?

I introduced The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% once the inflammation had started to calm down. I didn’t apply it during the worst stage because my skin barrier was extremely compromised. Once my skin was less sore, I found it became an important part of my routine. This is simply my personal experience and not a medical recommendation.