Breakouts around the mouth can be a frustrating skin concern. Unlike general facial acne, localized breakouts in this area often stem from unique factors. Understanding why these blemishes appear helps guide effective management.
Common Triggers Near the Mouth
The skin around the mouth is exposed to elements and habits that contribute to breakouts. Direct contact with substances often irritates this area. For instance, toothpaste ingredients like fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) can irritate or clog pores. Lip balms, cosmetics, and saliva can also trap bacteria and oil, leading to breakouts. Some lip balms contain comedogenic oils like coconut oil or isopropyl myristate, which block pores.
Behavioral patterns also contribute. Touching the face, resting the chin on hands, or excessive lip licking transfers bacteria, dirt, and oils to the skin, aggravating pores. Maintaining good hand hygiene helps reduce this transfer.
Dietary factors can contribute to breakouts. Residues from acidic or oily foods can linger on the skin and clog pores if not cleaned. High-glycemic foods and dairy products have been linked to increased acne risk in some individuals.
Hormonal fluctuations can also trigger breakouts, often in the lower face, including around the mouth and chin. Androgens, male hormones present in both sexes, increase oil production, leading to clogged pores. These shifts can occur during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or due to certain medications.
Understanding Different Breakout Types
Not all blemishes around the mouth are the same; identifying the specific type influences treatment. Perioral dermatitis is often mistaken for acne but has distinct characteristics. It appears as small red bumps, sometimes with scaling, forming a rash around the mouth while sparing the immediate border of the lips. Common triggers include topical steroids, heavy creams, and sometimes fluoridated toothpaste. Unlike acne, perioral dermatitis does not cause blackheads or whiteheads.
Acne vulgaris, or common acne, can also occur around the mouth. This type of breakout involves clogged pores, excess oil production, bacteria, and inflammation. It leads to comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules (small red bumps), and pustules (pus-filled bumps). Acne can appear anywhere on the face, chest, or back, unlike perioral dermatitis which is primarily localized.
Contact dermatitis is another possibility, resulting from an allergic or irritant reaction to something that has touched the skin. It can manifest as redness, itching, and bumps, which might resemble acne but is caused by external contact rather than pore clogging. The rash can appear minutes to days after exposure to an irritant or allergen.
Effective Approaches for Clearer Skin
Managing breakouts around the mouth involves gentle skincare and lifestyle adjustments. Use mild, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic cleansers and moisturizers. Harsh scrubbing or over-exfoliation can further irritate the skin in this sensitive area.
Being mindful of product ingredients is also beneficial. Check toothpaste for potential irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and fluoride, and lip products for pore-clogging ingredients to prevent breakouts. Switching to fluoride-free toothpaste or simpler lip balms may help if these are suspected triggers.
Good hygiene habits are effective. Regularly wash the face, avoid touching the mouth area, and clean items that frequently come into contact with the face, such as cell phones and pillowcases, to reduce bacteria and oil transfer. Observing if certain foods exacerbate breakouts and maintaining a balanced diet can also help.
Over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments containing ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can be used, but with caution due to the skin’s sensitivity around the mouth. These products work by killing bacteria or breaking down clogged pores. However, for conditions like perioral dermatitis, these acne treatments may not be effective and could even worsen the condition.
If breakouts persist, are severe, painful, or do not respond to home care, especially if perioral dermatitis is suspected, seeking professional advice from a dermatologist is recommended. A healthcare provider can accurately diagnose the specific type of breakout and recommend appropriate prescription treatments, which might include topical or oral medications.