Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral Dermatitis in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Perioral dermatitis is one of the more frustrating skin conditions I treat in the office. Many patients have already tried topical therapies, changed skincare products multiple times, or eliminated foods without clear answers.

My approach is to first understand the pattern that is at the root of your condition and then treat it precisely.

I consider your whole state of health, including your skin, digestion, sleep, hormone balance, and stress levels.  My goal is to bring the body back to a state of balance, when you are in balance you are healthy.

To identify the imbalance underlying the perioral dermatitis, we will review your medical history and also examine the appearance of the skin. 

I want to know:

• How did it start?
• Was there steroid use?
• Is it worse with stress?
• How is your digestion? Is there bloating, constipation, or reflux?
• Does it worsen around your period?
• How is your sleep?
• Which are the predominant perioral dermatitis symptoms?  Is it redness, bumps, dryness, scaling? 
• Is it around your mouth only or also around your eyes? 
• Do certain foods affect it? 

This information provides a path to identifying the underlying imbalance and then to create a customized treatment including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other therapies for you.

I will also take your pulses and observe the tongue for formulating the proper natural treatment for your perioral dermatitis.

In Chinese Medicine, Perioral Dermatitis is most often caused by Qi Stagnation and Stomach Heat.  The herbs and acupuncture are chosen specifically to correct these imbalances.

Causes of Perioral Dermatitis

The exact cause of perioral dermatitis is not known.  Perioral dermatitis is  associated with topical steroid use on the face or inhaled steroids, cosmetics, fluoride toothpaste, or other irritants.   I have often seen that the condition develops after a period of stress.

Perioral Dermatitis mostly affects young women and is also a significant amount of stress.

Common Patterns I See in Clinic

Qi Stagnation with Heat

This pattern is often stress-driven. Qi,the body’s energy, naturally circulates throughout the body.  Stress causes the circulation of Qi and blood to slow leading to stagnation, which eventually leads to heat causing the inflammation. Clinically, the skin shows diffuse redness, mild scaling, and fewer pustules. Flares often correlate with stress, hormonal shifts, or emotional strain. 

Stomach Heat

In this pattern, inflammation is more closely tied to digestion. Patients frequently report bloating, reflux, constipation, or dietary triggers. In Chinese medicine, excess heat in the digestive system can rise along the stomach channel and manifest around the mouth and nose. The redness tends to be brighter and more persistent, often with a burning sensation. There can also be blisters.  This pattern reflects internal inflammatory drive that is expressed through the skin. 

Chinese Herbal Medicine treatment for Perioral Dermatitis

Herbal medicine is tailored to your specific pattern and presentation. I adjust the herbs to target the underlying imbalance and reduce what is driving your inflammation. If heat is predominant, the focus is on gently clearing inflammatory heat from the body. If stress and stagnation are contributing, the formula will help improve circulation and restore smooth flow. When digestion is involved, we support the gut so that internal inflammation is reduced at its source. If hormonal shifts are triggering flares, that layer is addressed as well.

By regulating the internal environment rather than just suppressing the surface symptoms, we aim to reduce the frequency and intensity of future flares.

Acupuncture

The goal of acupuncture is to correct the imbalance underlying your condition.  I will combine acupuncture along the affected meridians to correct the underlying imbalance as well as facial rejuvenation acupuncture to heal the skin where the issue is. 

LED Light Therapy

When LED light therapy is incorporated, I use near-infrared light and red light at specific frequencies and techniques. Near-infrared (IR) wavelengths penetrate more deeply into the skin and help calm inflammation at a cellular level. This can support barrier repair, reduce redness, and promote healthier tissue recovery without irritating already sensitive skin.

Back Cupping to Reduce Heat

In certain cases of perioral dermatitis I may incorporate cupping on the back as part of treatment. In Chinese medicine, the upper back is closely connected to the Lung and digestive systems, both of which influence the skin. When heat builds internally, it can rise and express itself on the face. Cupping helps draw that heat outward and release it through the surface of the body.

Feel Better, Get Acupuncture!

The natural therapies for perioral dermatitis work together by targeting the underlying imbalance and regulating the inflammatory process underlying the condition as well as balancing the skin’s microbiome, the body’s hormones, and your digestion.  By treating the underlying imbalance causing the perioral dermatitis, we can see long term improvement in the condition.

Our goal in treating perioral dermatitis is to restore your body to a state of balance and health. By addressing the underlying imbalances with personalized acupuncture and Chinese medicine, we offer a path to lasting improvement and wellness.

Please call us at 212-319-5757 to make an appointment or you can schedule your appointment online.