PERIORAL DERMATITIS: AETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT WITH TETRACYCLINE

Abstract

Summary.— “Perioral dermatitis” has been studied in 29 patients; all were females in their child‐bearing years, with ages ranging from 18 to 39 (mean 27). Twenty patients showed a marked flushing tendency, but the condition was apparently unrelated to other factors studied, including colouring, skin type, pregnancy and the contraceptive pill. Perioral dermatitis is a distinct entity and not a variant of seborrhoeic derma‐titis or rosacea. All patients were greatly improved by tetracycline therapy for 2–3 months, after which relapse was unusual.