Cortisone for perioral dermatitis?

31 year old woman, recently diagnosed with perioral dermatitis.  General practitioner prescribed a clotrimazole-hydrocortisone compound.  A little nervous to use this stuff as my web research seems to suggest that cortisone and other steroids could make this condition worse.  Any advice?  Do I use this stuff or try something else?

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
     How are you? Generally, skin creams containing steroids should not be used to treat perioral dermatitis. Your physician may choose to treat the bumps with other topical medications, such as metronidazole, erythromycin, benzoyl peroxide, tacrolimus, clindamycin, or pimecrolimus.

In more severe cases, oral antibiotics (such as tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, or erythromycin) may be required. Perioral dermatitis is a difficult condition to treat effectively. It often requires several months of treatment. It is not unusual for the bumps to return, particularly if skin creams containing steroids are reapplied to the face.

Temporarily there might be immediate relief with the steroid creams, but in the long run, it might causes recurrence of symptoms.
Discuss with your physician regarding this.
Take care.

[finkobx]

Don't use the steroid cream!!!!  I got POD from using hydrocortisone cream on my face and so have SOOO many others.  It will make it seem to get better, but then as soon as you stop it, it will flare into a monster mess on your face.  Try oral antibiotics and use extremely mild soap to wash your face.  A good facial skincare line that is almost all organic is Southwest Sunshine.  It is what I have been using with great success.  Best wishes!

[pennym]

I believe that my POD was activated by Aclovate.  I was then told by a derm to put it on my mouth to make it go away which it did like magic.  I was afraid to use it more than three days(it seemed like it was completely gone).  Now that I have not used it for a couple of days, my lips are tingling and feeling like it is going to come back.  I am very distraught and angry that my derm didn't mention any of this to me.  Could you please email me with any info that may help.  I am at the end of my rope and I really don't want to resort to using this any more.  Thank you

Penny