The Best Perioral Dermatitis Over-the-Counter Treatments in 2025

Irrespective of how a lot you child your pores and skin, generally issues simply pop up—like bumps, dryness, and redness. All of these points might be indicators of perioral dermatitis, a typical pores and skin situation that seems as a rash round your mouth, nostril, and generally close to your eyes. Right here comes the tough half: “It may be scaly and uncomfortable,” Rebecca Dufner, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of digital well being and scientific innovation at Tufts Medical Middle in Boston, tells SELF. “And there are a number of triggers and causes.”

Utilizing a topical steroid in your face is a typical one, however perioral dermatitis may also present up should you’re utilizing thick or oily skincare merchandise, over-exfoliating, or going by way of hormonal adjustments, Dr. Dufner says. “It’s typically related to burning and itching, and it may be fairly persistent,” Arielle Nagler, MD, board-certified dermatologist at NYU Langone in New York Metropolis, tells SELF—so treating it ASAP is vital.

The excellent news: You possibly can handle perioral dermatitis with over-the-counter therapies, so long as you already know which elements to look out for (and which to keep away from). Fortunate for you, we did the legwork by asking dermatologists to advocate the perfect skincare merchandise for perioral dermatitis, together with mild cleansers and soothing moisturizers. All you have to do now’s add them to your cart.

Our prime picks

1. Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Each day Foaming Cleanser, $44
2. The Extraordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, $12
3. La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50, $40
4. Shark CryoGlow LED Face Masks, $350

Store the perfect perioral dermatitis over-the-counter therapies

A couple of swaps in your routine could make a giant distinction.

Cleansers

Any time your pores and skin is indignant, you wish to swap out any doubtlessly irritating merchandise with gentler ones. That begins together with your face wash—the primary product in your routine. Amy Huang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist on the Medical Workplace of Manhattan in New York, recommends Cerave’s Foaming Facial Cleanser. It removes extra oil and leftover make-up with delicate surfactants whereas hydrating your pores and skin with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide.

Nonetheless coping with signs? The entire dermatologists we spoke with really helpful attempting a sulfur-based face wash subsequent. Dr. Dufner likes Joesoef’s Anti-Zits Cleaning soap, a budget-friendly possibility that comprises 10% sulfur to sort out perioral dermatitis, zits, and clogged pores.

Not into bar cleaning soap? Strive Kate Somerville’s EradiKate 3% Sulfur Each day Foaming Cleanser. Its star elements are sulfur, honey, and oat extracts—all of which can majorly soothe your pores and skin.

Moisturizers

In case you’re utilizing a sulfur wash to deal with your perioral dermatitis, persist with a delicate skin-friendly moisturizer. Vanicream’s Moisturizing Cream is a basic possibility with a method that’s free from potential irritants. It’s additionally one SELF editor’s go-to: “I have been utilizing Vanicream for years as my a.m. and p.m. moisturizer. It’s the proper weight (not too gentle, not too heavy) and seals in moisture with out pilling beneath my different skincare or make-up,” she says.

To handle irritation, Dr. Huang recommends Skinfix’s Eczema+ Dermatitis Aid Balm. It’s formulated for eczema—the hero elements are colloidal oatmeal, which can soothe pores and skin, and ceramides, which work to restore the moisture barrier.