Perioral dermatitis and sensitive skin: Silje shares her experience

Perioral dermatitis is a skin condition that often manifests as small red bumps and irritation around the mouth and nose. For Silje, the symptoms were made worse by lack of sleep during her toddler years. Silje is a trained skin therapist and runs the skin clinic Studio S in Grimstad. Having perioral dermatitis has helped shape her as a skin therapist and which brands she will offer in the clinic. Here, she shares her experiences with perioral dermatitis, what triggers she discovered and what helped her skin return to balance.

– I tried a lot of different things before; acids, microneedling, strong products and products with perfume. In retrospect, I see that it was not what my skin needed. If I had known how much it affected my skin barrier, I would have done things differently, she says.

Can stress worsen perioral dermatitis?

For Silje, there wasn't one single factor that triggered the symptoms. She found that her skin was more sensitive during periods of hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and stress.

– I probably noticed it most around pregnancy, breastfeeding, lack of sleep and stress. Now the situation is much better, and I think that has a lot to do with the skin too.

She also found that very oily creams could trigger breakouts.

“I once used a body sunscreen on my face because I forgot my regular one. It didn't go particularly well,” she says with a smile.

Favorites in the skincare routine

When Silje has to highlight the RAW products she feels have worked best for her dehydrated and sensitive skin, there are three products in particular that stand out:

Multi-Active Serum
This is her clear favorite now that she has the outbreak under control. Peptides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. We recommend avoiding serums when you have a visible outbreak of perioral dermatitis. In that case, it may be a good idea to just use cleanser and cream until the skin is stronger again.

– Number one is definitely Multi Active Serum. It feels incredibly good on the skin and is perfect when the skin needs moisture and calm.

Pure Lipid Cleanser
A gentle cleanser that cleanses the skin without leaving it tight or dry.

Ectoin Light Moisturiser
A cream that helps support the skin barrier and provide long-lasting comfort to sensitive skin.

The most important thing she has learned

For Silje, skin health today is less about "fixing" the skin and more about supporting it.

– I've learned that my skin thrives best when I don't do too much. Gentle products, focusing on the skin barrier, and a little patience have been the most important things for me.

The key is to strengthen the skin barrier

Perioral dermatitis can have different causes and triggers from person to person. What works for one skin type may not necessarily work for everyone. However, Silje's experience shows how important it can be to listen to your skin, calm down your routine, and prioritize a strong and balanced skin barrier.

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