HELP! Perioral Dermatitis?!?!?!

Hi... I am a 15 years old female who has suffered from eczema for about four years. This year I have had the worst case of my eczema yet that is surrounding my mouth. This year was so bad... I had many red bumps around my mouth and a huge blotch of redness around my mouth that started from the chin up to my cheeks. I have always used Aquaphor (I use it repeatedly throughout the day since I'm allergic to most chapsticks) and Aquaphor has worked wonders keeping my mouth less stiff and dry. I love it, but unfortunately I knew it wasn't anything to help my eczema go away. I visited my dermatologist many times already, and finally they gave me a topical steroid called Topicort (they treated me for Contact Dermatitis) since their previous treatments didn't work. They also gave me some antibiotics, and I my bumps from the eczema disappeared, but my mouth was still really really red! I used this topical steroid for about a week and a half, then started to notice several bumps around my nose down to my chin. I thought it was my eczema flaring up again! It was burning like crazy and itching a lot again. I just went to the dermatologist yesterday and found that I have Perioral Dermatitis!

So I was just wondering.. they perscribed me Elidel cream (I HEARD THIS CAN CAUSE CANCER?) and Monodox Oral Pills (Tetracycline) to treat my perioral dermatitis. How long will it take to go away? I can't ever concentrate in school because it burns/itches so badly! I really want it gone forever... or at least for a really long time...is this possible? What should I do to make sure I can avoid it better in my future? What kind of non-fluoride toothpastes should I use? Is Elidel really the best cream to be using? Is it a topical steroid that could possibly make my perioral dermatitis worse? It's been about two and a half months now (from the start of my eczema till now... March 4, 2010), and I have so much trouble in school having to deal with all this! Please help!!

Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Perioral dermatitis is a chronic papulopustular and eczematous facial dermatitis.Treatment consists of oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. A mild soap or soap substitute, such as Dove or Cetaphil should be used for washing. Scrubbing should be avoided.
Tetracyclines and immunomodulators are the main treatment and you should continue it for some time. Inspite of the medicines, recurrences are common and treatment is to be taken for long. So you should take the full course of medicine that your dermatologist prescribed.
I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and regards