Perioral Dermatitis Zero Therapy: The only solution to get rid of over-cared skin forever

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Perioral dermatitis is also known as perioral dermatitis or stewardess disease . It is an inflammation of the face, usually around the mouth. Hence the name perioral dermatitis ( perioral = around the mouth; derma = skin, itis = inflammation). In later stages, perioral dermatitis can also affect the area around the eyes. It resembles rosacea , with the difference that perioral dermatitis can heal completely.
The main causes are excessive or unsuitable cosmetic products and stress. Therefore, treating perioral dermatitis requires completely abstaining from skincare and makeup for a certain period. This is also known as "zero therapy." This article will explain how to stick to zero therapy and what else you can do.

Here you can learn more about perioral dermatitis and its symptoms and causes :

A strict zero-therapy approach is the only way to get rid of acute flight attendant disease. This means: no cosmetic products.

How long you should abstain from using any products depends on how your skin reacts. You should really stick to a very strict zero-therapy regimen for at least one skin cycle. A skin cycle lasts approximately 28 days, so one month is the minimum . However, six weeks or a few months are recommended. The longer you persevere, the better your skin can regenerate.

If you have perioral dermatitis, it's especially important to leave your skin alone immediately. Unfortunately, the internet is often full of recommendations for all sorts of treatments, creams, or oils that are supposed to help with perioral dermatitis.
It's perfectly understandable that you're looking for a quick solution to combat the problem. Unfortunately, that's not the right approach, as anti-acne creams, active ingredient treatments, or even balancing oils would only worsen your perioral dermatitis. Niacinamide , serums with soothing ingredients, and any kind of peels are also off-limits for your skin for now.
Moisturizing serums with hyaluronic acid or other moisturizing agents would further irritate your skin during the acute phase. Even though hyaluronic acid is very well-tolerated and otherwise provides excellent hydration, in the case of acute perioral dermatitis, it causes the stratum corneum to swell, making your skin even more sensitive. Give yourself some time until you're able to use more products again.
Even good old zinc ointment isn't the right thing to do right now. Although zinc can usually work really well for pimples and inflammation, what you have now, even if you see pimples and inflammation on your skin, aren't normal pimples. Your skin has been exposed to too many active ingredients, serums, creams, or oils recently, so even a simple zinc ointment could be too much. Zinc (zinc oxide) always needs to be dissolved in a fat, and too much fat or rich butters would irritate it now.
So please refrain from using any skincare products from now on – including treatments and quick fixes! If your skin is as irritated as it is now, you probably want to do something about it. However, the right thing to do in this case is to remain patient and calm and do nothing.

Zero therapy means that you should only wash your skin with water , because skin that's already over-treated shouldn't be further stressed. That's right... just water. It sounds really harsh. And you should also avoid using a cleanser during zero therapy, if possible. Of course, cleansing is very individual. If you have very oily skin that's prone to breakouts, you can occasionally use a very mild cleanser that doesn't contain harsh surfactants, active ingredients, or moisturizers. Pay close attention to your skin's feedback; it's absolutely crucial.

The general rule is: you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
With zero sunscreen, you're now facing a dilemma . Your skin is so irritated that it will also react to sunscreen. We can't generally recommend foregoing sun protection altogether.

Ideal case

If possible, avoid direct sunlight and omit sunscreen during the zero therapy to allow your skin to regenerate.

Emergency solution

If you use sunscreen, or if you're starting to use it again, make sure it doesn't contain excessive moisture, plant oils or butters, is free of active ingredients, and contains no irritating fragrances of any kind. Unfortunately, this can be quite difficult with sunscreen, especially if you prefer natural sunscreens.

Good sunscreens almost always contain vitamin C derivatives because these boost sun protection and thus provide additional protection against oxidative stress caused by UV rays. You'll need to consider what works best for you. It might be worth accepting the vitamin C derivative if it's included. Often, the vitamin C in sunscreens isn't very concentrated. In any case, it's not comparable to a vitamin C treatment. Don't worry. If you're very unsure, it's best to discuss this with your dermatologist. They can likely advise you on how to best approach sun protection based on your current skin condition.

You should also not wear makeup during zero therapy.

If you feel particularly unwell on some days, you can use simple mineral makeup . It shouldn't contain bismuth oxychloride , mica , silica , active ingredients, or plant oils. The loose minerals can be applied to redness and inflammation with a kabuki brush. A bonus: you can wash this makeup off your face with water. If a few minerals remain on your skin, that's not a problem, because minerals don't react with the skin. It's very important that your skin doesn't come into contact with excessive moisture, oily butters, or waxes. These are often found in natural makeup.

Conventional make-up is also not an option during this time, because moisturizers and active ingredients could delay healing.

During the initial treatment phase, use only water. It's often claimed that abruptly stopping skincare further stresses the skin. This isn't true, as any further contact with cosmetic products will worsen your perioral dermatitis.

Your skin may become very dry during the zero-treatment phase. It may also start to flake. This is okay and even expected. After all, your skin has been over-treated and often over-hydrated. This is the only way your skin can recover. It's essentially starting over.

You really shouldn't use any cosmetics on your entire face during zero therapy - not just on the areas that are visibly affected.

Experience shows that many people with perioral dermatitis find it very difficult to stick to zero therapy. It can be a really tough time. So keep in mind: the goal is for your skin to heal in the long term.
It helps if you can do something different instead of your usual skincare routine, and luckily there are options:
A black tea mask can improve your condition. Instructions for the black tea mask can be found below.
It can also help if you find a different ritual instead of your usual skincare routine. You can use this to reduce your stress, as stress is a major cause of perioral dermatitis. For example, you could meditate, do breathing exercises, go for a walk, or brew yourself a special tea and consciously enjoy it each morning.

Just like treatments, most skin remedies found online are not a good idea for perioral dermatitis. Tea tree oil is absolutely unsuitable for perioral dermatitis. It contains irritating essential oils that can damage even healthy, intact skin.

If you still need something to soothe yourself and your skin, you can make a homemade black tea compress . This will calm the skin a little.
Perhaps your skin won't feel so stressed afterward. However, ready-made masks containing black tea are not suitable for your skin. This is because they contain other ingredients that would be too much for your skin right now.