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Can A Day Cream Be Used While Treating Perioral Dermatitis?

Posted on Mon, 23 Mar 2015

Question: I've been speaking with a dermatologist but he hasn't replied for a while now. My question is that I had a small flare up of perioral dermatitis due to the uv Rays in a tanning bed. I was told to not use anything but the metro gel to clear this little bout. I was told to use metro gel 1%(already had this little sample) once a day for a week. Then twice a day until it heals then once a night again. It seems that the little bout is already looking almost gone from starting the gel Wednesday. It seems a bit drying and I'm nervous for my face to burn if I use it more periodically my question is, if my face feels to dry can u use the gel just once a day at night and use my face cream in the day. When I had my Last bad flare up I used a cream and soap to lean my face and it really helped to cleanup and smooth out my face do I know both are good for pd people. But I wsnt to know if it'll be ok to only use the metro gel at night once a day and my cream in the day since it's a small flare up and I don't want my face to become too dry.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Let me know name and content of the day cream

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.

I have answered one of previous queries related to perioral dermatitis.

In pd patients, general advice would to use as few products as possible.

Soaps are drying, therefore instead of using a soap I would suggest that you use a gentle cleanser e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion, twice daily

Since you have a mild flare of pd which is already subsiding therefore you may continue with just once daily application of metronidazole.
Once daily application would not cause that much of an issue with dryness.

However, if dryness is an issue you may use a moisturizer cream.

I would like to know the name as well as ingredients of day cream which you are inquiring about here and which you also used when you had your last flare up.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (8 minutes later)

Thanks for replying again our conversation was closed but happy I got you again. So the brand is Osmia Organics. All of their brands are helpful in the treatment and keeping the pd at bay. It is the purely simple face cream. Ingredients include: aloe barbadensis, leaf juice sodium olivoyl glutamate and cetearyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate. Prunus armeniaca oil. Prunus amygdalus oil. Lactobacillus ferment. Vegetable glycerin. Simmondsia chinensis. Ricinus communis. Gmo free vitamin e oil. Proprietary blend of organic and wild harvested essential oils. This cream did an amazing job helping get rid of my last really bad flare up and I have continued using it without any flare ups or side effects.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
These ingredients are fine.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

These ingredients are fine.

Moreover since this cream has suited you in past therefore you may use it.

You may use this cream once a day along with once daily metronidazole at night.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 minutes later)

Ok thank you. So is it safe to use metro gel once s night for a long period of time? And if I ever stop do I gradually weane off or can just stop? I'm nervous for any break outs if I stop.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Metronidazole gel can be used long term

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes, it is safe to use metronidazole gel for a long period of time Or even if used repeatedly.
Metronidazole is such a wonderful remedy for pd.

You may stop it once you feel that your skin is fine.

Gradually weaning it off is not absolutely necessary for fear of causing a rebound flare.
Rebound is not a side effect of sudden withdrawl of metronidazole.

Gradual weaning is usually done for topical steroids because sudden withdrawl may cause rebound flare. Not for topical metronidazole.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 hours later)

So I def feel like the metro gel stings my face very slightly. I can see it working and my face looks great but I'm nervous about the stinging. Should I try using it every other day? Or every three couple of days? Will the results be the same?

Will the slight sting subside after continued use? My face in general has not stung even with the flare up and right before Greece I'm nervous to have it sting or get bad again.

And sorry for the constant question. I just want to note that my face has completely cleared up. I want to still use metro gel just want to know what's the least amount I csn use it so that it still works but won't cause my face to sting a bit. I've been using the gel since Wednesday every night.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Slight stinging is common with metronidazole

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

It is normal to notice a slight stinging sensation with metronidazole gel.

Use just a thin film of it. A pea sized amount is sufficient for the whole of face.

You may adjust frequency of its use depending on response.

Use it daily for a few days and once you feel that your skin has cleared up significantly thereafter you may decrease its frequency of use to once every alternate days for milder involvement Or for maintenance.

You may also use it intermittently i.e use it for 3-5 days and then stop for 2 days and then restart again.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 minutes later)

Thank you. That's great advice. Today is Sunday and my face is back to normal which is good. I'll take that advice with using for a few more days every night then stop then again. Thank you again

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome

Detailed Answer:
Thank you! and thank you for writing to us.

Take care

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar