irritated skin! Seeking any advice please!!!!

For over a year now (more on than off), I"ve had redness and a bit of irritation following the line below my bottom lip. Sometimes feeling flared, mostly on the right side. It comes and goes throughout the day(s). There was a time when I used to use hand sanitizer on my face around my mouth & chin area after a run, swiping it from right to left (I'm right handed), I was told it would dry out sweat but instead I think I've damaged my skin and caused this irritation. It seems as if the bottom of my mouth is extemely sensitive to everything and anything! At times even wiping my mouth with a paper napkin with irritate it! And this redness will not go away! I've heard all about B complex vit.. and hydration, etc. but I've tried everything. My derm said it looks like a miild form of perioral dermititas but this diagnosis came about when I broke out using the handsanitizer (funny, I use it to preven break out but instead it gave me a break out). I'm soo confused, going out of my mind and trying to figure out what to do! Any suggestions or info anyone can give me would be very much appreciated! Not sure if this is an allergic reaction to something else (dust mite, etc.) or did I ruin the layer of my skin? Or what!?

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi and thanks for using the forum.

It sounds like a dermatitis, but it can be hard to figure out what is causing it.  I think you should go back to your dermatologist.  You may need a moisturizer to help heal that area and also prevent further irriatation.  In the meantime, be sure to wash your face with a gentle, creamy cleanser (like Cetaphil) and avoid using perfumed moisturizers.  You could try a moisturizer for sensitive skin (also, make sure it has some SPF in it to prevent irritation from the sun).  

I hope this helps.  Good luck.

Bridget  

[loosingmymind]

ps. my face has cleared up since the first break-out incident but the irration on/below my bottom lip line has not Including the skin right below my bottm lip!

[loosingmymind]

Hi Bridget, thanks for responding! Im curious though if hand sanitizer damages facial skin, or should I say can it be damaging to facial skin. Im wondering if I created some type of chemical burn that in turn destroyed the layer of skin a bit or damaged it and this is why my skin feels sensitive and irritated. I havent a clue really, just trying to put two and two together and in mean time going crazy. As for the derm... she gave me some type of cortizone cream and unfortunately its not helping at all! Thanks again!

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

I think that the hand sanitizer could be the cause of the problem.  Most contain alcohol which can dry out your skin, especially sensitive skin (like on your face).  How long ago did you use the sanitizer on your face (when was the last time) and how long were you doing it for?

Bridget

[loosingmymind]

I used both hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes on & off (not every day) on my face, more so around my mouth for almost a year. I had never connected the two because I heard again and again that the main ingredient was just rubbing alohol and rubbing alcohol couldnt be the culprit behind the problem. But when I stopped using both most of it cleared up but I was left witht this sensitive issue.

[loosingmymind]

Sorry, most of what cleared up was the perioral dermitatis. The irritation and redness around my mouth, mostly right side, is still present. I'm not a medical expert but it was the only thing that made sense to me, more so a guess/hunch! I'm drving myself nuts, can't even begin to tell you!