PERITORAL DERMATITIS

Abstract

SUMMARY. —Forty cases of a perioral dermatitis, chiefly affecting young women, are described. All have been seen in Denmark and England within the last 18 months. The condition is believed to be quite common. The clinical features are characteristic. A papulosquamous eruption affects the chin and nasolabial folds and often the upper lip but almost always spares a clear zone around the vermilion border of the lips, The lower part of the cheeks and glabellar region are less commonly involved. The eruption pursues a fluctuating course with closely‐set small papules arising on patchy or diffuse erythema. It is extremely resistant to treatment. The aetiology is quite unknown. There is no evidence to incriminate topical agents, infection, hormonal influences, light sensitivity or emotional stress.